Patent ID: 8268011

Claim:
A failsafe apparatus for attaching a prosthetic limb to a transcutaneous bone implant attached through the skin directly to the bone of a patient, wherein forces of various levels may be applied to the limb, including a bending force urging the limb toward tilting, the failsafe apparatus comprising: a proximal component to mount to a bone implant; a distal component to mount to a prosthetic limb; and a disengageable connector for coupling the proximal and distal components and for preventing said bending force at a level greater than a predetermined threshold safe level from being transmitted by the limb to the bone implant, including resilient means for (a) coupling and holding the components in a fixed angle relationship to each other for normal use of the prosthetic limb when the limb is subject to an applied bending force less than said predetermined threshold safe level, the effect of the resilient means in holding the components in fixed relationship to each other being opposed by any said applied bending force, and (b) disengaging the disengageable connector automatically only when the bending force is greater than said predetermined threshold safe level, thereby being sufficient to overcome the maximum effect of the resilient means, and by disengagement for permitting tilting of the components away from said fixed angel relationship for a level of bending force greater than said predetermined threshold safe level, thereby providing failsafe protection of the bone implant from the effect of said bending force at a level greater that said predetermined threshold safe level.