Patent ID: 8231687

Claim:
An actuated leg prosthesis for above-knee amputees, the prosthesis comprising: a knee member comprising a proximal connector configured to operatively attach to an amputee's stump; an elongated trans-tibial member having an upper end, a bottom end, a distal connector configured to operatively attach to a prosthetic foot, and a middle section comprising at least two spaced-apart bars, the trans-tibial member defining a main longitudinal axis; a linear actuator having an upper end and a bottom end, wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor which rotates a screw in and out of a fixed follower resulting in a linear motion of the bottom end of the actuator with respect to the upper end of the actuator, thereby inducing extension or retraction of the linear actuator, at least a portion of the linear actuator being interposed between the at least two spaced-apart bars; first means for operatively connecting the trans-tibial member to the knee member; second means for operatively connecting the upper end of the actuator to the knee member; and third means for operatively connecting the bottom end of the actuator to the bottom end of the trans-tibial member, wherein extension or retraction of the linear actuator induces a corresponding rotation of the knee member relative to the elongated trans-tibial member.