US 11,963,891 B2
Prosthetic joint with a mechanical response system to position and rate of change
Lucas Samuel Lincoln, Edmonds, WA (US); Ben Gilbert Macomber, Shoreline, WA (US); Nicholas Roy Corson, Mukilteo, WA (US); and David Alan Boone, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to OTTOBOCK SE & CO. KGAA, Duderstadt (DE)
Filed by OTTOBOCK SE & CO. KGAA, Duderstadt (DE)
Filed on Apr. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/246,415.
Application 17/246,415 is a division of application No. 15/536,240, granted, now 11,013,622, previously published as PCT/US2015/066614, filed on Dec. 18, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/094,009, filed on Dec. 18, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0054284 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/66 (2006.01); A61F 2/74 (2006.01); F16F 9/48 (2006.01); F16F 9/512 (2006.01); A61F 2/50 (2006.01); A61F 2/68 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/6607 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/5006 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5033 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5035 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5072 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6818 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6863 (2013.01); A61F 2/74 (2021.08); A61F 2/748 (2021.08); F16F 9/48 (2013.01); F16F 9/512 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A prosthetic joint, comprising:
a first connector, a second connector, and a pivot device that allows the first and second connectors to rotate with respect to each other;
a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first and second chambers are connected via a bi-directional flow path;
a valve positioned in the bi-directional flow path and configured to restrict fluid flow between the first and second chambers; and
a non-electronic mechanism for controlling the fluid flow responsive to a rate of change of position of the joint,
wherein an external force applied to the prosthetic joint causes the valve to open and to permit fluid flow between the first and second chambers, wherein the external force may be applied to the prosthetic joint by transferring weight to a heel of the user.