US 12,213,896 B2
Method and apparatus for enhancing operation of leg prothesis
Hwan Choi, Orlando, FL (US); and Gabriel Rios Carbonell, Orlando, FL (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., Orlando, FL (US)
Appl. No. 17/632,024
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC., Orlando, FL (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 3, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/044726
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 1, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/022248, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/881,648, filed on Aug. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0265442 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 2/60 (2006.01); A61F 2/66 (2006.01); A61F 2/50 (2006.01); A61F 2/68 (2006.01); A61F 2/70 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/60 (2013.01) [A61F 2002/5072 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5093 (2013.01); A61F 2002/607 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6614 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6836 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6854 (2013.01); A61F 2002/701 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a cable including a first end of the cable configured to be attached to a front portion of a leg prosthesis worn by a subject to move through a plurality of gait phases, wherein the front portion of the leg prothesis faces a front side of a subject wearing the leg prothesis;
a module configured to be mounted to the leg prosthesis, wherein the module comprises;
a tension spring configured to engage a second end of the cable to maintain tension in the cable, wherein the second end of the cable is opposite to the first end of the cable, and
a locking mechanism configured to lock a position of the tension spring and maintain a length of the cable defined between the module and the front portion of the leg prosthesis during a first gait phase of the plurality of gait phases and configured to unlock the position of the tension spring to permit variation of the length of the cable during a second gait phase of the plurality of gait phases;
wherein the apparatus is configured such that the length of the cable extending from the module to the front portion of the leg prothesis is increased during the second gait phase comprising a toe off gait phase during plantarflexion.