US3316558A - Prosthetic leg with a hydraulic knee control - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1967 LA VAUGHN MORTENSEN 3,316,558

PROSTHETIC LEG WITH A HYDRAULIC KNEE CONTROL Filed Nov. 12, 1-963 INVENTOR L0 Vaughn L. Morfensen ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,316,558 PROSTHETIC LEG WITH A HYDRAULIC KNEE CONTROL La Vaughn L. Mortensen, 616 W. 107th St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90044 Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 322,619 13 Claims. (Cl. 3-1.2)

This invention relates to artificial legs and more particularly to a means for controlling the knee action of a leg prosthesis adapted to be used by above-the-knee amputees. This prosthesis may be used in conjunction with an independent articulated foot and ankle prosthesis.

Leg prostheses are often costly and complex and the motion effected by many devices now in use is awkward and does not closely approximate a natural walking movement.

Many of the devices in use include variable controls which are needed by only a small percentage of amputees. The prosthesis of this invention is of simple construction and there are no adjustments for its few moving parts. Thus, the unit may be preset at the factory.

It is an object of this invention to provide a light, simple and inexpensive leg prosthesis.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulically operated leg prosthesis which will enable an amputee to walk at a desired speed in a more natural manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hydraulic knee control for a leg prosthesis which may be used in conjunction with an independent articulated foot and ankle prosthetic device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a knee control for a leg prosthesis which offers little resistance to the initial flexing movement of the knee but increases resistance to the flexing motion as speed and force of the movement increases.

Another object of this invention is to provide a knee control in a leg prosthesis which will allow a rapid but controlled movement, with less resistance during the extension cycle of the prosthetic leg movement than during the flexing cycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulie knee control which is essentially tamper proof and has no need for periodic adjustments, since hydraulic action is consistent.

Since variable controls are needed by only a small percentage of amputees, a further object of this invention is to provide a knee control for a leg prosthesis which has no variable controls.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims appended to and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the knee control device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the knee control installed in a leg prosthesis;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the knee control installed in a leg prosthesis; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the poppet valve used in conjunction with the knee control device.

Numeral, 12 indicates a lower thigh portion of a leg prosthesis to which a lower leg or shank member is hinged by a knee bolt 14.

Theshank portion 20 and thethigh portion 12 pivot relative to each other about knee bolt 14. Knee action is controlled by the knee control device of FIG. 1 which is indicated generally at 114 in FIG. 2.

Atubular member 116 is divided by afixed partition 38 into an upperhydraulic cylinder 30 and a lowerhydraulic cylinder 28. Thepartition 38 is held in position bydimples 70. Fluid passages betweencylinders 28 and 30 are provided bypoppet valve 40 andorifice 50. Floating piston 66 i disposed withincylinder 30, thus div-iding the cylinder intochambers 32 and 34. O-ring 102 provides a seal betweenchambers 32 and 34, thus preventing the passage of fluid from one chamber to the other.

Piston 60 is disposed withincylinder 28 and connected topiston rod 18 which extends through a piston rod bearing 74. The piston rod bearing 74 and O-rings 106 and 108 provide a fluid tight seal at the lower end oftubular member 116. Thecylinder 28 is divided intochambers 62 and 64 bypiston 60. Fluid passage betweenchambers 62 and 64 is provided byorifice 58 which extends throughpiston rod 18, or which may be adapted to pass throughpiston 60. The upper end oftubular member 116 is closed bycylinder head 10. A fluid tight seal is provided by O-ring 100.

Thecylinder head 10 and thelower end 68 ofpiston rod 18 are each provided rubber orresilient members 24 into whichbearings 26 are pressed.

Cylinder head 10 is pivotally attached tothigh member 12 rearwardly of knee bolt 14 by means of pin. 16. Pistonrod 18 is pivotally attached toshank portion 20 by means ofpin 22.Resilient members 24 serve to retain thebearings 26 in such a manner as to prevent binding ifshafts 16 and 22 are not parallel with knee bolt 14 and to provide quieter action.

Cylinder 28 and thelower chamber 32 ofcylinder 30 are filled with ahydraulic fluid 36.Chamber 34 ofcylinder 30 is partially filled with said hydraulic fluid and partially filled with a compressible fluid such as air.

Thepoppet valve 40 disposed inpartition 38 includes acasing 42 havingshoulders 44 and 45 thereon and being threaded as at 46 on its upper portion. The poppet valve is further composed of avalve stem 48 havingorifice 50 therethrough, aspring 52, aretainer collar 54 pressed onvalve stem 48, andavalve closing member 56. The poppet valve is normally biased to a closed position byspring 52. If desired,orifice 50 may pass through thepartition 38 instead ofpoppet valve stem 48.

At the beginning of the knee flexing cycle thepiston 60 is forced upward intocylinder 28. This action causeshydraulic fluid 36 to be forced fromchamber 64 intochambers 62 and 32 throughorifices 58 and 50. Thepoppet valve 40 which is biased to a closed position remains closed during the flexing cycle.

The size oforifice 50 regulates the flow of fluid fromchamber 64 tochamber 32 to determine the resistance to the knee flexing motion. The most desired action is obtained whenorifice 50 is smaller thanorifice 58.

Fluid forced intochamber 32urges floating piston 66 upwardly, thu compressing the compressible fluid such as air which partially fillschamber 34. The compressed fluid acts as a fluid spring, helps stop the flexing movement and serves to aid in the return of the prosthesis to an extended position. Momentum and gravity supply the remaining force to return the prosthesis to the extended position.

During the extension cycle thepiston 60 moves down incylinder 28, thus forcing the hydraulic fluid out of 3chambers 62 and 32 and intochamber 64. The reduced pressure inchamber 64 during the extension cycle causespoppet valve 50 to open, thus allowing little resistance to fluid movement fromchamber 32 tochamber 64. The

orifice 58 :thus controls the rate of fluid flow fromchamber 62 to chamber ,64 and thereby controls the rate of travel ofpiston 60. By controlling the travel ofpiston 60orifice 58 also controls the resistance to the extension cycle of the prosthesis. It can be seen from the above that any change in the size of either one or both of the orifices '50 and58 may be made to regulate the knee action to to yield to the relatively high pressure inchamber 32 during. the extension cycle, thus allowing thevalve gate 56 to move away from-casing 42 to open the valve. At

the end of the extensioncycle the pressure inchamber 32 ceases to be. relatively greater than that in chamber 64- Thus, the valve stem and :gate are moved upward byspring 52 to close the valve. An important feature of this invention is the pivotal connection of the cylinder end of the pneumatic knee control device to the lower portion ofthigh member 12. This makes possible the presence ofhydraulic fluid 36 on 'both sides of floatingpiston 66. This gives better lubrication and also prevents the passageof compressible fluid fromchamber 34 into other chamlbers, as air in other chambers would tend to cause noise in the mechanism. O-ring 102 provides a fluid seal forpiston 66 and O-ring 104 provides a fluid seal for piston 60.:

Rivet 110 is press fitted for holding head 10' in place,

and may be removed for servicing ofchamber 34.Rivets 112 which are press fitted and hold piston rod bearing 74 in place .may be removed to facilitate service of the knee control device.

, While a particular embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described, modifications thereof will It is to be understood,

occur to those skilled in the art. therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the particular details disclosed, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit'and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a leg prosthesis an upper thigh member, a lower shank member, a hinged connection of said members to 'form a knee joint, means to control said knee joint, said.

means being comprised of a tubular member closed at one end and divided by a fixed partition, a first cylinder and a second cylinder formed by said fixed partition,-a poppet valve in said partition, an orifice through said poppet valve, aifloating piston in said first cylinder, a piston in said second cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston in said second cylinder, a piston rod bearing in the other'end of said tubular-means through which said piston rod passes, a pivotal connection between said thigh portion and said closed end of said tubular member, said pivotal connection located rearwardly of said knee joint, anda pivotal connection betweensaid piston rod and said shank.

2. A claim according to claim 1 wherein said thigh member includes, a stop along its lower portion, and said tubular member contacts said stop to terminate the exten- 4. A fluid chamber knee control device for a leg prosthesis cmprising a tubular member closed at one end, a piston rod bearing in the other end through which a piston rod passes, a fixed partition in said tubular member divid ing it into an upper and a lower cylinder, said partition having a poppet valve therethrough, an orifice connecting said upper and lower cylinders, a floating piston in said upper cylinder, a piston in said lower cylinder connected to said piston rod, said floating piston dividing said upper cylinder into an upper and a lower chamber, the other said piston dividing the lower cylinder into an upper and a lower chamber, means to prevent passage of fluid around said floating piston, means to prevent the passage of fluid around said other piston, an orifice through said other piston to allow controlled passage of fluid therethrough, and an orifice through said poppet valve to allow controlled passage of fluid therethrough.

5. A claim according to claim 4 wherein said lower cylinder and said lower chamber of said upper cylinder are filled with hydraulic fluid and the upper chamber of said upper cylinder is partially filled with said hydraulic fluid, the remainder of said upper chamber of said upper cylinder being filled with a compressible fluid which acts as a fluid spring.

6. A leg prosthesis which includes an upper thigh member, a lower shank member, a knee joint pivotally connecting said members, means for control of said knee joint, said means comprising a tubular member closed at one end, a piston rod bearing through which a piston rod passes sealing the other end, said closed end of said tubular member being pivotally connected to said thigh member behind said knee joint, said piston rod being pivotally connected to said shank member, a fixed partition in said tubular member dividing said tubular member into an upper and a lower cylinder, a poppet valve through said fixed partition, a floating piston in said upper cylinder dividing said cylinder into upper and lower chambers, means to prevent the passage of fluid between said chambers, a lower piston connected to said piston rod in .said hydraulic fluid, the remaining portion of said upper chamber of said upper cylinder containing a compressible fluid, an orifice through said poppet valve to allow controlled passage of fluid therethrou-gh, and an orifice through said lower piston to allow controlled passage of fluid therethrough.

7. A leg prosthesis as described in claim 6 wherein said thigh member includes a stop along its lower portion, and said tubular member is adapted to contact said stop to terminate the extension movement of said prosthesis.

8. A claim according to claim 7 wherein said stop is a resilient bumper.

9. A prosthesis according to claim 6 wherein said orifice in said piston is relatively larger than said orifice in said poppet valve.

10. A leg prosthesis comprising an upper thigh member, a lower shank member, a knee joint pivotally connecting said members, means pivotally connected between said members for control of said knee joint comprising, a tubular member sealed at each end, a partition in said tubular member, an upper cylinder and'a lower cylinder formed by said partition, hydraulic fluid in both said cylinders, a valve means joining said cylinders, a nonvalve means. allowing continuous fluid communication between said cylinders, fluid spring means in said upper cylinder, a piston in said lower cylinder, an upper chamber and a lower chamber in said lower cylinder formed by said piston, an orifice joining said upper and lower chambers of said lower cylinder, and a piston rod connected to said piston.

11. A claim according to claim 10 wherein one end of said tubular member is pivotally attached to a thigh member of a leg prosthesis, and said piston rod is pivotally attached to a shank member of said leg prosthesis.

12. A claim according to claim 11 wherein said thigh 5 member includes a stop along its lower portion, and said tubular member contacts said stop to terminate the extension movement.

13. A leg prosthesis according toclaim 10, wherein said valve means is a poppet valve disposed in said fixed partition, said poppet valve comprising, a casing, a threaded portion on said casing, a valve stem, said valve stem extending through said casing, a passageway extending through said valve stem, a shoulder on said casing, a collar on the upper part of said valve stem, a spring disposed 15 between said shoulder and said collar and between said casing and said valve stem, and a valve gate disposed on the lower part of said valve stem, said valve gate normally being urged to a closed position by said spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,859 1/1909 Apgar 3-2 X 2,489,291 11/ 1949 Henschke et al. 3-24 2,859,451 11/ 1958 Mauch 322 3,147,966 9/1964 Axthamrner et al 26764 FOREIGN PATENTS 316,515 12/1919 Germany.

31,662 12/ 1926 France.

(1st addition) 474,290 9/ 1952 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (2)

1. 4. A FLUID CHAMBER KNEE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LEG PROSTHESIS COMPRISING A TUBULAR MEMBER CLOSED AT ONE END, A PISTON ROD BEARING IN THE OTHER END THROUGH WHICH A PISTON ROD PASSES, A FIXED PARTITION IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER DIVIDING IT INTO AN UPPER AND A LOWER CYLINDER, SAID PARTITION HAVING A POPPET VALVE THERETHROUGH, AN ORIFICE CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER CYLINDERS, A FLOATING PISTON IN SAID UPPER CYLINDER, A PISTON IN SAID LOWER CYLINDER CONNECTED TO SAID PISTON ROD, SAID FLOATING PISTON DIVIDING SAID UPPER CYLINDER INTO AN UPPER AND A LOWER CHAMBER, THE OTHER SAID PISTON DIVIDING THE LOWER CYLINDER INTO AN UPPER AND A LOWER CHAMBER, MEANS TO PREVENT PASSAGE OF FLUID AROUND SAID FLOATING PISTON, MEANS TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF FLUID AROUND SAID OTHER PISTON, AN ORIFICE THROUGH SAID OTHER PISTON TO ALLOW CONTROLLED PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, AND AN ORIFICE THROUGH SAID POPPET VALVE TO ALLOW CONTROLLED PASSAGE OF FLUID THERETHROUGH.
2. 10. A LEG PROSTHESIS COMPRISING AN UPPER THIGH MEMBER, A LOWER SHANK MEMBER, A KNEE JOINT PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID MEMBERS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS FOR CONTROL OF SAID KNEE JOINT COMPRISING, A TUBULAR MEMBER SEALED AT EACH END, A PARTITION IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AN UPPER CYLINDER AND A LOWER CYLINDER FORMED BY SAID PARTITION, HYDRAULIC FLUID IN BOTH SAID CYLINDERS, A VALVE MEANS JOINING SAID CYLINDERS, A NONVALVE MEANS ALLOWING CONTINUOUS FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CYLINDERS, FLUID SPRING MEANS IN SAID UPPER CYLINDER, A PISTON IN SAID LOWER CYLINDER, AN UPPER CHAMBER AND A LOWER CHAMBER IN SAID LOWER CYLINDER FORMED BY SAID PISTON, AN ORIFICE JOINING SAID UPPER AND LOWER CHAM-

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