Patent US4997449A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4997449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Artificial knee joint
Assignee: IPOS GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1988-09-23
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Granted: 1991-03-05
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Expires: 2008-09-23
Abstract
Abstract An artificial knee joint (10) with a clamping member (13) is provided with a peg (11) for attachment to a thigh shaft (12). The clamping member is pivotable against a braking member or barrel (19) located inside the knee joint housing when a vertical load (44) is applied to the knee joint to arrest the swiveling movement a leg part (26). The leg part accommodates the lower leg tube of a leg prosthesis as well as a traction strap (36) impelling the knee joint back into the straightened position. By this means an uncontrolled buckling of the artificial knee joint is prevented in the event that a prosthesis wearer stumbles.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregor M. Prahl
- 👤 Reinhold Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/68; A61F2/60; A61F2/64; A61F2/642; A61F2/644; A61F2002/5072; A61F2002/5073; A61F2002/6818; A61F2002/6854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An artificial knee joint for a patient comprising: a clamping member having an attachment for a thigh shaft; a knee joint casing pivotally connected with the clamping member at a swivel axis extending generally horizontally when the patient is walking, a leg part accommodating a lower leg tube of a leg prosthesis and connected with the knee joint casing at a rotary axis extending generally parallel to the swivel axis to provide for pivotal movement of the knee joint; an essentially cylindrical barrel rotationally fixed with the leg part coaxially of the rotary axis of the leg part and knee joint casing for pivotal movements of the barrel together with the leg part relative to the knee joint casing, the cylindrical barrel being disposed within the casing in close proximity to the clamping member so as to permit the clamping member to bear upon the cylindrical surface of the barrel and brake the pivotal movements of the knee joint; and load responsive means interposed between the clamping member, and the leg part to maintain up to a predetermined load the clamping member and the cylindrical barrel within the knee joint casing in non-bearing relationship in opposition to the patient's weight for free pivotal movements of the joint, the load responsive means otherwise being responsive to weight applied by the patient to the joint to bring the clamping member and the cylindrical surface of the barrel into bearing relationship to brake the pivotal movements of the knee joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An artificial knee joint for a patient comprising: a clamping member having an attachment for a thigh shaft; a knee joint casing pivotally connected with the clamping member at a swivel axis extending generally horizontally when the patient is walking, a leg part accommodating a lower leg tube of a leg prosthesis and connected with the knee joint casing at a rotary axis extending generally parallel to the swivel axis to provide for pivotal movement of the knee joint; an essentially cylindrical barrel rotationally fixed with the leg part coaxially of the rotary axis of the leg part and knee joint casing for pivotal movements of the barrel together with the leg part relative to the knee joint casing, the cylindrical barrel being disposed within the casing in close proximity to the clamping member so as to permit the clamping member to bear upon the cylindrical surface of the barrel and brake the pivotal movements of the knee joint; and load responsive means interposed between the clamping member, and the leg part to maintain up to a predetermined load the clamping member and the cylindrical barrel within the knee joint casing in non-bearing relationship in opposition to the patient's weight for free pivotal movements of the joint, the load responsive means otherwise being responsive to weight applied by the patient to the joint to bring the clamping member and the cylindrical surface of the barrel into bearing relationship to brake the pivotal movements of the knee joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Knee joint according to claim 1 characterized in that the barrel is a steel part tempered to 60 Rockwell "C" hardness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Knee joint according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping member, within the area where it bears upon the barrel, is provided with a replaceable steel part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Knee joint according to claim 3, characterized in that the steel part is flattened within the area where it bears upon the barrel and is provided with a tempered clamping surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Knee joint according to claim 3, characterized in that the steel part is adjustably supported in the clamping member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Knee joint according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping member consists of titanium or titanium alloy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Knee joint according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee joint casing is provided with a setscrew for adjusting or regulating the play between the barrel and the clamping member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Knee joint according to claim 7, characterized in that the setscrew is adjustable so as to be continuously variable or discretely variable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A knee joint according to claim 1 characterized in that the leg part and the barrel are rotationally fixed to one another by bolting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A knee joint according to claim 1 characterized in that the leg part has a forked end, and the barrel has parallel ribs engaged in the forked end of the leg part to fix the barrel and leg part rotationally to one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A knee joint according to claim 1 characterized in that a traction strap extends between the knee joint casing and the leg part for straightening the knee joint, and the traction strap is mounted by means of a removable fastening pin in a lower area of the casing between the barrel and the swivel axis for interchangability of the traction strap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-04 | 1994-09-03 | 1995-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-04 | 1998-09-03 | 1999-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-04 | 2002-09-03 | 2003-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |