Patents Assigned to Blatchford Products Limited
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Patent number: 11806254Abstract: A prosthesis suspension system comprises a socket for receiving a residual limb, a locking liner having a locking pin for attaching the liner to the socket and a sealing cap disposed between the locking line and the socket. The system further comprises a gap between a skirt of the sealing cap and an interior wall of the socket in which the skirt of the sealing cap is able to move between first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Joseph Ronald McCarthy, Alan McDougall, Ana Isabel Gallego Murillo
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Patent number: 11679008Abstract: A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a shin connection interface on the ankle unit. Bypass passages containing damping resistance control valves provide continuous hydraulic damping of dorsi and plantar ankle flexion, the unit being such that, over the major part of the range of damped movement, there is no resilient biasing in either the dorsi or the plantar direction. This confers a number of advantages, including stabilisation of standing, balance control, and improved stair-walking and ramp-walking.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Andrew John Sykes
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Patent number: 11547582Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a knee chassis (10), a shin carrier (20) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and a piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and the shin carrier (20). The piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) comprises a piston assembly (40) comprising a piston (40) mounted on a piston rod (42), a cylinder body (32B) having a cavity (46) defining a cylinder within which the piston (44) is arranged to reciprocate along the piston and cylinder assembly axis, and a foot component attachment means (36) for attaching a foot component to the piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40).Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: Juan Jose Ochoa Velez, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Robert Michael Andrew Painter
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Patent number: 11529246Abstract: A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping resistances in the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion directions. An electronic control system coupled to the ankle joint mechanism includes at least one sensor for generating signals indicative of a kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion, the mechanism and the control system being arranged such that the damping resistances effective over the range of motion of the ankle are adapted automatically in response to such signals. Single and dual piston hydraulic damping arrangements are disclosed, including arrangements allowing independent heel-height adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Andrew John Sykes, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi
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Patent number: 11432947Abstract: A prosthetic ankle has an ankle joint body (10A) constituting a shin component and a foot component (12). The ankle joint body (10A) is pivotally connected to the foot component (12) by a first pivotal connection (14) defining a medial-lateral ankle joint flexion axis. The ankle joint body (10A) also forms the cylinder of an ankle joint piston and cylinder assembly with a superior-inferior central axis, the cylinder housing a piston (16) with upper and lower piston rods (16A, 16B). The lower piston rod (16B) is pivotally connected to the foot component (12) at a second pivotal connection (18). As the ankle joint body (10A) pivots about the ankle joint flexion axis, the piston (16) moves substantially linearly in the cylinder formed by the ankle joint body. The cylinder is divided into upper and lower chambers (20A, 20B).Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Robert Michael Andrew Painter, David Moser
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Patent number: 11389306Abstract: A seal (24) for a suspension liner (30) comprises a tubular substrate having an axis and a plurality of fins (26) projecting radially from the substrate. The tubular substrate has an axis and the fins (26) nm reciprocate axially as they nm peripherally around the substrate. The seal (26) may be mounted on the suspension (30) liner or fins may be integrally formed on the outer surface of the liner.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2017Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Joseph McCarthy, Alan McDougall, Ana Gallego Murillo
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Patent number: 11246723Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Graham Harris, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Fadi Abimosleh
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Patent number: 11103370Abstract: A prosthesis suspension system comprises a socket for receiving a residual limb, a locking liner having a locking pin for attaching the liner to the socket and a sealing cap disposed between the locking line and the socket. The system further comprises a gap between a skirt of the sealing cap and an interior wall of the socket in which the skirt of the sealing cap is able to move between first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Joseph McCarthy, Alan McDougall, Ana Gallego Murillo
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Publication number: 20200069440Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Graham HARRIS, Mir Saeed ZAHEDI, Fadi ABIMOSLEH
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Patent number: 10406001Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Graham Harris, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Fadi Abimosleh
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Patent number: 10285827Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises an attachment section (10), a shin section (12), a foot section (14), a knee joint (16) pivotally connecting the attachment section (10) and the shin section (12), and an ankle joint (22) pivotally connecting the shin section (12) and the foot section (14). The knee joint includes a dynamically adjustable knee flexion control device (18) for damping knee flexion. The prosthesis further comprises a plurality of sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) each arranged to generate sensor signals indicative of at least one respective kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion or of walking environment, and an electronic control system (100) coupled to the sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) and to the knee flexion control device (18) in order dynamically and automatically to modify the flexion control setting of the knee joint (16) in response to signals from the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: Mir Saeed Zahedi, Nadine Stech, David Moser, Andrew John Sykes
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Patent number: 10130495Abstract: A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping resistances in the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion directions. An electronic control system coupled to the ankle joint mechanism includes at least one sensor for generating signals indicative of a kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion, the mechanism and the control system being arranged such that the damping resistances effective over the range of motion of the ankle are adapted automatically in response to such signals. Single and dual piston hydraulic damping arrangements are disclosed, including arrangements allowing independent heel-height adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Andrew John Sykes, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi
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Patent number: 10039652Abstract: A prosthetic ankle has an ankle joint body (10A) constituting a shin component and a foot component (12). The ankle joint body (10A) is pivotally connected to the foot component (12) by a first pivotal connection (14) defining a medial-lateral ankle joint flexion axis. The ankle joint body (10A) also forms the cylinder of an ankle joint piston and cylinder assembly with a superior-inferior central axis, the cylinder housing a piston (16) with upper and lower piston rods (16A, 16B). The lower piston rod (16B) is pivotally connected to the foot component (12) at a second pivotal connection (18). As the ankle joint body (10A) pivots about the ankle joint flexion axis, the piston (16) moves substantially linearly in the cylinder formed by the ankle joint body. The cylinder is divided into upper and lower chambers (20A, 20B).Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Robert Michael Andrew Painter, David Moser
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Patent number: 9999526Abstract: A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a shin connection interface on the ankle unit. Bypass passages containing damping resistance control valves provide continuous hydraulic damping of dorsi and plantar ankle flexion, the unit being such that, over the major part of the range of damped movement, there is no resilient biasing in either the dorsi or the plantar direction. This confers a number of advantages, including stabilization of standing, balance control, and improved stair-walking and ramp-walking.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Andrew John Sykes
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Publication number: 20180036149Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Applicant: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Graham HARRIS, Mir Saeed ZAHEDI, Fadi ABIMOSLEH
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Patent number: 9433513Abstract: A prosthetic foot and ankle assembly includes a foot component and an ankle joint mounted thereto and having a fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The ankle joint includes a joint mechanism in the form of a hydraulic linear piston and cylinder assembly having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of the piston to provide hydraulic damping continuously over the range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The joint mechanism further includes a valve arrangement controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers. The valve arrangement includes first and second adjustable valves for independently controlling dorsi-flexion damping resistance and plantar-flexion damping resistance respectively. The joint mechanism includes a first flexion limiter that limits dorsi-flexion of the joint mechanism to a dorsi-flexion limit and a second flexion limiter that limits plantar-flexion of the joint mechanism to a plantar-flexion limit, thereby defining the fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Andrew John Sykes
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Patent number: 9132023Abstract: A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping resistances in the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion directions. The mechanism also provides for adjustment of a second piston element with respect to a shin component when a first valve is closed and a locking valve is open to adjust a reference angular position independently of the damping function that occurs during walking.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Andrew John Sykes
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Publication number: 20140379096Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises an attachment section (10), a shin section (12), a foot section (14), a knee joint (16) pivotally connecting the attachment section (10) and the shin section (12), and an ankle joint (22) pivotally connecting the shin section (12) and the foot section (14). The knee joint includes a dynamically adjustable knee flexion control device (18) for damping knee flexion. The prosthesis further comprises a plurality of sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) each arranged to generate sensor signals indicative of at least one respective kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion or of walking environment, and an electronic control system (100) coupled to the sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) and to the knee flexion control device (18) in order dynamically and automatically to modify the flexion control setting of the knee joint (16) in response to signals from the sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: BLATCHFORD PRODUCTS LIMITEDInventors: Mir Saeed Zahedi, Nadine Stech, David Moser, Andrew John Sykes
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Patent number: 8740991Abstract: A prosthetic foot and ankle assembly includes a foot component and an ankle joint mounted thereto and having a fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The ankle joint includes a joint mechanism in the form of a hydraulic linear piston and cylinder assembly having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of the piston to provide hydraulic damping continuously over the range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The joint mechanism further includes a valve arrangement controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers. The valve arrangement includes first and second adjustable valves for independently controlling dorsi-flexion damping resistance and plantar-flexion damping resistance respectively. The joint mechanism includes a first flexion limiter that limits dorsi-flexion of the joint mechanism to a dorsi-flexion limit and a second flexion limiter that limits plantar-flexion of the joint mechanism to a plantar-flexion limit, thereby defining the fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventors: David Moser, Fadi Abimosleh, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Andrew John Sykes
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Patent number: 8668744Abstract: A vacuum-assisted suspension device for a lower limb prosthesis secures the prosthesis to a residual body portion. Sandwiched between the residual body portion and an impermeable socket is a flexible liner made of an impermeable material that is porous to allow the transport of air and fluid directly away from the residual body portion to the outer surface of the liner. A fabric distribution layer is located over the liner and between the liner and the socket to allow transmission of such extracted air and fluid laterally over the liner to an evacuation port in the socket. The evacuation port has an associated one-way valve. During use, loading of the socket compresses the flexible liner and air is expelled via the evacuation port. When the load is removed, a vacuum is created directly between the residual body portion and the socket, the vacuum being maintained by the one-way valve.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Blatchford Products LimitedInventor: Joseph R. McCarthy