Abstract: A pylon includes a first end portion connected to a patient's leg stump and a second end portion connected to a prosthetic foot. The second end portion includes a piston, and the first end portion includes a piston chamber receiving the piston. The second end portion is thus rotatable and axially movable relative to the first end portion about and along a longitudinal axis of the pylon, respectively. The piston chamber encloses a compressible volume of fluid through which substantially all of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump is supported. The compressible volume of fluid is sealed so that it can be pressurized. Also, a torsional spring couples the piston and piston chamber and resists relative rotation between the piston and piston chamber without supporting any substantial portion of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump to the piston. The present invention thus advantageously provides a pylon which is more cushioned and resilient than conventional pylons.

Abstract: An inventive prosthetic ankle for use between a pylon and a prosthetic foot to support a person's weight on the ground comprises an integrally formed, generally C-shaped carbon-fiber composite flexure member having upper, lower and curved legs. The upper leg is connected to a lower end of the pylon, and the lower leg is connected to an upper surface of the prosthetic foot. The curved leg interconnects the upper and lower legs, with the curved leg extending from a forward edge of the upper leg to a forward edge of the lower leg in a rearwardly-facing arc about a medial/lateral axis positioned forward of the pylon. The curved leg is dog-boned to facilitate canting of the pylon with respect to the prosthetic foot in the medial/lateral plane. Also, the curved leg is resilient to resiliently bias the upper and lower legs apart from one another so the legs are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another when the person's weight is off the prosthetic ankle.

Abstract: A pylon includes a first end portion connected to a patient's leg stump and a second end portion connected to a prosthetic foot. The second end portion includes a piston, and the first end portion includes a piston chamber receiving the piston. The second end portion is thus rotatable and axially movable relative to the first end portion about and along a longitudinal axis of the pylon, respectively. The piston chamber encloses a compressible volume of fluid through which substantially all of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump is supported. The compressible volume of fluid is sealed so that it can be pressurized. Also, a torsional spring couples the piston and piston chamber and resists relative rotation between the piston and piston chamber without supporting any substantial portion of the patient's weight applied through the patient's leg stump to the piston. The present invention thus advantageously provides a pylon which is more cushioned and resilient than conventional pylons.