Patents Assigned to Össur hf
-
Publication number: 20090287315Abstract: The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Applicant: Össur hf.Inventors: Christophe Guy Lecomte, Hjordis Thorhallsdottir, Heidrun Gigja Ragnarsdottir
-
Patent number: 7618463Abstract: An energy returning prosthetic joint arranged for use as a knee joint in prosthetic limbs includes a biasing or spring member connected to upper and lower attachment members. The spring member includes a composite material having an energy returning property. A cushion may be provided within the range of curvature of the spring member, or be connected to frame members in order to limit motion of the spring member.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Magnus Oddsson, Vilhjalmur Freyr Jonsson, Christophe Guy Lecomte
-
Patent number: 7597674Abstract: An orthopedic walker for mounting on the lower leg of a patient includes a walker base having a central area for receiving the foot of a patient and a spaced lower surface including an outer sole, and a pair of struts connected to the walker base. Each of the struts has a frame member of high strength material secured to the first end of the walker base and a supporting component integrally secured and adjacent to the frame member. The supporting component defines laterally extending side wings generally corresponding to the second end of the frame member, and is constructed from a material less rigid than the high strength material of the frame member. The supporting component has a main body and a border portion that are integrally secured and contiguous with one another. The border portion is formed from a material having a lower hardness than the material forming the main body.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Irving Hu, Chad Leeder, Tracy Grim
-
Patent number: 7597675Abstract: A knee brace divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace having a frame, and at least one cross strap that is connected to the frame and extends across over at least a portion of the first and second brace sides. The at least one cross strap is arranged obliquely relative to the median plane. The brace also includes a tightening mechanism that is connected to the frame and is configured to incrementally tension the at least one cross strap at predefined settings and to release tension on the at least one cross strap. A first end of the at least one cross strap engages the tightening mechanism. A dosage meter is connected to the frame, and includes an indication feature representing tension settings of the at least one cross strap.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Arni Thor Ingimundarson, Palmi Einarsson
-
Patent number: 7581454Abstract: A method of measuring the performance of a prosthetic foot includes obtaining a pressure distribution of the prosthetic foot during a motion of the prosthetic foot and determining whether the pressure distribution falls within a preselected range of performance values for the prosthetic foot. The pressure distribution comprises a trajectory illustrating the progression of a center of pressure of the prosthetic foot during motion. A prosthetic foot can also be designed to approximate a pressure distribution corresponding to a preselected range of performance values.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Arinbjörn V. Clausen, Kim De Roy
-
Patent number: 7531006Abstract: A system and method for sensing movement of a device associated with a limb. In one example, a prosthetic or orthotic system includes a sensor assembly configured to measure movement of a component of the system in a single direction while substantially isolating negative effects of forces and/or loads in other directions. For instance, the sensor assembly may be advantageously coupled to a pivot assembly configured to substantially mimic a natural ankle joint. The sensor assembly may monitor rotation of a foot unit about an axis of a pivot pin of the pivot assembly and disregard other movements and/or forces. For example, the sensor assembly may include a potentiometer that detects rotation of an associated elongated bellow portion about the axis, wherein the bellow portion includes a plurality of ridges configured to substantially eliminate effects of radial and/or axial forces.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Arinbjörn Viggo Clausen, Christophe Guy Lecomte, Larus Sigfusson
-
Patent number: 7455696Abstract: The invention in some embodiments relates to a dynamic seal for a prosthetic knee. The dynamic seal in one embodiment is utilized to seal a magnetorheological fluid comprising a liquid and solid particles within a chamber of the knee. The dynamic seal embodiments are specially configured with a pre-loaded tensioned garter spring which has a coil spacing that is at least as large as the size of the particles or maximum size of the particles in the magnetorheological fluid. Desirably, this allows the magnetorheological fluid particles to flow in and out of the dynamic seal without clogging the seal and advantageously provides for a reliable dynamic seal.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Charles R. Bisbee, III, Henry H. Hsu
-
Patent number: 7431737Abstract: A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, sensing module data may include information relating to the gait of a user and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural, healthy ankle. The system may further accommodate, for example, level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs, traveling up/down sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input or display output signals through an external interface. For example, the processing module may receive a heel height input from the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Össur hf.Inventors: Heidrun G. Ragnarsdottir, Arinbjorn V. Clausen, Hjordis Thorhallsdottir, Helgi Jonsson
-
Patent number: 7371262Abstract: In one embodiment, an impact and torque-absorbing module for a low profile lower limb prosthesis comprises two support members telescopingly engaged to permit axial and rotational motion therebetween. A resilient element resists axial displacement of the two support members, and a torque resisting cuff resists rotational displacement of the two support members. Precompression of the resilient element can reduce the size of the shock module making it more compact. The resilient element can also be replaced allowing adjustment of the shock absorption.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Christophe Guy Lecomte, Heidrun Gigja Ragnarsdottir
-
Patent number: 7347877Abstract: The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Össur hfInventors: Arinbjorn Viggo Clausen, Heidrun Gigja Ragnarsdottir, Christophe Lecomte, Hjordis Thorhallsdottir
-
Patent number: 7169190Abstract: An impact-absorbing shock module comprises two pylons telescopingly engaged to permit axial and rotational motion therebetween. A resilient element, such as a spring-fluid combination, a plurality of interconnected disks, or a Belleville spring, provides axial shock absorption. A tubular torque-resisting cuff provides rotational resistance, or torsion-resistance. A fluid valve is optionally provided so that the fluid pressure may be varied to adjust the torsion resistance.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignees: Össur. hfInventors: Van L. Phillips, Hilary D. Pouchak
-
Patent number: 7063727Abstract: A simple, inexpensive prosthetic foot is provided incorporating a cushioned ankle including an ankle block formed of a resilient material or bladder having desired compliance and energy return characteristics. The ankle block is sandwiched between a foot element and an ankle element. One or more openings extends through the ankle block with a substantially transverse orientation relative to a forward walking motion. The size and shape of these openings, as well as the insertion of different types of stiffeners therein, provide desired performance characteristics to the ankle block. When the ankle block takes the form of one or more inflatable bladders, the pressure within these bladders is individually controlled by valves to provide desired performance characteristics to different portions of the prosthetic foot. A pump system can also be used to control and generate fluid pressure into these bladders.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignees: Össur hfInventors: Van L. Phillips, Hillary Pouchak
-
Patent number: 6887279Abstract: An impact-absorbing shock module comprises two pylons telescopingly engaged to permit axial and rotational motion therebetween. A resilient element, such as a spring-fluid combination, a plurality of interconnected disks, or a Belleville spring, provides axial shock absorption. A tubular torque-resisting cuff provides rotational resistance, or torsion-resistance. A fluid valve is optionally provided so that the fluid pressure may be varied to adjust the torsion resistance.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignees: Össur hfInventors: Van L. Phillips, Hilary D. Pouchak
-
Patent number: RE39961Abstract: A computer controlled hydraulic resistance device for apparatus such as a prosthetic knee for above knee amputees, includes a two stage pilot operated solenoid valve connected to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from a hydraulic actuator which applies resistance to the prosthetic knee or other apparatus through a coupling. Hydraulic pressure is sensed on the high and low side of the actuator by a spring biased magnet and a magnetically actuated electronic sensor and is used by a micro-controller in a closed-loop manner to compensate automatically for variations in the device and in the hydraulic fluid viscosity. The device also has magnetically actuated electronic sensors which sense positions of the apparatus and feed back to the micro-controller for applying a predetermined resistance profile to the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2003Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: ÖSSUR hfInventors: Steven H. Petrofsky, William G. Gruesbeck