FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a prosthetic foot. More specifically, the invention provides prosthetic foot with single continuous curve and a method of optimisation of the single continuous curve for matching the bending of the prosthetic foot to the dorsiflexion of a natural foot wherein optimisation is rendered on parameters such as weight, height, body type and parameters alike, and cut out provided on elongated, variable, thickened forefoot portion, and a heel portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

History and existence of prosthetic foot is marked since ancient time to provide biomechanical motion with a mechanical substitute. Basically, a prosthetic foot is an artificial device that replaces a missing part of an amputee, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or a condition present at birth (congenital disorder). The long and winding road to the prosthetic development began about 1500 B.C. and has been evolving ever since for both arms and legs. Since the beginning, prosthetic foot is an especially important constituent of leg prosthesis which leads to development of various models that are designed for activities ranging from walking, standing, dancing, and running to cycling, etc.
The foot movement is dependent on motion of the lower extremities, defined by three cardinal planes, which are sagittal plane, frontal plane, and eversion plane. The sagittal plane is dorsiflexion (upward) and plantar flexion (downward), the frontal plane is inversion (adduction) and eversion (abduction), and the transverse plane are adduction, or internal rotation, of the foot. The major joints of the lower extremity are the hip, knee, ankle, and those of the foot. The ankle joint, also a hinge type, allows gliding and angulation.
Much like the human foot, many of today’s prosthetic foot reliably store and release energy while flexing in a number of degrees of motion so as to properly coordinate with the muscular action when the user is walking, running, or standing. Also, significant advancements have been made in the field during recent years, many of which are mechanically complex and employ a number of moving parts to provide good and reliable performance characteristics. However, their cost and complexity limit their use particular in high volume applications and in user communities, which do not have a sophisticated technical infrastructure to support and maintain such devices. Therefore, many designs of the prosthetic foot have been developed to mimic the function and naturalness by copying the bones and muscles by various mechanical components.

One such example of prosthetic foot is disclosed in patent WO2014147070A1, having a toe region, an ankle region and a heel region along with an attachment unit configured to be connected to a coupling device and/or to stump of an amputee. Wherein, heel member extending forwardly and downwardly from the attachment unit towards the toe region, curving through the ankle region and thereafter extending rearward towards the heel region, said heel member comprising at least one elongated curvilinear heel leaf spring. However, plurality of parts and complexity of assembly in such device render a user facing adaptability issues and an unsmooth movement.

Another exemplary example is Patent application US6562075B2 which describes incorporating a foot keel and a calf shank connected to the foot keel to form an ankle joint area of the prosthetic foot. The calf shank includes a downward convexly curved lower end which is attached at a portion thereof to the keel mid-foot portion by way of an adjustable fastener arrangement. Wherein, adjustable fastener arrangement permits adjustment of the alignment of the calf shank and the foot keel with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction of the foot keel for tuning the performance of the prosthetic foot. However, due to plurality of parts and complexity of fastener the use of such devices renders unwanted discontinues and jerky movement due to unequal dexterity, weight, and transition among these pluralities of parts.

The state of art citations provide assembly, a fully functional prosthetic foot engagement with plurality of parts performed using fasteners. Therefore, in an event where any of the part malfunctions, the performance of prosthetic foot is affected rendering unwanted pain and discomfort for an amputee because of poor shock absorption and weight bearing instability. Therefore, most of them are limited in their degree of self-dependency and their ability of performance, thus, requiring a more robust design which serves the purpose and remains cost effective.
Accordingly, it is further required that a method is provided to adjust the design of the prosthetic foot based on factors such as height, body weight, body type, and parameters alike so that the prosthetic foot is easily fabricated, provides natural movement and returns the stored elastic energy efficiently.

OBJECT(S) OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a prosthetic foot having a single continuous curve which includes an elongated, variable, and customized thickened forefoot portion, and a heel portion that replicates the natural movement of the foot by flexing/ deforming in the initial part of the stance phase and returning the stored elastic energy in the last part of the stance.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method to optimize the accuracy of returning the stored elastic energy by customizing the single continuous curve which includes an elongated, variable, and customized thickened, forefoot portion, and a heel portion, in accordance to the multiple variable factors such as height, body weight, body type, etc. to provide distributed compliance, wherein every small region in the curve deflects by an equal margin to attain most displacement in least amount of stress.

Yet another object of the invention is to customize the single continuous curve
via at least one cut out on elongated, variable, thickened forefoot portion, and on heel portion to optimize the accuracy of returning stored elastic energy, stability and reduce weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a prosthetic foot having a single continuous curve which an elongated, variable, and customized thickened, forefoot portion, and a heel portion that replicates the natural movement of the foot by flexing/ deforming in the initial part of the stance phase and returning the stored elastic energy in the last part of the stance wherein the invention provides a prosthetic foot with one curve for the forefoot, and one curve for the heel. The curve deflects and the foot pivots through continuously varies centers to approximate the movement of both the meta-tarsal joint and the ankle joint. The prosthetic foot has more rate of return of the stored elastic energy. The prosthetic foot has physiologically accurate rate of return of energy.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a method of optimization of the single continuous curve for matching the bending of the prosthetic foot to the dorsiflexion of a natural foot wherein optimization is rendered on parameters such as weight, height, and body type etc. by customizing the single continuous curve which includes an elongated, variable, and customized thickened, forefoot portion, and a heel portion, in accordance to the multiple variable factors such as height, body weight, body type, etc. to provide distributed compliance, wherein every small region in the curve deflects to attain most displacement in least optimum amount of stress.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the invention provide a single continuous curve prosthetic foot, wherein the flexibility of the prosthetic foot is optimised to maximize the area of contact with the ground, enhance stability, provide more accurate gait, provide easier walking (lower metabolic cost), more walking, less chances of injury or physiological problems.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a single continuous curve prosthetic foot, wherein the single continuous curve ensures a smooth rollover, with progression of the center of pressure from the heel to the forefoot very smoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The object of the invention may be understood in more details and more particularly description of the invention briefly summarized above by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective equivalent embodiments.
Fig. 1 shows perspective view of a prosthetic foot according to the embodiments of the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows side view of a prosthetic foot according to the embodiments of the present invention; and
Fig. 3 shows rare view of a prosthetic foot according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention now will be described hereinafter with reference to the detailed description, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are indicated. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The present invention is described fully herein with non-limiting embodiments and exemplary experimentation.

Figure 1 shows perspective view of a prosthetic foot (10) according to the embodiments of the present invention. The prosthetic foot (10) has a single continuous curve including an elongated, and variable thickened a forefoot portion (12), and a heel portion (14). The forefoot portion (12) includes an upper attachment section (16) which is coupled with an adapter (26) this adapter (26) is to be coupled to a limb of an amputee, an ankle section (18) and a toe section (20). The heel portion (14), the ankle section (18), and the toe section (20) are positioned to mimic a natural foot. The ankle section (18) of the forefoot portion (12) includes a curve section oriented substantially vertically. A first curved section (22) interconnects the ankle section (18) and the toe section (20) and a second curved section (24) interconnects the ankle section 18 and the heel portion (14).

In an embodiment of the present invention the prosthetic foot (10). The forefoot portion (12) is curved downwards from the attachment section (16) through the first curved section (22) to form the toe section (20), and the heel portion (14) can extend upwardly through the second curved section (24) to form the ankle section (18).

Figure 2 shows side view of a prosthetic foot according to the embodiments of the present invention, wherein the ankle section (18) is elongated and is of variable thickness, distinct from the first curved sections (22) and second curved section (24). The elongated and variable thicken section can be elongated and can have variable thickness and is thicker than the first curved section (22) and second curved section (24). The ankle section (18) is elongated and variable thickness is distinguished and distinct from the curved sections (22) and second curved section (24) because it is elongated and has variable thickness with respect to the curved sections. The forefoot portion (12), upper attachment section (16), the ankle section (18), and the toe section (20) and with the heel portion (14), can be in a “L-shaped” configuration or a “C shaped” configuration. The forefoot portion (12) and ankle section (18) forms a spring portion and the heel portion (14) along with ankle section (18) forms another spring portion such that both can bend and flex. The upper attachment section (16), The curved ankle section (18), toe section (20), first curved section (22), heel portion (14) , second curved section (24) are optimized together to mimic natural gait, store and return energy and provide improved vertical shock absorption.

Figure 3 shows rare view of a prosthetic foot according to the embodiments of the present invention, wherein the prosthetic foot (10) also includes an adapter (28) to attach to the upper attachment section (16) of forefoot portion (12) by means of plurality of fasteners (30). The adapter 28 includes a pyramid connector 26 on a top end or upper surface, as is well known in the art to connect to a socket on the stump of the amputee.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of, and not restrictive on, the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We Claim:
1. A prosthetic foot (10) comprising
a single continuous curve of forefoot portion (12); and
a single continuous curve of heel portion (14); wherein,
said single continuous curve of forefoot portion (12) further comprising an elongated, variable, and of customized thickness;
said single continuous curve for heel portion (14) further comprising an elongated, variable, and of customized thickness;
said single continuous curve of forefoot and heel portion deflects and the foot pivots through continuously varies centers to approximate the movement of both the meta-tarsal joint and the ankle joint to replicate natural movement of the foot by flexing/ deforming in the initial part of the stance phase and returning the stored elastic energy in the last part of the stance; and
said prosthetic foot physiologically accurate rate of return of stored elastic energy.

2. The prosthetic foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein, flexibility of the prosthetic foot is optimized to maximize the area of contact with the ground, enhance stability, provide more accurate gait, provide easier walking (lower metabolic cost), more walking, and less chances of injury or physiological problems.

3. The prosthetic foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the single curve ensures a smooth rollover, with progression of the center of pressure from the heel to the forefoot and vice versa very smoothly.