Novel knee joint

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of medical instruments and discloses a novel knee joint which comprises a joint head, a shank support and a connecting piece, a swing hydraulic cylinder is arranged at the bottom of the joint head, the connecting piece comprises an upper support and a lower support, the upper portion of the upper support is hinged to a swing shaft of the swing hydraulic cylinder, and the lower portion of the upper support is hinged to the lower support through a hinge shaft. The rear end of the upper support and the rear end of the lower support are arranged in a spaced mode, and the front end of the upper support and the front end of the lower support are arranged in a spaced mode and abut against each other when the upper support rotates so as to limit the rotating angle range. A vertically-arranged hydraulic rod is arranged in the lower support, and the top end of the hydraulic rod corresponds to a hydraulic valve of the swing hydraulic cylinder up and down. By introducing a hydraulic control technology and an adjusting mechanism, a solution is provided for improving the safety, the flexibility, the naturalness and the adaptability of the knee joint, and the defects of an existing intelligent artificial limb in the aspects are effectively overcome.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular relates to a novel knee joint. Background Art

[0002] While intelligent prosthetic technology continues to advance, significant progress has been made, but several challenges remain. First, intelligent prosthetics still face shortcomings in safety and flexibility. Despite the maturity of the technology, most intelligent knee prostheses suffer from delayed resistance adjustment and sluggish response. This results in the knee joint not responding promptly when the user is performing actions like walking up and down stairs or changing gait quickly, increasing the risk of accidents such as falls. These safety concerns limit the widespread adoption of intelligent prosthetics in daily activities.

[0003] Secondly, the high price and maintenance difficulties of smart prostheses are also prominent issues. Currently, smart prosthetics on the market are primarily provided by foreign manufacturers, resulting in high prices. While domestic products are gradually developing, most of them face the dilemma of high prices and lack of popularization. In addition, the maintenance of smart prostheses is generally complex, requiring high-level technical support and high professional requirements for maintenance personnel, resulting in many users struggling to obtain timely and effective after-sales service during use.

[0004] Another issue is that most current intelligent knee prostheses still have significant deficiencies when it comes to stair climbing. These prostheses are too stiff, lacking sufficient flexibility and physiological simulation. This requires extensive training to adapt, and even after training, the movements still lack naturalness, severely impacting the user experience.

[0005] Finally, user experience variability is a major challenge facing the widespread adoption of smart prosthetics. The needs of different users vary significantly, and current smart prosthetic systems are unable to precisely adjust to individual differences. Consequently, many products fail to fully meet users' personalized needs. Poor adaptability and significant user experience variability are major obstacles to the market adoption and widespread adoption of smart prosthetics.

[0006] These problems show that although smart prosthetic technology has made considerable progress, there is still much room for improvement in safety, price, flexibility, personalized adjustment and natural movement performance. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention provides a novel knee joint to solve existing technical problems.

[0008] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution proposed by the present invention is: A new type of knee joint includes a joint head, a calf support and a connecting piece, the top of the joint head is connected to the thigh, the bottom of the joint head is hinged to the upper part of the calf support, the top of the connecting piece is connected to the bottom of the calf support, the bottom of the connecting piece is connected to the foot plate, the bottom of the joint head is provided with a swing hydraulic cylinder, the connecting piece includes an upper bracket and a lower bracket, the upper part of the upper bracket is hinged to the swing axis of the swing hydraulic cylinder, the lower part of the upper bracket is hinged to the lower bracket through a hinge axis, the rear end of the upper bracket is spaced apart from the rear end of the lower bracket, the front end of the upper bracket is spaced apart from the front end of the lower bracket, and they rotate relative to each other when the upper bracket rotates. Abut to limit the rotation angle range; a vertically arranged hydraulic rod is provided in the lower bracket, and the top end of the hydraulic rod corresponds to the hydraulic valve of the swing hydraulic cylinder up and down; when the center of gravity of the human body leans back and presses downward, the rear end of the upper bracket is close to the rear end of the lower bracket, and the hydraulic rod squeezes the hydraulic valve to close the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder. At this time, the swing shaft cannot rotate, thereby locking the knee joint to support the body; when the center of gravity of the human body leans forward and presses downward, the front end of the upper bracket is close to the front end of the lower bracket, and the hydraulic rod extends and does not squeeze the hydraulic valve to open the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder. At this time, the swing shaft can rotate freely, thereby allowing the knee joint to continue to bend.

[0009] As a further improvement of the above technical solution: The hydraulic rod is provided with an adjusting knob, which is connected to the pressure regulating valve on the rotating hydraulic rod and can be rotated to adjust the pressure regulating valve.

[0010] The adjusting knob is provided with a plurality of insertion holes, and each insertion hole is rotated by inserting a wrench to rotate the adjusting knob.

[0011] An adjusting cavity is provided on the lower bracket, and the adjusting knob is located in the adjusting cavity.

[0012] A pressure reducing rubber is provided at the front end of the upper bracket, and the front end of the lower bracket abuts against the pressure reducing rubber.

[0013] The lower bracket is provided with a supporting rubber, and the rear end of the upper bracket abuts against the supporting rubber.

[0014] The lower bracket is threadedly connected with a mounting groove and can be moved up and down by manual rotation, and the supporting rubber is installed in the mounting groove.

[0015] The upper bracket rotates around the hinge axis in an angular range of 1 degree.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: Improved safety: Existing smart knee joints often have safety hazards such as slow response and inability to adjust in time, which can easily lead to falls, especially when going up or down stairs or when there is a sudden change in gait. By setting up a hydraulic rod and a hydraulic valve, this new knee joint can automatically adjust the working state of the knee joint according to the changes in the user's center of gravity. When the center of gravity of the human body leans back and presses down, the hydraulic rod will squeeze the hydraulic valve, closing the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder, locking the knee joint, and providing additional support force, thereby effectively preventing accidents such as falls. This locking mechanism can ensure the stability of the knee joint when support is needed, significantly improving the safety of the user; Improved flexibility and natural movement: Traditional intelligent prosthetic knee joints often exhibit stiff movements, particularly during activities like climbing stairs, where the knee joint lacks sufficient physiological simulation and flexibility. Through intelligent control of the swing hydraulic cylinder, when the center of gravity tilts forward, the hydraulic rod extends and releases pressure on the hydraulic valve, opening the oil passage in the swing hydraulic cylinder and allowing the swing axis to rotate freely, allowing the knee joint to continue to flex. This design effectively simulates the movement of a natural knee joint, providing a smoother and more natural gait, especially during movements like climbing and descending stairs. Personalized Adaptability: Existing smart knee joints often lack personalized adjustment capabilities and cannot precisely adapt to the needs of different users. This new knee joint uses a clever hinge design between the upper and lower brackets to limit the rotation angle range when the front and rear ends of the upper bracket contact the lower bracket, allowing the knee joint to better adapt to the user's needs in different motion states. When the center of gravity changes, the knee joint will make instant adjustments based on different mechanical requirements, optimizing the user experience, improving comfort and movement efficiency. Lowering costs: Existing intelligent prostheses are technically complex and difficult to maintain, making it difficult for users to easily access services. The new knee joint has a simpler design. The combination of a hydraulic system and an articulated structure eliminates complex electronic components, effectively reducing the difficulty and cost of maintenance and the reliance on highly skilled maintenance personnel, thereby helping to increase the accessibility and service life of prostheses. In general, the present invention provides a solution for improving the safety, flexibility, naturalness and adaptability of the knee joint by introducing hydraulic control technology and adjustment mechanism, effectively overcoming the shortcomings of existing intelligent prostheses in these aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the new knee joint; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the new knee joint. Figure 1 .

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the new knee joint. Figure 2 .

[0020] Legend: 1. Joint head; 2. Calf support; 3. Upper support; 31. Articulated shaft; 32. Pressure relief rubber; 4. Lower support; 41. Hydraulic rod; 42. Adjustment knob; 43. Socket; 44. Adjustment chamber; 45. Support rubber; 46. Mounting slot; 5. Swing hydraulic cylinder; 51. Swing shaft. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in more comprehensive and detailed form below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. However, the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following specific embodiments.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used hereinafter have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the art. The technical terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] Unless otherwise specified, various raw materials, reagents, instruments and equipment used in the present invention can be purchased from the market or prepared by existing methods.

[0024] Example: Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, the new knee joint of this embodiment includes a joint head 1, a calf support 2 and a connecting piece. The top of the joint head 1 is connected to the thigh, the bottom of the joint head 1 is hinged to the upper part of the calf support 2, the top of the connecting piece is connected to the bottom of the calf support 2, and the bottom of the connecting piece is connected to the foot piece. A swing hydraulic cylinder 5 is provided at the bottom of the joint head 1. The connecting piece includes an upper bracket 3 and a lower bracket 4. The upper part of the upper bracket 3 is hinged to the swing axis 51 of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5, and the lower part of the upper bracket 3 is hinged to the lower bracket 4 through a hinge axis 31. The rear end of the upper bracket 3 is spaced apart from the rear end of the lower bracket 4, and the front end of the upper bracket 3 is spaced apart from the front end of the lower bracket 4, and when the upper bracket 3 rotates, the upper and lower brackets 3 rotate relative to each other. They abut against each other to limit the rotation angle range; a vertically arranged hydraulic rod 41 is provided in the lower bracket 4, and the top of the hydraulic rod 41 corresponds to the hydraulic valve of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5 up and down; when the center of gravity of the human body leans back and presses down, the rear end of the upper bracket 3 is close to the rear end of the lower bracket 4, and the hydraulic rod 41 squeezes the hydraulic valve to close the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5. At this time, the swing shaft 51 cannot rotate, thereby locking the knee joint to support the body; when the center of gravity of the human body leans forward and presses down, the front end of the upper bracket 3 is close to the front end of the lower bracket 4, and the hydraulic rod 41 extends and does not squeeze the hydraulic valve to open the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5. At this time, the swing shaft 51 can rotate freely, thereby allowing the knee joint to continue to bend.

[0025] First, in terms of improving safety, existing smart knee joints often have safety hazards such as slow response and inability to adjust in time, which can easily lead to falls, especially when going up or down stairs or when suddenly changing gait. Through the design of the hydraulic rod 41 and the hydraulic valve, the working state of the knee joint can be automatically adjusted according to the changes in the user's center of gravity. When the center of gravity of the human body is leaning back and pressing downward, the hydraulic rod 41 will squeeze the hydraulic valve, closing the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5, thereby locking the knee joint, enhancing support and preventing falls. This locking mechanism can effectively ensure safety when support is needed, greatly improving the stability and safety of the user.

[0026] Secondly, in terms of improving flexibility and natural movement, conventional intelligent prosthetic knee joints often exhibit stiff movements, particularly lacking sufficient flexibility during activities like climbing stairs. Through an adjustable design, when the user's center of gravity leans forward, hydraulic rod 41 extends and releases pressure on the hydraulic valve, opening the oil passage of the swing hydraulic cylinder 5 and allowing the swing shaft 51 to rotate freely, thereby enabling the knee joint to flex naturally. This design effectively simulates the movement of a natural knee joint, providing a smoother and more natural gait, especially during activities like climbing and descending stairs.

[0027] Furthermore, personalized adaptability is also a major advantage of this embodiment. Existing smart knee joints generally lack the ability to precisely adjust to individual differences. This new knee joint, through the hinged design between the upper bracket 3 and the lower bracket 4, enables the knee joint to make instant adjustments based on the user's needs under different motion states. When the center of gravity changes, the rotation angle and degree of bending of the knee joint can be precisely controlled, optimizing the user experience and improving comfort and exercise efficiency.

[0028] Finally, in terms of reducing operating costs, existing intelligent prosthetics often face high maintenance costs due to their complex technology and difficult maintenance. The new knee joint, with its streamlined hydraulic control system and articulated structure, reduces reliance on complex electronic components, lowering maintenance difficulty and costs. This makes service more convenient for users while also increasing product accessibility and longevity.

[0029] In general, the present invention solves the shortcomings of existing intelligent prostheses in terms of safety, flexibility, natural movement performance and personalized adaptability by introducing hydraulic control technology and adjustment mechanism, and significantly improves the performance and user experience of the knee joint.

[0030] In this embodiment, a hydraulic rod 41 is provided with an adjustment knob 42. This knob is connected to a pressure regulating valve on the hydraulic rod 41 and is rotated to adjust the pressure regulating valve. The adjustment knob 42 is connected to the pressure regulating valve on the hydraulic rod 41, and the user adjusts the pressure by rotating the adjustment knob 42. This design allows users to precisely adjust the pressure on the knee joint according to their needs, providing a more personalized and comfortable experience.

[0031] In this embodiment, the adjusting knob 42 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 43, and each insertion hole 43 is rotated by inserting a wrench to rotate the adjusting knob 42. Rotating the adjusting knob 42 by inserting a wrench makes it more convenient for the user to perform adjustments, especially when there is not enough space, and the adjustment operation can be easily completed, thereby improving the convenience and flexibility of operation.

[0032] In this embodiment, the lower bracket 4 is provided with an adjustment cavity 44, and the adjustment knob 42 is located in the adjustment cavity 44. The adjustment cavity 44 facilitates manual operation of the adjustment knob 42, avoiding interference from external factors, while making the overall structure more compact and improving the stability and aesthetics of the knee joint.

[0033] In this embodiment, the front end of the upper bracket 3 is provided with a pressure-reducing rubber 32, and the front end of the lower bracket 4 abuts against the pressure-reducing rubber 32. When the front end of the lower bracket 4 abuts against the pressure-reducing rubber 32, it can play a buffering role, reducing the pressure on the user's knee joint during activities, thereby improving comfort.

[0034] In this embodiment, a support rubber 45 is provided on the lower bracket 4, and the rear end of the upper bracket 3 abuts against the support rubber 45. When the rear end of the upper bracket 3 abuts against the support rubber 45, the support rubber 45 can effectively disperse the pressure when the knee joint moves, avoiding excessive impact on the knee joint and providing additional comfort.

[0035] In this embodiment, the lower bracket 4 is threaded with a mounting slot 46 and can be moved up and down by manual rotation. The support rubber 45 is installed in the mounting slot 46. The threaded connection allows for easy installation and adjustment of the height of the support rubber 45. The user can manually rotate the support rubber 45 to move it up and down, thereby personalizing the adjustment according to different usage requirements.

[0036] In this embodiment, the upper bracket 3 can rotate about the hinge axis 31 within a range of 1 degree. This precise adjustment range ensures the flexibility of the knee joint during movement while avoiding the discomfort that may be caused by excessive rotation, thereby improving the overall comfort and safety of use.

Claims

1. A new knee joint, characterized in that: The invention comprises a joint head (1), a calf support (2) and a connecting member, wherein the top of the joint head (1) is connected to the thigh, the bottom of the joint head (1) is hinged to the upper part of the calf support (2), the top of the connecting member is connected to the bottom of the calf support (2), the bottom of the connecting member is connected to the foot plate member, and a swing hydraulic cylinder (5) is provided at the bottom of the joint head (1), characterized in that the connecting member comprises an upper support (3) and a lower support (4), the upper part of the upper support (3) is hinged to the swing shaft (51) of the swing hydraulic cylinder (5), the lower part of the upper support (3) is hinged to the lower support (4) through a hinge shaft (31), the rear end of the upper support (3) is spaced apart from the rear end of the lower support (4), the front end of the upper support (3) is spaced apart from the front end of the lower support (4), and when the upper support (3) rotates, they abut against each other to limit the angle range of rotation; A vertically arranged hydraulic rod (41) is provided in the lower bracket (4), and the top end of the hydraulic rod (41) corresponds to the hydraulic valve of the swing hydraulic cylinder (5) in the upper and lower directions; When the center of gravity of the human body is leaning back and pressing downward, the rear end of the upper bracket (3) approaches the rear end of the lower bracket (4), and the hydraulic rod (41) squeezes the hydraulic valve to close the oil passage of the swing hydraulic cylinder (5). At this time, the swing shaft (51) cannot rotate, thereby locking the knee joint to support the body; When the center of gravity of the human body is forward and pressed downward, the front end of the upper bracket (3) is close to the front end of the lower bracket (4), and the hydraulic rod (41) is extended without squeezing the hydraulic valve, so that the oil channel of the swing hydraulic cylinder (5) is opened. At this time, the swing shaft (51) can rotate freely, so that the knee joint can continue to bend.

2. The new knee joint according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydraulic rod (41) is provided with an adjusting knob (42), which is connected to a pressure regulating valve on the rotating hydraulic rod (41) and is rotated to adjust the pressure regulating valve.

3. The new knee joint according to claim 2, characterized in that: The adjusting knob (42) is provided with a plurality of insertion holes (43), and each insertion hole (43) is rotated by inserting a wrench to rotate the adjusting knob (42).

4. The new knee joint according to claim 3, characterized in that: An adjustment cavity (44) is provided on the lower bracket (4), and the adjustment knob (42) is located in the adjustment cavity (44).

5. The new knee joint according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the upper bracket (3) is provided with a decompression rubber (32), and the front end of the lower bracket (4) abuts against the decompression rubber (32).

6. The novel knee joint according to claim 1, characterized in that: A supporting rubber (45) is provided on the lower bracket (4), and the rear end of the upper bracket (3) abuts against the supporting rubber (45).

7. The new knee joint according to claim 6, characterized in that: The lower bracket (4) is threadedly connected to a mounting groove (46) and is moved up and down by manual rotation, and the supporting rubber (45) is installed in the mounting groove (46).

8. The novel knee joint according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The upper bracket (3) has a rotation angle range of 1 degree around the hinge axis (31).

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