Connection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device for connecting two prostheses components, comprising the following: a first holding element (2), having a lateral surface (6) that has at least one indentation (18), and a second holding element (4) having o a receiving hole (8) having a circumferential wall (10), o at least one locking element (12), and o at least one actuating element (14) which can be brought into a first position and into a second position, wherein: when the first holding element (2) is inserted into the receiving hole (8) of the second holding element (4), the at least one locking element (12) can be shifted such that it projects from the circumferential wall (10) into the receiving hole (8) and into the indentation (18) of the lateral surface (6); the at least one locking element (12) exerts a holding force on the first holding element (2), which force is directed at least also into the receiving hole when the actuation element (14) is brought out of the first position into the second position; the lateral surface (6) and the circumferential wall (10) can be conical; the lateral surface (6) and the circumferential wall (10) preferably have the same inclination angle.

Description

[0001] Connecting device

[0002] The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting two prosthetic components, which has a first holding element with a circumferential surface and at least one recess and a second holding element with a receiving bore with a circumferential transformation, at least one locking element and at least one actuating element that can be brought into a first position and into a second position, wherein, when the first holding element is inserted into the receiving bore of the second holding element, the at least one locking element is displaceable such that it projects from the circumferential wall into the receiving bore and into a recess of the circumferential surface.

[0003] Such a connecting device is known, for example, from WO 2019 / 012152 A1. The first holding element has a circumferential groove in its cylindrical outer surface, which can be referred to as an annular recess. The second holding element has a receiving bore into which the first holding element can be inserted. The peripheral wall of this receiving bore has several recesses, in each of which a ball is arranged, which represent the locking elements. After the first holding element has been inserted into the receiving bore of the second holding element, an actuating element is moved from a first position to a second position. This actuating element is a union sleeve that is displaced along the longitudinal direction of the connecting device, i.e. preferably along the direction along which the first holding element is inserted into the receiving bore of the second holding element.The balls are displaced radially inward and thus protrude into the annular recess. Any attempt to remove the first retaining element from the mounting hole and move it in the opposite direction will be prevented by the balls protruding into the annular recess.

[0004] Other prior art embodiments provide a separate locking element that is neither part of the first retaining element nor part of the second retaining element, but rather can be inserted as a separate component into an opening provided for this purpose in both retaining elements. Such a connecting device can be found, for example, in DE 10 2017 120 257 A1.

[0005] From US 9693884 B1 a connecting device is known in which balls are used as locking elements, which are displaced radially inwards when the actuating element is displaced into its corresponding second position.

[0006] A number of other different connecting devices are known from the prior art, all based on the same principle. A locking element, with or without an actuating element, is moved from a first position to a second position and thus engages in a recess, a hole, or a groove. If the two retaining elements are then to be moved relative to each other, this is no longer possible due to the positive engagement between the locking element and the recess.

[0007] A disadvantage is that such form-locking elements have a certain amount of play, allowing minimal movement between the two retaining elements even when locked. This leads, on the one hand, to disturbing noises within the prosthesis and, on the other hand, to a feeling of insecurity for the wearer of the prosthesis whose prosthetic components are connected by the connecting device. In addition, connecting, and especially detaching, the two prosthetic components from each other is often time-consuming and difficult, or even impossible without tools.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of eliminating or at least mitigating the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention achieves this object by means of a connecting device according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized in that the at least one locking element exerts a holding force on the first holding element when the actuating element is moved from the first position to the second position, wherein the force is directed at least also into the receiving bore.

[0009] Unlike prior art connecting devices, the at least one locking element exerts the holding force on the first holding element even when the two holding elements are not intended to be moved towards each other. The position of the first holding element in the receiving bore of the second holding element is consequently preloaded by the holding force. This prevents even the slightest relative movement of the two holding elements relative to each other, even if an external force is exerted on the first holding element and / or the second holding element. Only when this external force becomes so great that it overcomes the holding force is the relative movement of the two holding elements possible and will take place.Preferably, the holding force applied by the at least one locking element is so great that forces occurring during normal operation of the prosthesis, the prosthetic components of which are connected by the connecting device, are not large enough to overcome the holding force.

[0010] The second holding element preferably has a plurality of locking elements, for example at least two locking elements, but preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four locking elements. These locking elements are advantageously arranged around the circumference of the receiving bore, i.e. in the circumferential wall of the receiving bore, and are particularly preferably arranged equidistantly around the circumference. The connecting device is particularly easy to handle if all locking elements are designed such that they can be actuated by a single actuating element. This means that by actuating a single actuating element, all locking elements are displaced into a recess in the outer surface of the first holding element. The actuating element is actuated by moving it from the first position to the second position.

[0011] Preferably, the outer surface of the first holding element and the peripheral wall of the receiving bore of the second holding element are conical. Particularly preferably, both have the same angle of inclination. In a preferred embodiment, the angle is at least 5°, preferably at least 7.5° and at most 15°, preferably at most 12.5°, particularly preferably 10° to the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction along which the first holding element can be inserted into the receiving bore of the second holding element. This results in a cone angle of the conical outer surface that corresponds to twice the angle of inclination. The cone angle is the angle between two opposite points on the outer surface.

[0012] Due to a conical design of the outer surface of the first holding element and the circumferential conversion of the receiving bore of the second holding element, when the first holding element is inserted into the receiving bore of the second holding element, the two holding elements are automatically centered relative to one another with respect to the already defined longitudinal direction. The smaller the angle of inclination of the peripheral wall and the outer surface with respect to the longitudinal direction, the greater the self-locking effect. The larger the angle of inclination, the lower the self-locking effect. When exactly this self-locking effect occurs depends not only on the angle of inclination but also on the design of the surfaces that are brought into contact with one another, in this case the peripheral wall of the outer surface. The surface roughness and the surface material play a particularly important role.Preferably, the angle of inclination is selected in conjunction with the properties of the surface such that no self-locking occurs, but the assembly of the first and second holding element is close to self-locking. According to the invention, the holding force is at least also directed into the receiving bore. This means that the direction along which the holding force acts has a component that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction. In other words, the direction along which the holding force acts is preferably not orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. This configuration of the holding force ensures that the two elements to be connected to one another, in this case the two holding elements, are prestressed towards one another by the locking element and the holding force applied by it. This strengthens and stabilizes the connection created between the two holding elements.

[0013] Preferably, when the actuating element is actuated, the at least one locking element is displaced such that it projects into a recess in the outer surface of the holding element. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the actuating element is in mechanical contact with the locking element or comes into contact when it is moved from the first position to the second position. The actuating element then exerts a force on the locking element in the direction of displacement, thus displacing the locking element. In order for the locking element to exert a holding force on the first holding element, it is advantageous if the locking element comes into contact with the first holding element when displaced by the actuating element. This preferably occurs in the recess in the outer surface of the first holding element.By actuating the actuating element, a force is consequently transmitted to the locking element, by which the locking element is displaced and thus comes into contact with a side wall and / or the bottom of the recess in the lateral surface of the first holding element.

[0014] It is possible, but not necessary, for the direction of the holding force to be the direction of displacement along which the locking element is displaced. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one recess has a radially inwardly inclined contact surface against which the at least one locking element is pressed when the first holding element is in the receiving bore and the actuating element is in the second position. The contact surface against which the locking element rests is preferably also inclined counter to the direction of displacement, whereby it is possible to also transmit an axial force component to the first holding element from an exclusively radially inwardly directed displacement, i.e. a radial displacement, and thus to apply a force to the first holding element into the receiving bore of the second holding element and to preload it.Alternatively, the contact surface is not inclined radially inward and, more preferably, is not inclined relative to the direction of displacement. This can also be achieved, for example, by two or more contact surfaces against which the locking element is brought into contact simultaneously. This configuration refers to any arrangement and orientation of contact surfaces and displacement direction in which the displacement direction is purely radial and the holding force is directed exclusively radially inward, i.e., orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the holding element. This configuration is possible, but generally not advantageous.

[0015] Preferably, the at least one locking element is also displaced at least along the longitudinal direction of the receiving bore when the locking element is displaced from the first position to the second position. This means that the displacement direction already has an axial component with respect to the longitudinal direction of the two retaining elements. The locking element is displaced along this displacement direction and particularly preferably exerts a holding force that also acts along the displacement direction.

[0016] Preferably, the at least one locking element comprises a ball and / or a pin and / or a bolt and / or a wedge and / or a wedge ring or is a ball, a pin, a bolt, a wedge or a wedge ring. Each of these elements is preferably designed such that it is displaced upon actuation of the actuating element so that it engages in a recess in the outer surface of the holding element and transmits the force there. Depending on the choice of displacement direction and the design of the contact surfaces within the recess in the outer surface of the first holding element, different designs of the locking element can be useful and advantageous. It is also possible to use several locking elements with different designs. Typically, however, several identically designed locking elements are used.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the second retaining element has a locking device by which the actuating element can be locked in the second position. This can be, for example, a snap lock, a magnetic element, a bayonet lock, or a locking pin that is inserted into a corresponding recess. All of these elements prevent the actuating element from being accidentally moved from the second position to the first position, in which the two retaining elements can be detached from each other. This is to be avoided when using the prosthesis whose prosthetic components are connected by the connecting device.

[0018] The locking device preferably has a stepped structure and / or resilient pressure pieces. This prevents accidental release and preferably promotes self-locking. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking device acts both force-fitting and form-fitting and has corresponding elements that are known to those skilled in the art. This achieves mechanical securing through a form-fitting connection of corresponding form-fitting elements, one of which is preferably arranged on the actuating element and one on the first or second holding element. The actuating element is preferably designed such that it is held in the second position by a force-fitting connection between the actuating element and the first and / or second holding element. This prevents accidental release of the connection.In particular, this prevents the actuating element from being accidentally moved from the second position to the first position.

[0019] Due to wear and tear, the second position of the actuating element relative to the first holding element and / or the second holding element changes over time. The locking device preferably compensates for this and holds the actuating element in the second position, preferably without play. Advantageously, the first holding element and / or the second holding element has at least one force application element which applies a force that also acts radially outwards to at least one locking element when the actuating element is in the first position. Preferably, the first holding element and / or the second holding element has a corresponding force application element for each locking element. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the force application element exerts the force that also acts radially outwards independently of the position of the actuating element.Such a force-applying element can, for example, be or comprise an elastic element, for example a coil spring, or a rubber-elastic element, for example an elastomer block, and / or a magnet. It is preferably arranged in the recess in the outer surface of the holding element and is charged with potential energy, preferably compressed, when a locking element is pressed into the recess by moving the actuating element into the second position. As soon as the actuating element is moved back from the second position to the first position at a later time, the force applied by the force-applying element ensures that the corresponding locking element is pressed out of the recess. As a result, the first holding element can be easily removed from the receiving bore of the second holding element by moving it along the longitudinal direction.

[0020] If the force application element is positioned on the first holding element, it is advantageous if it applies a compressive force to the respective locking element. If, on the other hand, it is positioned on the second holding element, it must apply a tensile force. This can be achieved, for example, by a tension spring or a magnetic element, which in this case is positioned on the second holding element and applies a magnetic force to a correspondingly designed locking element. For this to happen, the locking element must either be a permanent magnet in the correct orientation or a magnetizable component or at least have a magnetizable portion. The actuating element is preferably moved from the first position to the second position by rotating it in a first direction.It preferably has at least one link which is in contact with at least one locking element or comes into contact when rotating and which applies the force necessary to move the locking element to the locking element.

[0021] Preferably, the first retaining element and / or the second retaining element has a preloading element by which the actuating element is preloaded toward the second position. This makes accidental release more difficult and, if necessary, completely prevents it.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the first holding element has a first form-locking element and the second holding element has a second form-locking element, which are designed such that they prevent rotation of the holding elements relative to one another when the first holding element is inserted into the receiving bore. The first form-locking element is preferably positioned on the outer surface of the first holding element and can be designed, for example, in the form of at least one, but preferably several, protruding ribs or additional depressions, for example grooves or channels. The second form-locking element is preferably positioned on the circumferential wall of the receiving bore and is designed to correspond to the first form-locking element.If, for example, the first form-locking element has at least one protruding rib, the second form-locking element has a correspondingly designed groove or channel into which the rib engages when the first holding element is arranged in the receiving bore of the second holding element. This ensures, on the one hand, that in the connected state the two holding elements are secured and locked against twisting relative to one another. In this state it is not possible to twist the first holding element relative to the second holding element about the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, it ensures that the first holding element can only be arranged in the receiving bore of the second holding element in a few, preferably only a single, orientation.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the first form-locking element is not located on the lateral surface of the first retaining element, but rather on a bottom surface of the first retaining element, wherein the bottom surface is the surface facing the bottom of the receiving bore of the second retaining element. Particularly preferably, the corresponding second form-locking element is located on the bottom of the receiving bore of the second retaining element.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the first form-locking element is located on the top side of the first retaining element. The second form-locking element is then arranged on the top side of the second retaining element.

[0024] The invention also relates to a prosthesis having at least two prosthetic components connected to one another by a connecting device of the type described here. The first prosthetic component is connected to the first retaining element or formed integrally therewith. A second prosthetic component is connected to the second retaining element and formed integrally therewith.

[0025] Some embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the attached figures.

[0026] Figures 1, 3 and 5 - schematic sectional views through various embodiments of connecting devices,

[0027] Figure 2 - the schematic representation of a first

[0028] holding element,

[0029] Figure 4 - the schematic partial representation of a second

[0030] holding element and

[0031] Figure 6 - the schematic sectional view through a

[0032] Connecting device. Figure 1 shows a first holding element 2, which is arranged in a second holding element 4. The first holding element 2 has a circumferential surface 6 that is conical. The second holding element 4 has a receiving bore 8 in which the first holding element 2 is arranged. The receiving bore 8 has a conical peripheral wall 10. The second holding element 4 also has a locking element 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a ball. An actuating element 14 is arranged radially on the outside of the second holding element 4 and can be rotated about the longitudinal direction, which runs from top to bottom in the illustrated embodiment. The actuating element 14 has a link 16, which is also rotated when the actuating element 14 is rotated and in the process moves the locking element 12. In Figure 1, the actuating element 14 is shown in the second position.It can be seen that the locking element 12 protrudes into a recess 18, which is part of the first holding element 2. An inclined contact surface 20 is present on the recess 18, against which the locking element 12 rests. The guide 16 of the actuating element 14 presses radially from the outside onto the locking element 12. The force thus transmitted to the locking element 12 is transferred by the latter to the inclined contact surface 20 and thus to the first holding element 2. Since the contact surface 20 is inclined, the thus transmitted holding force has a component in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal direction.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the first holding element 2 from Figure 1. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the first holding element 2 has a plurality of recesses 18 so that it can accommodate a plurality of locking elements 12. Two recesses 18 are shown in Figure 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first holding element 2 has a total of three recesses 18, which are distributed equidistantly around the circumference. Alternatively, a single circumferential groove could also be used. On a bottom surface 22 of the first holding element 2 shown, a groove 24 is shown, which forms the first form-locking element and interacts in a form-fitting manner with a correspondingly designed second form-locking element, which is not shown and is positioned on the corresponding second holding element 4. The first holding element 2 shown in Figure 2 has a force-applying element 26 around its circumference, which spans the recesses 18.If a locking element 12 is pressed into a recess 18 by the actuating element 14, the force-applying element 26 is deformed. Since it is formed as a ring made of an elastic material, it generates a radially outwardly directed force that moves the locking element 12 back out of the recess 18 as soon as the actuating element 14 is moved from the second position back to the first position.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a further embodiment. The first holding element 2 with the conical outer surface 6 is inserted into the receiving bore 8 of the second holding element 4. The actuating element 14 acts on an annular locking element 12, which is elastic and is pressed into an annular recess 18. Figure 3 also shows a rib 28, which is part of the second holding element 4 and forms the second positive-locking element, which engages in a corresponding groove in the first holding element 2, which is not shown in Figure 3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the rib 28 is a transverse pin, which can be designed as a cylindrical pin and which is received by corresponding receiving bores and interacts with them in a positive-locking manner.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a sectional view in which the second holding element 4 is illustrated together with the lower edge of the actuating element 14. A spring element 30 can also be seen. This spring element 30 forms the pretensioning element. It is arranged with one end on the second holding element 4 and with the other end on the actuating element 14, so that a rotation of the actuating element 14 about the longitudinal direction can tension or relax the spring element 30. Preferably, the position shown in Figure 4 is the relaxed position of the spring element 30. This position can thus be referred to as the rest position or initial position. Preferably, the spring element 30 is arranged in such a way that the actuating element 14 is in the second position when the spring element 30 is in the rest position.In this case, to connect the two retaining elements 2, 4 to each other, the actuating element 14 must first be moved from the shown second position to the first position against the preload applied by the spring element 30. The first retaining element 2 can then be inserted into the receiving bore 8 of the second retaining element 4. It is not necessary to actively move the actuating element 14 back from the first position to the second position, as this is preferably achieved by the force generated by the spring element 30. However, it may be advantageous to assist this movement manually.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a further embodiment. The first holding element 2 is again positioned in the second holding element 4. The rib 28 is now arranged at the lower end of the first holding element 2 in Figure 5 and thus forms the first positive locking element. Unlike in the previous figures, the locking element 12 is now formed by a pin that can be moved by the slotted guide 16, which is part of the actuating element 14. The spring element 30 forms the preloading element. The slotted guide 16 and the outer element of the actuating element 14 are decoupled by this preloading element 30, so that the risk of accidental release of the actuating element 14 due to mechanical movements is reduced. The recess 18 in the first holding element 2 is correspondingly designed as an inclined shaft. The force application element 26 is designed as a helical spring and exerts a radially outward-acting force on the locking element 12.In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 12 is not displaced in a purely radial direction. It can be seen that the shaft in which this movement occurs is inclined, and the movement of the locking element therefore also occurs along the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the axial direction.

[0037] Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view. It shows the actuating element 14 and three locking elements 12, which are arranged equidistantly around the circumference. In the position shown, these are held in the locked position by the guide 16. Within the actuating element 14, three force-applying elements 26 are shown. These are designed as magnets and can exert a magnetic force on the locking elements 12, which are designed, for example, as metallic balls. However, this is not possible in the position shown due to the spatial arrangement of the force-applying elements 26 relative to the locking elements 12.Only when the actuating element 14 and thus also its link 16 are rotated are the force application elements 26 arranged relative to the locking elements 12 in such a way that the force applied by the magnets is directed radially outwards and pulls the locking elements 12 radially outwards from the position shown.

[0038] List of reference symbols:

[0039] 2 first holding element

[0040] 4 second holding element

[0041] 6 Shell surface

[0042] 8 mounting hole

[0043] 10 peripheral wall

[0044] 12 Locking element

[0045] 14 Actuating element

[0046] 16 backdrop

[0047] 18 Deepening

[0048] 20 contact surface

[0049] 22 floor area

[0050] 24 grooves

[0051] 26 Force application element

[0052] 28 rib

[0053] 30 spring element

Claims

Patent claims 1. Connecting device for connecting two prosthetic components, comprising: - a first holding element (2) with a lateral surface (6) with at least one recess (18) and - a second holding element (4) with o a receiving bore (8) with a peripheral wall (10), o at least one locking element (12) and o at least one actuating element (14) that can be brought into a first position and a second position, wherein, when the first holding element (2) is inserted into the receiving bore (8) of the second holding element (4), the at least one locking element (12) is displaceable such that it projects from the peripheral wall (10) into the receiving bore (8) and into the recess (18) of the lateral surface (6), characterized in that the at least one locking element (12) exerts a holding force on the first holding element (2), which is directed at least also into the receiving bore when the actuating element (14) is brought from the first position into the second position, wherein the lateral surface (6) and the peripheral wall (10) are conical,wherein the lateral surface (6) and the peripheral wall (10) preferably have the same angle of inclination., 2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination is at least 5°, preferably at least 7.5° and at most 15°, preferably at most 12.5°, particularly preferably 10° to the longitudinal direction.

3. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one recess (18) has a radially inwardly inclined contact surface (20) against which the at least one locking element (12) is pressed when the first holding element (2) is in the receiving bore (8) and the actuating element (14) is in the second position.

4. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element (12) is also displaced along the longitudinal direction of the receiving bore (8) when the locking element (12) is displaced from the first position to the second position.

5. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element (12) has a ball and / or a pin and / or a bolt and / or a wedge and / or a wedge ring or is a ball, a pin, a bolt, a wedge or a wedge ring.

6. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second holding element (4) has a locking device by which the actuating element (14) can be locked in the second position.

7. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding element (2) and / or the second holding element (4) has at least one force application element (26) which applies a force acting at least radially outward to at least one locking element (12) when the actuating element (14) is in the first position.

8. Connecting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one force applying element (26) comprises or is an elastic element, for example a helical spring and / or a rubber-elastic element, for example an elastomer block, and / or a magnetic element.

9. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (14) is brought from the first position to the second position by being rotated in a first direction of rotation.

10. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding element (2) and / or the second holding element (4) has a prestressing element (30) by which the actuating element (14) is prestressed in the direction of the second position.

11. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding element (2) has a first positive locking element (24) and the second holding element has a second positive locking element (28), which are designed such that they prevent rotation of the holding elements (2, 4) relative to one another when the first holding element (2) is inserted into the receiving bore (8).

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