L-Shaped Clearance Enhancer for Prosthetic Foot Overlap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lower limb prostheses systems are inadequate for individuals of smaller stature or those with longer residual limbs, as they often cannot accommodate both high activity levels and high energy functionality, particularly when switching between 'low energy' and 'high energy' prosthetic feet.

Innovation Solution

A clearance enhancer in the form of an L-shaped plate is introduced, which connects to the lower end of the leg prosthesis and the ankle plate of the foot prosthesis, allowing for adjustable mounting and reduced clearance, enabling smaller stature amputees to use 'high energy' prostheses by overlapping the transfemoral prosthesis with the foot prosthesis, thus accommodating different foot prosthesis types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a high energy foot prosthesis is used, then energy absorption and return capability is improved, but the prosthesis becomes problematic for persons of smaller stature or those with longer residual limbs due to dimensional constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy absorption and return capabilityVSAvoidadaptability to different stature and residual limb lengths

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis system is divided into separable components: a leg prosthesis and a foot prosthesis that can be independently selected and combined. The clearance enhancer acts as an intermediate component that can be added or removed to adjust the interface between these components, allowing the same foot prosthesis to work with different leg prostheses and vice versa, thereby resolving the adaptability issue while maintaining high energy functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clearance enhancer introduces dynamic adjustability to the prosthesis system by providing a mechanism to change the relative positioning between the leg prosthesis and foot prosthesis. This allows the system to adapt to different user dimensions and activity requirements, enabling smaller stature individuals to use high energy prostheses by adjusting the clearance between components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the prosthetic foot dimensions are increased to provide sufficient functionality for high energy activities, then energy absorption capability is improved, but the prosthesis becomes problematic for persons of smaller stature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality for high activity levelsVSAvoidcompatibility with smaller stature individuals

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clearance enhancer serves as an intermediary component between the leg prosthesis and foot prosthesis. It provides a mounting interface that allows the foot prosthesis to be positioned at optimal heights for different user statures while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality needed for high energy activities. This intermediary element enables smaller stature individuals to access high energy prostheses that would otherwise be incompatible with their anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a clearance enhancer is added to reduce clearance between leg and foot prosthesis, then adaptability for smaller stature individuals is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to smaller stature individualsVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clearance enhancer is designed as a universal component that can be integrated into various prosthesis configurations. It provides multiple functions: adjusting clearance, providing a mounting interface, and enabling different foot prosthesis types to work with the same leg prosthesis. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by eliminating the need for multiple specialized parts and facilitating easier customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10123886B2Clearance enhancer for lower limb prosthesis

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 PALMER JEFFREY RAY

AI summary

A lower limb prosthesis for a person is provided that comprises a foot prosthesis having a heel plate for contacting the ground and an ankle plate extending vertically from the heel plate when the heel plate is in ground contact, a leg prosthesis having an upper end portion mountable to the body of the person and a lower end portion, and a clearance enhancer. The clearance enhancer is in the form of a generally L-shaped plate, the plate including a base plate and an upper plate extending generally perpendicularly from the base plate. The base plate is configured to be connected to the lower end of the leg prosthesis. The upper plate includes a number of mounting openings to receive a corresponding number of fasteners for connecting the upper plate to the ankle plate of the foot prosthesis so that the lower portion of the leg prosthesis overlaps the ankle plate of the foot prosthesis.