Prosthetic Foot Insert Heel-Spring Layout for Stable Roll-Over
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prosthetic foot inserts face challenges with installation space requirements, unsatisfactory sinkage behavior, uneven rolling motion, and complex shapes that increase manufacturing costs and complicate material utilization.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic foot insert design featuring a proximal fastening device, a holder, an elastic heel element, and a main spring extending into the forefoot area, with dual heel components that work together to dampen impact and optimize material utilization, allowing for interchangeable and adjustable components to accommodate different user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex shape is used to improve sinkage behavior and rolling motion, then comfort and functionality are improved, but manufacturing costs increase and material utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel element is divided into two separate components: a proximal heel component and a distal heel component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while using simple, manufacturable shapes, avoiding the need for complex monolithic structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal heel component is positioned within the space defined by the proximal heel component, creating a nested arrangement. The distal component fits into the heel element assembly, allowing compact configuration while maintaining simple individual component geometries for efficient manufacturing.
2Reliability
If additional components are added to improve damping and rolling motion, then comfort and functionality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal heel component serves multiple functions: it provides additional damping during heel strike, influences the rolling motion of the prosthetic foot, and works in conjunction with the main spring. This multi-functionality allows improved performance without adding numerous separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximal and distal heel components are combined into a single heel element assembly that functions as an integrated damping system. This merging provides enhanced damping performance while maintaining relatively simple overall structure compared to using multiple separate damping mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable components are used to improve adaptability, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heel element is segmented into interchangeable proximal and distal components that can be separately adjusted or replaced. This segmentation enables adaptability to different user needs while keeping each individual component simple in design for easy manufacturing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides improved material utilization, enhanced comfort, and stability by effectively damping heel strikes and adapting to various gait conditions, while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic heel element arranged on the holder
Implementation Method 2
a main spring extending into a forefoot area and coupled to the holder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The invention relates to a prosthetic foot insert (10) with a proximal fastening device (20) for fixing the prosthetic foot insert (10) to a proximal component (2), a holder (30) arranged distal to the fastening device (20) and coupled to the fastening device (20), an elastic heel element (50) arranged on the holder (30), and a main spring (40) extending into a forefoot region and coupled to the holder (30), wherein the main spring (40) is mounted on the heel element (50) between a proximal heel component (51) and a distal heel component (52), wherein the holder (30) has a projection (34) extending towards the forefoot region beyond the fastening device (20), which is supported on the main spring (40), and the main spring (40) interacts with the distal heel component (52) when the forefoot is loaded.