Multi-Component Prosthetic Foot Spring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic foot designs often suffer from bulky spring elements that lead to problematic stressing and reduced durability, limiting their performance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component prosthetic foot design featuring a J-shaped curvilinear spring with a leaf spring element that spans the gap between upper and lower extensions, providing a closed loop for stress distribution and tunability, eliminating the need for bulky spring elements and incorporating materials like carbon fiber or titanium for enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a J-shaped spring with snubbing element is used to increase spring resistance, then spring resistance to load increases, but the spring element becomes extremely robust and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The spring system is divided into two separate elements: a curvilinear spring providing the hinge effect and a leaf spring element providing the snubbing action. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently, avoiding the need for a single bulky robust spring while achieving the desired spring resistance through coordinated action of two lighter components.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring element acts as an intermediary between the curvilinear spring and the load, providing the snubbing effect that increases spring resistance. This intermediary element allows the curvilinear spring to maintain its elegant form while the leaf spring handles the force amplification, avoiding direct loading of the curvilinear spring and eliminating the need for robustification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single elastomeric element is used for spring function, then the design is simple, but performance tunability and support range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The spring system is segmented into a curvilinear spring element and a leaf spring element, each contributing different functional characteristics. The curvilinear spring provides the hinge effect and basic support, while the leaf spring provides tunable snubbing action. This segmentation enables independent optimization of each element's properties, achieving wide performance tunability without requiring a single complex elastomeric component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves performance tunability by varying the configuration, material properties, and geometric parameters of the leaf spring element relative to the curvilinear spring. By adjusting parameters such as leaf spring thickness, length, material modulus, and positioning, a wide range of performance characteristics can be tuned while maintaining the two-element configuration, providing versatility without excessive complexity.
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 achieves improved durability and performance tunability, avoiding the limitations of conventional designs by distributing stress effectively and allowing for a wide range of support and energy return, enhancing the prosthetic foot's structural integrity and fatigue resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The curvilinear spring compresses, with the assistance of the leaf spring, providing a wide range of support and performance tunability
Implementation Method 2
a curvilinear spring element including a rounded portion transitioning between upper and lower extensions
Data Source
AI summary
Prosthetic feet are described comprising a curvilinear spring element, including a rounded portion transitioning between upper and lower extensions, the upper extension including a mounting section/region between the curved portion and a distal end of the upper extension. At least one leaf spring element spans a gap between the upper and lower extension sections, and a resilient footbed is attached to the lower extension. Such feet are typically set within a cosmetic cover for and fit within a shoe for use.