HINGE KNEE JOINT OF LOWER EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: medical equipment, in particular, prosthetics. SUBSTANCE: hinge knee joint has an overrunning clutch and a control mechanism; it is a double-acting clutch, and a flexible twisting member is provided between the clutch sprocket and one of the links of the hinge joint; one end of the twisting member is fixed to the sprocket, and the other - of the same link of the hinge joint. The other link of the hinge joint is fixed to the overrunning clutch rim or made integral with it. The operating condition is controlled from the control mechanism by mechanical coupling between the control mechanism and clutch dog. EFFECT: provision of anthropomorphic energy-saving walking on the prosthesis on horizontal and inclined surfaces due to spring- cushioned bending in the knee joint in the support phase, damping of the front jerk and prevention of loss of shake stability at an incompletely unbent prosthesis, provision of walking on stairs. 2 dwg