PIVOTAL MECHANISM FOR KNEE JOINT PROSTHESIS Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: medical engineering; prostheses for lower extremities. SUBSTANCE: proposed mechanism comprises supporting platform intended for fixation to hip-forming sleeve, and cantilever having braking drum and intended for fixation to shin-forming tube. Platform and cantilever are interconnected by clamping element made in form of two levers, viz. forward one and back one, fixedly inserted, both of them, into braking drum of lower cantilever and interconnected by pivotal shaft. Supporting platform is secured by means of shaft to opposite side of forward lever and comprises stop-providing shoulders to enable lever to cooperate in one direction, whereas same supporting platform is secured to opposite side of back lever articulately by means of transmission kinematic link. Lower cantilever and forward lever are provided with stop-providing shoulders adapted to enable them to cooperate via damping element. EFFECT: 1) proposed knee joint mechanism can be fixed to hip prosthesis in step-less manner; 2) longer service life; 3) enhanced reliability of functioning as prosthesis passes from fixed position to free bending/unbending; 4) greater sensitivity of mechanism to outside fixing loads. 3 dwg