FOOT PROSTHESIS HAVING ADJUSTABLE FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPROVED VERTICAL LOAD AND SHOCK ABSORPTION Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC A61F2/66 

FIELD: medical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: device has longitudinally continuing foot keel bone having anterior and posterior loaded sole surface zones and arch-shaped middle zone with no loads acting upon it between the loaded zones. The posterior end of the arch-shaped middle zone with no loads acting upon it is spirally twisted downward and forward as spring compressed when absorbing and straightens for restoring vertical load when using foot keel bone part in the foot prosthesis. Method for absorbing and returning vertical load from foot prosthesis when performing various actions involves using foot keel having anterior and posterior loaded sole surface zones and arch-shaped middle zone with no loads acting upon it between the loaded zones. The posterior end of the arch-shaped middle zone with no loads acting upon it is spirally twisted downward and forward as spring. The arch-shaped middle zone is loaded by straightening and the middle zone spiral spring is loaded by compressing as response to vertical loading forces acting upon the foot prosthesis. Energy accumulated by the arch-shaped middle zone and compressed spiral spring of the middle zone after magnitude of vertical forces acting upon foot prosthesis becoming smaller.

EFFECT: improved mechanical properties; flexible adjustability of vertical and horizontal active components.

24 cl, 34 dwg