IP Library Granted Patent US 12661244
Granted Patent B2
US 12661244 · App. 17/416,409 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Orthopedic joint device

Inventor: Martin Pusch (Duderstadt, DE)
Assignee: OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA
A61F2/748A61F2/582A61F2/64A61F2002/5035A61F2002/5038A61F2002/6818
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661244
App. No.
17/416,409
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an orthopedic joint device having an upper part and a lower part which is hinged about a pivot axis to said upper part, having a flexion moment-controlled retainer device that is positioned between the upper part and the lower part, blocks a flexion and releases the flexion when a predefined flexion moment is exceeded, wherein a control element is associated with the retainer device and is coupled to a delaying element.

Claims (27)

1 . An orthopedic joint device having an upper part and a lower part which is fastened to the upper part in an articulated manner about a pivot axis, with a flexion-moment-controlled retaining device which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and which blocks flexion and releases the flexion when a predetermined flexion moment is exceeded, characterized in that the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is assigned a control element which is coupled to a delay element which causes a time-delay activation of the control element, wherein the control element comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator which is connected in terms of flow to at least one chamber, and wherein the control element comprises a spring-loaded actuator and the delay element comprises a valve or a throttle.

2 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the delay element is configured as a hydraulic delay element.

3 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is configured as a pneumatic or hydraulic damper device.

4 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 3 , wherein the pneumatic or hydraulic damper device has a cylinder in which a movable piston is mounted, the movable piston divides the cylinder into two chambers such that, when the movable piston is shifted accompanied by a reduction in a chamber volume, fluid from a first chamber flows out of the first chamber through a line, wherein inside the line there is a control valve which is assigned the control element in order to set a flow resistance.

5 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is configured to be drivable in opposite directions.

6 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein a return line with a check valve is coupled to the control element.

7 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 4 , wherein the line is connected to a second chamber and/or to a compensating volume.

8 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve or the throttle is positioned in a fluid line and comprises a slide.

9 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the delay element is configured to be adjustable.

10 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is coupled to a force accumulator to counter a reduction in resistance.

11 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 10 , wherein the force accumulator is configured to be adjustable.

12 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is configured to be actuable under pressure control and with a time delay.

13 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 1 , wherein the orthopedic joint device is configured as an orthotic or prosthetic knee joint or as an orthotic or prosthetic elbow joint or as an orthotic or prosthetic wrist.

14 . An orthopedic joint device having:

an upper part; and

a lower part which is fastened to the upper part in an articulated manner about a pivot axis with a flexion-moment-controlled retaining device which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part, and which blocks flexion and releases the flexion when a predetermined flexion moment is exceeded;

wherein the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is configured as a pneumatic or hydraulic damper device, and wherein the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is assigned a control element which is coupled to a delay element, the delay element causes a time-delay activation of the control element, wherein the control element comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator which is connected in terms of flow to at least one chamber, and wherein the control element comprises a spring-loaded actuator and the delay element comprises a valve or a throttle.

15 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 14 , wherein the pneumatic or hydraulic damper device has a cylinder in which a movable piston is mounted, the movable piston divides the cylinder into two chambers such that, when the movable piston is shifted accompanied by a reduction in a chamber volume, fluid from a first chamber flows out of the first chamber through a line, wherein inside the line there is a control valve which is assigned the control element in order to set a flow resistance.

16 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 14 , wherein the control element is configured to be drivable in opposite directions.

17 . An orthopedic joint device having:

an upper part; and

a lower part which is fastened to the upper part in an articulated manner about a pivot axis with a flexion-moment-controlled retaining device which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part, and which blocks flexion and releases the flexion when a predetermined flexion moment is exceeded;

wherein the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is configured as a pneumatic or hydraulic damper device, and wherein the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is assigned a control element configured as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator which is connected in terms of flow to at least one chamber, the control element being coupled to a delay element, the delay element causes a time-delay activation of the control element, wherein the control element comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator which is connected in terms of flow to at least one chamber, and wherein the control element comprises a spring-loaded actuator and the delay element comprises a valve or a throttle.

18 . An orthopedic joint device having an upper part and a lower part which is fastened to the upper part in an articulated manner about a pivot axis, with a flexion-moment-controlled retaining device which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and which blocks flexion and releases the flexion when a predetermined flexion moment is exceeded, characterized in that the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is assigned a control element which is coupled to a delay element which causes a time-delay activation of the control element, wherein fluid from a first chamber flows out of the first chamber through a pressure line to the control element and the delay element is arranged in the pressure line, wherein fluid from the control element flows out of the control element through a return flow line, and wherein a check valve is positioned in the return flow line that prevents flow from a second chamber from entering the control element, and wherein the control element comprises a spring-loaded actuator and the delay element comprises a valve or a throttle.

19 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 18 , wherein fluid from the control element flows out of the control element through the return flow line to the second chamber.

20 . An orthopedic joint device having an upper part and a lower part which is fastened to the upper part in an articulated manner about a pivot axis, with a flexion-moment-controlled retaining device which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and which blocks flexion and releases the flexion when a predetermined flexion moment is exceeded, characterized in that the flexion-moment-controlled retaining device is assigned a control element which is coupled to a delay element which causes a time-delay activation of the control element, wherein the control element comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator which is connected in terms of flow to at least one chamber, wherein the control element comprises a spring-loaded actuator and the delay element comprises a valve or a throttle, wherein fluid from a first chamber flows out of the first chamber through a pressure line to the control element and the delay element is arranged in the pressure line, wherein fluid from the control element flows out of the control element through a return flow line, and wherein a check valve is positioned in the return flow line that prevents flow from a second chamber from entering the control element.

21 . The orthopedic joint device according to claim 20 , wherein fluid from the control element flows out of the control element through the return flow line to the second chamber.