Resilient prosthetic and orthotic components which incorporate a plurality of sagittally oriented struts
A method of making a resilient prosthetic/orthotic component, particularly a shank for a lower extremity prosthesis in which the shank includes multiple sections which are unbounded in one or more portions of each other, and wherein the shank sections incorporate at least one voids and inserted materials between one or more shank sections to enhance shank flexibility while reducing stresses which can cause premature failure.
1. A method of making a resilient prosthetic component comprising the step of:
monolithically forming a plurality of resilient elements utilizing at least one part form, heat and pressure,
disassembling the formed; resilient elements,
removing material from an intermediate portion of at least one of the formed resilient elements to form at least one gap, void or space therein,
assembling the formed elements to form the resilient prosthetic component wherein the gap, void or space therein reduces inter-laminar shear forces in the component.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the material is removed by cutting.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembling includes connecting the formed resilient elements together at ends of the component.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic component is a resilient leg member for a lower extremity prosthesis.