Apparatus and method for an orthotic and prosthetic joint
View Patent ↗The apparatus of the invention comprises a mechanical joint that is adapted for use on a user's anatomical joint which has a proximal area, a distal area, a lateral side and a medial side. The preferred mechanical joint comprises a proximal body that is disposed adjacent to the proximal area of the user's anatomical joint and a distal race that is disposed adjacent to the distal area of the user's anatomical joint. The preferred mechanical joint also comprises a release plate, an iris, a roller bearing pin, a resilient tube and a drive pin that are substantially disposed in the proximal body. The preferred mechanical joint further comprises a pivot screw that is adapted to pivotally connect the proximal body and the distal race and a cable pull assembly that is adapted to permit the distal race and the proximal body to move relative to each other.
1. A mechanical joint being adapted to for use on a user's anatomical joint, said anatomical joint having a proximal area, a distal area, a lateral side and a medial side, and said mechanical joint comprising:
(a) a proximal body for, said proximal body being disposed adjacent to the proximal area of the user's anatomical joint;
(b) a distal race for, said distal race being disposed adjacent to the distal area of the user's anatomical joint;
(c) a release plate, said release plate being substantially disposed in the proximal body;
(d) an iris, said iris being substantially disposed in the proximal body;
(e) at least one roller bearing pin, said roller bearing pin being substantially disposed in the proximal body;
(f) a resilient tube, said resilient tube being substantially disposed in the proximal body;
(g) a drive pin, said drive pin being substantially disposed in the proximal body;
(h) a pivot screw, said pivot screw being adapted to pivotally connect the proximal body and the distal race; and
(i) a cable pull assembly, said cable pull assembly being adapted to permit the distal race and the proximal body to move relative to each other.
2. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the distal race comprises a round race.
3. The mechanical joint of claim 2 wherein the roller bearing pins are adapted to be in bearing contact with the round race.
4. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the iris comprises a plurality of roller ramps.
5. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the iris comprises a plurality of roller pockets.
6. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the cable pull assembly comprises a cable pull actuator.
7. The mechanical joint of claim 6 wherein the cable pull actuator comprises an actuator ramp.
8. The mechanical joint of claim 7 wherein the cable pull assembly comprises an actuator pin.
9. The mechanical joint of claim 8 wherein the actuator pin bears against the actuator ramp.
10. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the cable pull assembly comprises a cable pull connector.
11. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the cable pull assembly comprises a guide screw.
12. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the cable pull assembly comprises a return spring.
13. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the cable pull assembly is adapted to rotate the release plate.
14. The mechanical joint of claim 1 further comprising a proximal plate, said proximal plate being disposed adjacent to the proximal body.
15. The mechanical joint of claim 1 further comprising a default mode that is locked.
16. The mechanical joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint is adapted to be unlocked with approximately 0.3″ of linear movement of the cable pull actuator.
17. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the joint is adapted to be unlocked with approximately 3° of angular movement of the release plate.
18. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the joint has a narrow profile.
19. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the joint has a profile that is approximately 0.5″.
20. The mechanical joint of claim 1 wherein the joint may be worn on both the lateral or medial side of the user's joint.