ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PRODUCED PROSTHETIC FOOT
Various systems, apparatuses, and methods for producing a prosthetic foot by an additive manufacturing process are disclosed.
1 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
a primary foot member extending from a heel portion to a toe portion of the foot;
a shock absorbing heel member extending downward from an underside of the primary foot member;
at least one tendon extending from the heel member and connecting to a more forward portion of the primary foot member; and
a connecting element extending upward from a top surface of the heel portion of the primary foot member;
wherein at least the primary foot member, the heel member, and at least one tendon are a unitary structure produced by an additive manufacturing process.
2 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the toe portion of the primary foot member is divided into two toe sections and a separate tendon extends outward from the heel member and respectively connects to the primary foot member near each toe section.
3 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the toe portion of the primary foot member is divided into two toe sections separated by a gap, wherein one or more connecting bands pass from one toe section to the other toe section and span the gap.
4 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the heel member is substantially hollow and includes a plurality of apertures that pass through a sidewall portion thereof.
5 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element comprises a plurality of grouped rods surrounded by an elastomeric band, with one end of each rod attached to the primary foot member.
6 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including a plurality of grouped rods produced by an additive manufacturing process.
7 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including a plurality of grouped rods encircled by an elastomeric band, wherein a stiffness of the elastomeric band can be selected to control a stiffness of the torsional pylon.
8 . The prosthetic foot of claim 1 , further comprising a hollow foot shell configured to be placed on the prosthetic foot.
9 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
a primary foot member extending from a heel portion to a toe portion of the foot;
a shock absorbing heel member extending downward from an underside of the primary foot member; and
at least one tendon extending from the heel member and connecting to a more forward portion of the primary foot member;
wherein at least one of the primary foot member, the heel member, and at least one tendon are a unitary structure produced by an additive manufacturing process.
10 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 , further comprising a connecting element extending upward from a top surface of the heel portion of the primary foot member.
11 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 , wherein the toe portion of the primary foot member is divided into two toe sections and a separate tendon extends outward from the heel member and respectively connects to the primary foot member near each toe section.
12 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 , wherein the toe portion of the primary foot member is divided into two toe sections separated by a gap, wherein one or more connecting bands pass from one toe section to the other toe section and span the gap.
13 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 , wherein the heel member is substantially hollow and includes a plurality of apertures that pass through a sidewall portion thereof.
14 . The prosthetic foot of claim 10 , wherein the connecting element is comprised of a plurality of grouped rods surrounded by an elastomeric band, with one end of each rod attached to the primary foot member.
15 . The prosthetic foot of claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including a plurality of grouped rods produced by an additive manufacturing process.
16 . The prosthetic foot of claim 10 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including a plurality of grouped rods encircled by an elastomeric band, wherein a stiffness of the elastomeric band can be selected to control a stiffness of the torsional pylon.
17 . The prosthetic foot of claim 9 , further comprising a hollow foot shell configured to be placed on the prosthetic foot.
18 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
a primary foot member extending from a heel portion to a toe portion of the foot;
a shock absorbing heel member extending downward from an underside of the primary foot member;
at least one tendon extending from the heel member and connecting to a more forward portion of the primary foot member; and
a connecting element extending upward from a top surface of the heel portion of the primary foot member, the connecting element comprising a plurality of grouped rods surrounded by an elastomeric band;
wherein at least the primary foot member, the heel member, at least one tendon, and the plurality of grouped rods are produced by an additive manufacturing process.
19 . The prosthetic foot of claim 18 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including the plurality of grouped rods produced by an additive manufacturing process.
20 . The prosthetic foot of claim 18 , wherein the connecting element comprises a torsional pylon including a plurality of grouped rods encircled by an elastomeric band, wherein a stiffness of the elastomeric band can be selected to control a stiffness of the torsional pylon.