PASSIVE POWER-CONSERVATIVE ARTIFICIAL KNEE

摘要

A passive artificial knee comprises first and second links rotatably coupled at a knee joint, a passive compressive force generator rotatably coupled to the second link, and a release mechanism coupled to the first link. When a relative angle of the first and second links is less than a toggle angle, the release mechanism locks in a first operational mode, and the force generator compresses, resisting the flexing of the second link relative to the first link. When the relative angle is larger than the toggle angle, the force generator decompresses and encourages the flexion of said second link relative to said first link. When the force generator is substantially extended and said compressive force is substantially small, the release mechanism moves into a second operational mode, wherein the force generator neither resists nor encourages the extension and flexion of said second link from said first link.

主权项

1. A passive power-conservative artificial knee comprising:
a first link; a second link rotatably coupled to said first link at a knee joint; a passive compressive force generator rotatably coupled to said second link from a first end of the compression force generator, and capable of generating a compressive force between said first end and a second end of the compression force generator; a release mechanism coupled to said first link, wherein said release mechanism has at least a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode said release mechanism couples the second end of said compression force generator to said first link and in the second operational mode said release mechanism does not couple said second end of said compression force generator to said first link, wherein: when said second link is flexing toward said first link and an angle of said second link relative to said first link is less than a toggle angle, said release mechanism moves into the first operational mode where said compression force generator is becoming compressed, locks said release mechanism in the first operational mode, and resists the flexing of said second link relative to said first link; when said second link is flexing toward said first link and the angle of said second link relative to said first link is larger than said toggle angle, said release mechanism remains in the first operational mode and said compressive force generator is becoming decompressed and therefore encourages the flexion of said second link relative to said first link; when said compression force generator is substantially extended and said compressive force is substantially small, said release mechanism moves into the second operational mode; and when said release mechanism is in said second operational mode, said compression force generator neither resists nor encourages the extension and flexion of said second link from said first link.