| 摘要 |
In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus facilitating an adjustable-stiffness prosthesis or orthosis (including approximations to arbitrarily definable non-linear spring functions). Spring rates may be varied under no-load conditions during a walking gate cycle to minimize power consumption. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for outputting positive power from a prosthesis or orthosis, facilitating high-performance artificial limbs. In one embodiment of the invention, the positive power is transferred from a functioning muscle to the prosthesis or orthosis, which mimics or assists a non-functioning or impaired muscle. In another embodiment of the invention, the positive power comes from an on-board power source in the prosthesis or orthosis. |
| 主权项 |
1. A biarticular prosthetic or orthotic leg comprising, in combination, an above-knee segment for attaching said prosthetic or orthotic leg to a biological limb of a human body,
a support member connected at its upper end to the above-knee segment, said support member configured for rotation with respect to said above-knee segment to define a knee joint, a foot member including a rearwardly extending heel portion and a forwardly extending toe portion that make periodic bearing contact with ground during a walking, running or jumping gait cycle of said human body, said foot member being connected to a lower end of said support member and configured for rotation relative to said support member to define an ankle joint, an anterior spring connected to the above-knee segment and to the support member, the anterior spring being displaced from the knee joint and configured for storing energy when said support member rotates about said knee joint to move said foot member rearwardly with respect to said above-knee segment and configured for releasing energy to rotate said support member about said knee joint, and a biarticular posterior spring connected to the above-knee segment and to the heel portion of the foot member, the posterior spring being displaced from the knee joint and configured for storing energy when said support member is rotated in an extension movement about said knee joint and configured for releasing energy to rotate said foot member about said ankle joint to increase bearing force applied to the ground by said toe portion during ankle plantar-flexion. |
