A STABILISING KNEE JOINT FOR A LOWER LIMB PROSTHESIS

摘要

In a stabilising knee joint for a lower limb prosthesis, weight-activated knee stabilisation is achieved by interengagement of a brake disc (32) associated with an upper knee chassis (10) and a brake member (34) associated with a shin carrier (18). The knee chassis is mounted on a posterior end portion (14P) of a resiliency biased activation arm (14) which pivots on the carrier (18). To provide a mechanical advantage in the brake action, a circumferential portion of the brake disc (32) is tapered, and the brake member (34) has a correspondingly tapered channel which receives the circumferential disc portion. The arrangement of the brake members (32, 34) and their mounting on the shin carrier (18) is such that substantial release of frictional engagement of the brake members can be substantially achieved even when a knee flexion moment is applied to the joint.