IMPROVEMENTS TO PASSIVE ANKLE-FOOT PROSTHESIS AND ORTHOSIS CAPABLE OF AUTOMATIC ADAPTATION TO SLOPED WALKING SURFACES AND METHODS OF USE

摘要

The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.