FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Lower-limb amputees have identified comfort and mobility as the two most important characteristics of a prosthesis. While these in turn depend on a multitude of factors, they are strongly influenced by the biomechanical performance of the prosthesis and the loading it imparts to the residual limb. Current prosthetic foot and ankle systems are generally aligned for operation as fixed mechanical structures comprising elastic and deformable elements designed to provide stability during standing and walking and to return energy for propulsion into the swing phase of the walking cycle. However, such a device is often uncomfortable for the patient who wishes to sit on a kneeling position as this will cause stress in stump and patella tendon and hence will cause pain to the patient. Kneeling position is required to be performed under Islamic rituals as a Muslim will perform prayers in a kneeling position. It is noted currently that patients have to remove the prosthetics completely before they perform Islamic rituals or commence prayers.

Accordingly, there is a need for a prosthetic foot and ankle assembly that does not require the prosthetic foot and ankle assembly to be removed before the patient sits on a kneeling position.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly which is dorsiflexion at an angle of approximately 180° at an ankle of a patient who has undergone a transtibial amputation and thus enable the patient to sit on a kneeling position without having to remove the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly, the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly includes a foot component, an ankle joint mounted to the foot component and a prosthetic socket that is symmetric with the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly, a dorsiflexion mechanism and at least one alignment interface, wherein the dorsiflexion mechanism is connected to the ankle joint which enables the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly to buckle at an angle of approximately 180° at the patient’s ankle, wherein a joint mechanism is provided and the joint mechanism is connected to the ankle joint and to a control means that is tethered at a location outside the ankle joint and the control means is connected to a gasper and wherein the at least one alignment interface allows the ankle joint to be bended at an angle of approximately 180° at the patient’s ankle in relation to the prosthetic socket by withdrawing the control means which in return will allow the patient to sit in a kneeling position without having to remove the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly and when the patient is standing, the dorsiflexion mechanism will be locked at an angle of approximately 90° at the patient’s ankle in relation to the prosthetic socket

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly when it the patient is in a standing position according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly when it the patient is sitting in a kneeling position according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly. The details of the invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 which are being referred to independently or together. It must be noted that the drawings are by no means intended to limit the scope of the present invention and the scope is limited purely by the claims.

In a broad manner, the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] which can be dorsiflexion at an angle of approximately 180° at an ankle of a patient who has undergone a transtibial amputation and thus enable the patient to sit on a kneeling position without having to remove the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10], the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle (10] assembly includes a foot component (12], an ankle joint (14] mounted to the foot component (12] and a prosthetic socket (16] that is symmetric with the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10], a dorsiflexion mechanism (18] and at least one alignment interface (20] wherein the dorsiflexion mechanism (18] is connected to the ankle joint (14] which enables the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] to buckle at an angle of approximately 180° at the patient’s ankle, wherein a joint mechanism (22] is provided and the joint mechanism (22] is connected to the ankle joint (14] and to a control means that is tethered at a location outside the ankle j oint (14] and the control means is connected to a gasper and wherein the at least one alignment interface (20] allows the ankle joint to be bended at an angle of approximately 180° at the patient’s ankle in relation to the prosthetic socket (16] by withdrawing the control means which in return will allow the patient to sit in a kneeling position without having to remove the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] and when the patient is standing, the dorsiflexion mechanism (18] will be locked at an angle of approximately 90° at the patient’s ankle in relation to the prosthetic socket (16] The control means may be a locking mechanism (24] and a cable (26] With this arrangement, the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] is considered to be a non-electronically controlled transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control means is provided in form of a trigger which is manually controlled i.e. pulling a cable wire that is connected between the ankle joint (14] and a location at the top of the prosthetic socket (16]. The location at the top of the prosthetic socket (16] is being provided to enable the patient to apply a small force to release the lock without much hurdle.

On a separate embodiment and even though it is not shown in the accompanying drawings, the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] can be an electronically controlled prosthetic foot and ankle assembly. For this purpose, the control means is provided in a form of an automatic control which requires battery, servo motor and an Arduino™. However, the addiotion of these items may increase the weight of the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly. The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] may be made using a clinically safe material such as stainless steel.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] may be provided with a foot carbon and foot shell and the foot carbon and foot shell are made of fiber carbon.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle may be used by a Muslim user when performing prayers or by a user when performing yoga.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly may be weatherproof such as rainproof. The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly may be provided with a silicone cushion which will be in contact with an amputated leg.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] may be made of fiber resin. This is preferred so that the color of the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] can match the color of the leg of the patient as much as possible.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle assembly (10] may be used by a patient who is performing Muslim rituals such as prayers or by a patient who is performing yoga.

The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle (10] may have a fixed structure when it is used by an adult and an adjustable structure when it is used by a child. The transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle (10] can be used by both men and women and also by children. For children, the height of the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle (10] may be adjustable as the children will be growing.

Typically, the transtibial prosthetic foot and ankle (10] can be used for 3 - 5 years, subject to wear and tear.