Load bearing assistance apparatus for lower extremity orthotic or prosthetic devices

[0021] Generally stated, the non-limitative illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure provide a load bearing assistance apparatus for lower extremity orthotic or prosthetic devices that transfers all or part of the load from a lower extremity orthotic or prosthetic device to the ground while allowing the user to maintain contact with his environment.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a user 1 wearing lower extremity orthotic devices 2 provided with load bearing assistance apparatuses 10 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the load bearing assistance apparatus 10 consist in a lateral 12a and a medial 12b spring-loaded members, each composed of a first 14 and second 16 convex elements connected at respective ends and a linking mechanism 13 for connecting the load bearing assistance apparatus 10 to a corresponding lower extremity orthotic device 2 and connecting the lateral 12a and medial 12b spring-loaded members in a spaced apart configuration so as to be positioned adjacent the lateral and medial portions, respectively, of the foot 3 of the user 1 of the lower extremity orthotic device 2 and such that the second 16 convex elements of the lateral 12a and medial 12b springloaded members are in contact with the ground 4.

[0024] The lateral 12a and medial 12b spring-loaded members provide, respectively, lateral and medial load transfer mechanical chains, which each partly absorb the weight of the associated orthotic device 2 and in some embodiments take over some of the dorsal load of the user as well. It is thus these four mechanical chains (one lateral and one medial mechanical chain for each of the left and right foot) that provide the load transfer capability from the lower extremity orthotic (or prosthetic) devices 2 to the ground 4.

[0025] Because of their positioning, the lateral 12a and medial 12b springloaded members transfer the load of the orthotic device 2 to the ground 4 regardless of the nature of the ground 4 (i.e. horizontal, stairs, uphill, downhill, etc.), while maintaining mobility (i.e. flexion I extension, inversion I eversion) of the foot 3, thus improving the user’s 1 stability.

[0026] The shape of the second convex element 16 is optimized so as to be in contact with the ground 4 during all phases of locomotion (i.e. walking, running, etc.). Each spring-loaded member 12a, 12b is sufficiently robust so as to completely support the load of its associated orthotic device 2, for example when the user 1 is traveling over uneven terrain. In an alternative embodiment, the spring-loaded members 12a, 12b may be provided with a tension adjustment mechanism, for example a height adjustment mechanism, in order to adjust their load bearing capacity to suit various loads.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a lateral 22a and a medial 22b spring-loaded members in accordance with a first alternative embodiment. Each spring-loaded member 22a, 22b is composed of a side-wise C-like (ll-like, cup-like, etc.) element 24 and a slightly downwardly curved longitudinal element 26.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, there is shown contact of each of the spring-loaded members 22 with the ground 4 during locomotion. During heel strike a portion of the curved longitudinal element 26 is in contact with the ground 4, then during forefoot contact portions of both the C-like 24 and curved longitudinal 26 elements are in contact with the ground 4 and finally, during heel lift/forefoot loading a portion of the C-like 24 element is in contact with the ground 4.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a spring-loaded member 32 in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. The spring-loaded member 32 is composed of two opposed side-wise C-like (ll-like, cup-like, etc.) elements 34, 36 connected so as to form a generally S-like (serpentine-like, etc.) shape such that portions of either or both of the C-like elements 34, 36 are in contact with the ground 4 during locomotion.

[0030] It is to be understood that the shape (i.e. curvature, deformation, etc.) of the opposed side-wise C-like elements 34 and/or 36 may vary. For example, referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a spring-loaded member 42 in accordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, composed of two the opposed side-wise C-like (ll-like, cup-like, etc.) elements 44, 46 connected so as to form a generally compressed S-like (serpentine-like, etc.).

[0031] It is to be understood that in FIGS. 6 and 7 only one of the two spring-loaded members 32, 42 is shown as the lateral and medial spring-loaded members are similar in configuration.

[0032] It is further to be understood that depending on the exact configuration of the spring-loaded member 12, 22, 32, 42, one or more portions of either or both of the elements (14, 16), (24, 26), (34, 36), (44, 46) may be in contact with the ground 4 during locomotion.

[0033] Although the present disclosure has been described by way of particular non-limiting illustrative embodiments and examples thereof, it should be noted that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications may be applied to the present particular embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as hereinafter claimed.