Universal prosthesis with cushioned ankle

Abstract

The invention provides a cushioned ankle prosthetic foot and a cosmesis having a slot between the big toe and adjacent toe to allow the amputee to wear thong sandals and the like. The cushioning desirably provides a smooth and more natural-feeling rollover from a heel-strike to a toe-off position and/or improved dynamic response characteristics. Advantageously, the prosthetic foot is configured so that it can be used as either a right or a left foot. Moreover, the cosmesis includes a toe reinforcement strap to desirably provide improved wear resistance to the cosmesis.

1 . A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
 a foot element comprising a toe region comprising a toe and an adjacent slot that only extends within said toe region;    an ankle element positioned entirely above said foot element and spaced from said foot element; and    an ankle block comprising a compressible material and positioned intermediate said foot element and said ankle element such that said foot element and said ankle element do not directly contact one another.    
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said toe and said slot have the same length.  
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said foot element has an upper surface and said ankle element has a lower surface that is substantially parallel to said upper surface of said foot element.  
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said ankle block comprises a monolithic element.  
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said foot element comprises an integral unit.  
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said foot element is generally curvilinear in shape.  
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said ankle element is shorter than said foot element.  
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said prosthetic foot further comprises a connector for facilitating attachment of said prosthetic foot to a socket or pylon.  
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein said prosthetic foot further comprises a cosmesis that includes a slot substantially aligned with said slot of said foot element.  
     
     
         10 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said foot element and said ankle element is flexible.  
     
     
         11 . A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
 a foot element having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of toes at an anterior toe region, said plurality of toes comprising two side toes and an intermediate central toe separated from said side toes by respective slots, said central toe being parallel to and aligned with said longitudinal axis, said toes having the same length and said slots extending entirely within said anterior toe region;    an ankle element spaced from said foot element and being connectable to a lower limb socket or pylon; and    a compressible ankle block sandwiched between said foot element and said ankle element.    
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said ankle element is positioned entirely above said foot element.  
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said foot element and said ankle element do not directly contact one another.  
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said ankle block comprises a wedged configuration.  
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 14 , wherein said wedged configuration comprises a wedge shaped cut at a posterior section of said ankle block.  
     
     
         16 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said toes are slightly upwardly curved.  
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said toes have a length of about 1.5 inches or less.  
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said ankle block is in mechanical communication with an arch region of said foot element.  
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 11 , wherein said prosthetic foot further comprises an outer cosmesis that houses said foot element, said ankle element and said ankle block.  
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 19 , wherein said cosmesis comprises a toe region with a slot to form a big toe substantially aligned with one of said side toes of said foot element.  
     
     
         21 . A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
 a foot element comprising an anterior toe region comprising a middle toe and a pair of flanking outer toes, each of said toes having geometrically substantially the same shape;    an ankle element positioned above said foot element and spaced from said foot plate over an entire length of said ankle plate;    at least one of said foot element and said ankle element being capable of flexing along their length; and    a resilient ankle block intermediate said foot element and said ankle element, said ankle block comprising a posterior section having a wedge shaped cut to form a generally vertical first rear face and a sloping second rear face downwardly inclined with respect to said first rear face.    
     
     
         22 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said toes only extend within said anterior toe region.  
     
     
         23 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said ankle element is positioned entirely above said foot element.  
     
     
         24 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said toes are symmetrically arranged.  
     
     
         25 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said foot element is generally curvilinear.  
     
     
         26 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said ankle block comprises an anterior section that has a sloping front face.  
     
     
         27 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said ankle block comprises an elastomer.  
     
     
         28 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 27 , wherein said ankle block comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         29 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 28 , wherein said ankle block comprises polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         30 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said ankle block comprises cellular foam.  
     
     
         31 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 21 , wherein said foot element and said ankle element do not directly contact one another.  
     
     
         32 . A prosthetic foot, comprising: 
 a generally horizontal foot plate comprising a toe region comprising an asymmetric slot and an adjacent toe, said slot and said toe being positioned entirely within said toe region;    an ankle plate positioned entirely above said foot plate and spaced from said foot plate; and    a compressible ankle block positioned intermediate said foot plate and said ankle plate such that said foot plate and said ankle plate do not directly contact one another.    
     
     
         33 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said foot plate has a longitudinal axis and said slot is offset from said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         34 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 33 , wherein said toe is offset from said longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         35 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said foot plate and said ankle plate is flexible.  
     
     
         36 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said ankle block comprises substantially the sole means of support and connection between said foot plate and said ankle plate.  
     
     
         37 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said ankle block comprises a wedged configuration.  
     
     
         38 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 37 , wherein said wedged configuration comprises a wedge shaped cut at a posterior section of said ankle block.  
     
     
         39 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said prosthetic foot further comprises a cosmesis that includes a slot substantially aligned with said slot of said foot plate.  
     
     
         40 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said ankle plate is generally horizontal.  
     
     
         41 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 32 , wherein said foot plate extends a length substantially equal to that of a natural foot.