Prosthetic knee-joint assembly including adjustable proximal and/or distal couplings

Abstract

A prosthetic knee-joint assembly includes: (a) a proximal segment; (b) a distal segment pivotally disposed with respect to the proximal segment to form a knee joint; (c) a first coupling integral with the proximal segment that includes a first adjustable member having a frustopyramidal boss extending proximally with respect to the proximal segment that is adapted to mount the proximal segment to above-knee prosthetic knee components, where the frustopyramidal boss is slidably adjustable and/or rotatably adjustable with respect to the proximal segment; and (d) a second coupling integral with the distal segment that includes a second adjustable member having a second frustopyramidal boss extending distally with respect to the distal segment that is adapted to mount the distal segment to below-knee prosthetic limb components, and where the second frustopyramidal boss is slidably adjustable and/or rotatably adjustable with respect to the distal segment.

1 . A prosthetic knee-joint assembly for a prosthetic limb comprising:
 a proximal segment;   a distal segment pivotally disposed with respect to the proximal segment and pivotable with respect to the proximal segment in at least the anterior-posterior direction to provide a knee-joint pivot point;   a first coupling including a first coupling base component integrated into the proximal segment, the first coupling base component having a planar proximal surface and at least one of a depression and a cavity extending into and along the proximal surface, the first coupling further including a first bearing portion slidably received within the depression or the cavity and further including a first frustopyramidal boss extending in a proximal direction from the first bearing portion, the first frustopyramidal boss being rotatable and adapted to mount the proximal segment to an above-knee prosthetic limb component;   a second coupling adapted to mount the distal segment to a below-knee prosthetic limb component;   a first releasable lock adapted to selectively prohibit at least one of rotation and translation of the first frustopyramidal boss with respect to the proximal segment.   
   
   
       2 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first coupling includes a first domed portion positioned proximally to the first coupling base component and to the first bearing portion;   a first frustopyramidal boss extends axially out from a proximal apex of the first domed portion, the domed portion being disposed on the planar proximal surface;   the second coupling includes a second domed portion positioned distally to the distal segment; and   the second frustopyramidal boss extends axially through the second domed portion and out from a distal apex of the second domed portion.   
   
   
       3 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first releasable lock includes at least one set screw. 
   
   
       4 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first releasable lock includes at least one slidable member pushed by the at least one set screw, the at least one slidable member being selectively engageable with the first bearing portion. 
   
   
       5 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second coupling includes a second frustopyramidal boss that is rotationally and translationally adjustable with respect to the distal segment. 
   
   
       6 . A prosthetic knee-joint for a prosthetic limb comprising:
 a proximal segment including at least one of a depression and a cavity extending into a proximal end of the proximal segment;   a distal segment pivotally disposed with respect to the proximal segment and pivotable with respect to the proximal segment in at least an anterior-posterior direction to provide a knee-joint pivot point;   a first coupling at least partially received within the depression or the cavity extending into the proximal end of the proximal segment, the first coupling being adapted to mate with and couple to an above-knee prosthetic limb component, the first coupling having a first frustopyramidal boss being slidably adjustable with respect to the proximal segment in at least a first direction substantially perpendicular to the TKA line, and rotationally adjustable with respect to the proximal segment so as to be rotatable with respect to the proximal segment; and   a second coupling adapted to mate with and couple to a below-knee prosthetic limb component.   
   
   
       7 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the proximal segment includes a substantially planar proximal surface; and wherein the first coupling is slidably disposed against the substantially planar proximal surface. 
   
   
       8 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one releasable lock arranged to prohibit at least one of sliding and rotation of the frustopyramidal boss with respect to the proximal segment. 
   
   
       9 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one releasable lock includes at least one set screw. 
   
   
       10 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one releasable lock includes at least one slidable member pushed by the at least one set screw, the at least one slidable member being selectively engageable with the first coupling. 
   
   
       11 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 6 , wherein the second coupling includes a second frustopyramidal boss that is selectively rotatable and translatable with respect to the distal segment. 
   
   
       12 . The prosthetic knee-joint of  claim 6 , wherein the first coupling includes a domed portion; and wherein the first frustopyramidal boss extends proximally from the domed portion. 
   
   
       13 . A prosthetic knee-joint assembly for pivotably joining an above-knee prosthetic limb component and a below-knee prosthetic limb component, the prosthetic knee-joint assembly comprising:
 a proximal segment including
 a substantially planar proximal surface including an opening, the opening being substantially circumscribed by the substantially planar proximal surface, 
 a first pyramid assembly interposing the proximal segment and the above-the-knee prosthetic limb component, the pyramid assembly including
 a proximally extending first frustopyramidal boss adapted to releasably couple with a pyramid receiver on a distal end of the above-knee prosthetic limb component, 
 a dome extending from a distal end of the frustopyramidal boss, the dome including a substantially planar distal surface slidably engaging at least a portion of the substantially planar proximal surface of the proximal segment, and 
 a base having a dove-tail-shaped cross-section, the base extending distally from the substantially planar distal surface of the dome, the base at least partially occupying the opening in the substantially planar proximal surface of the proximal segment, and 
 
 at least one set screw extending within the proximal segment, the at least one set screw being arranged to selectively retain the base within the opening; and 
   a distal segment pivotably connected to the proximal segment, the distal segment including a distally extending second frustopyramidal boss adapted to releasably couple to the below-knee prosthetic limb component;   wherein the first frustopyramidal boss is selectively rotatable and translatable relative to the proximal segment.   
   
   
       14 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first frustopyramidal boss is translatable in anterior-posterior directions. 
   
   
       15 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first frustopyramidal boss is translatable in medial-lateral directions. 
   
   
       16 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the opening is larger than the base in at least an anterior-posterior dimension. 
   
   
       17 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the opening is larger than the base in at least a medial-lateral dimension. 
   
   
       18 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first pyramid assembly is a unitary component. 
   
   
       19 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one slidable member pushed by the at least one set screw, the at least one slidable member being selectively engageable with the base. 
   
   
       20 . The prosthetic knee-joint assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second frustopyramidal boss is selectively rotatable and translatable relative to the distal segment.