Alignment adapter for prosthetic sport feet

Abstract

An alignment adapter for prosthetic sport feet, such as running feet, includes a male pyramid plate having a male pyramid, a female connector plate having a female connector, and a back plate. For use during alignment of a prosthetic running foot, the male pyramid plate is coupled to the back of a user's socket and the female connector plate and back plate are clamped about the foot. The male pyramid and female connector are coupled and adjusted relative to one another to achieve a desired alignment. The socket and foot are locked in an alignment fixture to maintain the alignment and the male pyramid, female connector, and back plates are removed. A laminated plate is coupled to the socket to maintain alignment during normal use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temporary alignment adapter for use with prosthetic sport feet, comprising:
 a male pyramid plate having a male pyramid and configured to be temporarily coupled to a socket sized to receive a user's amputated leg;   a female connector plate having a female connector and configured to be placed adjacent a front of a prosthetic foot proximate a proximal end of the prosthetic foot;   a back plate configured to be placed adjacent a back of the prosthetic foot proximate a proximal end of the prosthetic foot; and   one or more fasteners configured to couple the female connector plate and back plate, wherein the fasteners are configured to extend alongside rather than through the prosthetic foot so that the female connector plate and back plate are clamped about the prosthetic foot;   wherein the male pyramid is configured to engage the female connector and relative movement between the male pyramid and female connector adjusts alignment of the prosthetic foot relative to the socket.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the female connector plate comprises at least two holes configured to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the back plate comprises at least two holes configured to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the back plate comprises two holes configured to allow for the drilling of holes in the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the female connector plate is generally diamond-shaped and comprises at least two holes located proximate opposite corners of the plate and configured to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the back plate is generally diamond-shaped and comprises four holes, each of the four holes located proximate one corner of the plate, wherein a first two of the holes are configured to receive the fasteners and a second two of the holes are configured to allow for drilling of holes in the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the female connector comprises set screws configured to be tightened about the male pyramid to maintain a desired alignment of the prosthetic foot relative to the socket. 
     
     
         8 . An alignment system for use with prosthetic feet, the system comprising:
 a male pyramid plate having a male pyramid and configured to be temporarily coupled to a back of a socket sized to receive a user's amputated leg;   a female connector plate having a female connector and configured to be placed adjacent a front of a prosthetic foot proximate a proximal end of the prosthetic foot, the female connector removably coupleable to the male pyramid and selectively fixed relative to the male pyramid to define a desired alignment between the prosthetic foot and the socket;   a back plate configured to be placed adjacent a back of the prosthetic foot proximate a proximal end of the prosthetic foot and removably coupled to the female connector plate about the prosthetic foot; and   a laminated plate configured to be coupled to the back of the socket to maintain the desired alignment during normal use and following removal of the male pyramid plate from the socket.   
     
     
         9 . The alignment system of  claim 8 , further comprising fasteners configured to couple the female connector plate and back plate, wherein the fasteners are configured to extend alongside rather than through the prosthetic foot so that the female connector plate and back plate are clamped about the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment system of  claim 9 , wherein the fasteners comprise screws. 
     
     
         11 . The alignment system of  claim 9 , wherein the fasteners comprise bolts. 
     
     
         12 . The alignment system of  claim 9 , wherein the female connector plate comprises at least two holes configured to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The alignment system of  claim 9 , wherein the back plate comprises at least two holes configured to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . The alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the female connector comprises set screws configured to be tightened about the male pyramid to maintain a desired alignment of the prosthetic foot relative to the socket. 
     
     
         15 . The alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the female connector plate comprises two holes configured to allow for the drilling of holes in the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         16 . The alignment system of  claim 15 , wherein the laminated plate comprises two holes and a spacing between the two holes of the female connector plate is approximately equal to a spacing between the two holes of the laminated plate. 
     
     
         17 . A method of aligning a prosthetic foot, comprising:
 attaching a male pyramid plate having a male pyramid to a back of a socket sized to receive a user's amputated leg;   placing a female connector plate having a female connector with set screws adjacent a front of a prosthetic foot proximate a proximal end of the prosthetic foot;   placing a back plate adjacent a back of the prosthetic foot proximate the proximal end of the prosthetic foot;   coupling the female connector plate and back plate via fasteners extending alongside the prosthetic foot such that female connector plate and back plate are clamped about the prosthetic foot;   coupling the socket and the prosthetic foot to an alignment fixture;   engaging the male pyramid and female connector and adjusting the male pyramid and female connector relative to each other to obtain a desired alignment between the prosthetic foot and the socket;   setting the desired alignment by tightening the set screws of the female connector about the male pyramid; and   clamping the prosthetic foot to the alignment fixture to maintain the desired alignment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising drilling holes in the prosthetic foot through holes in the back plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the male pyramid plate, female connector plate, and back plate and attaching a laminated plate to the back of the socket to allow for coupling of the prosthetic foot and socket during normal use. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising applying plaster to the back of the socket and the laminated plate to maintain the desired alignment during normal use.