Carbon fiber prosthetic foot with hollow cross sections

Abstract

A hollow tubulous composite structure and method for prosthetic limbs is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prosthetic foot comprising a tubulous hollow molded carbon fiber helical coil spring having a helical path around a primary central spring axis,
 the spring helical coil configured along a helical path with at least three complete 360 degree coils around the central spring axis,   the tubulous hollow member comprising fibers arranged along the path of the coil to provide bending strength and stiffness and bias oriented fibers extending around the entire circumference of the tubulous member to provide torsional strength to store,   release and carry torsional and transverse shear loads,   and said hollow molded carbon fiber helical coil spring central spring axis being oriented in a generally vertical foot direction.