Prosthetic feet having heel height adjustability

Abstract

Prosthetic feet that allow for heel height adjustment and/or provide metatarsal joint functionality to more closely mimic natural human feet are provided. A prosthetic foot can include an ankle module having a locking mechanism configured to lock the heel at a particular height. The prosthetic foot can also include a toe region that adapts to varying heel heights. The ankle module and/or locking mechanism can be adjusted, controlled, and/or locked via a hydraulic mechanism. The toe region can curve upward relative to a portion of the foot proximal of the toe region.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
 at least one elongate foot member extending from an anterior end to a posterior end; and   an ankle module coupled to the posterior end of the at least one elongate foot member, the ankle module comprising an adapter portion pivotably or rotatably coupled to a base portion, the adapter portion configured to be coupled to a lower limb member, the base portion comprising a selectively positionable valve to selectively vary a heel height of the prosthetic foot by adjusting an angle between the prosthetic foot and the lower limb member, the base portion further comprising a ball lock to place the selectively positionable valve in a closed position to lock the heel height.   
     
     
         30 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one elongate foot member comprises a first elongate foot member and a second elongate foot member, the adapter portion coupled to a posterior end of the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         31 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 30 , wherein the second elongate foot member is located below and coupled to the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         32 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 30 , wherein the second elongate foot member extends distally beyond an anterior end of the first elongate foot member to form a toe region of the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         33 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 29 , wherein a toe region of the prosthetic foot curves upward and is configured to adapt to various heel heights of the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         34 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 33 , wherein the toe region comprises glass fiber. 
     
     
         35 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 29 , wherein the selectively positionable valve in an open position is configured to selectively place a first cylinder and a second cylinder in fluidic communication. 
     
     
         36 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 35 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are each configured to receive a hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         37 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 35 , wherein the first cylinder is located anteriorly and the second cylinder is located posteriorly. 
     
     
         38 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 29 , wherein the ball lock comprises one or more balls and at least one spring. 
     
     
         39 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 29 , further comprising an axle extending transversely relative to the at least one elongate foot member, wherein the adapter portion is configured to pivot or rotate at the axle relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         40 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
 at least one elongate foot member extending from an anterior end to a posterior end; and   an ankle module configured to be coupled to a lower limb member, the posterior end of the at least one elongate foot member being coupled to the ankle module and the anterior end of the at least one elongate foot member being anterior to the ankle module, wherein the ankle module further comprises a hydraulic adjustment mechanism, the hydraulic adjustment mechanism being selectively actuatable to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid between an anterior cylinder and a posterior cylinder to adjust an angle between the prosthetic foot and the lower limb member so as to allow for adjustment of a heel height of the prosthetic foot.   
     
     
         41 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one elongate foot member comprises a first elongate foot member and a second elongate foot member, the ankle module coupled to a posterior end of the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         42 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 41 , wherein the second elongate foot member is located below and coupled to the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         43 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 41 , wherein the second elongate foot member extends distally beyond an anterior end of the first elongate foot member to form a toe region of the first elongate foot member. 
     
     
         44 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 40 , wherein a toe region of the prosthetic foot curves upward and is configured to adapt to various heel heights of the prosthetic foot. 
     
     
         45 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 40 , wherein the anterior cylinder and the posterior cylinder collectively form a central cavity, the hydraulic fluid contained within the central cavity. 
     
     
         46 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 40 , wherein the ankle module further comprises an adapter portion, the hydraulic adjustment mechanism being rotatably or pivotably coupled to the adapter portion. 
     
     
         47 . The prosthetic foot of  claim 46 , wherein the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the anterior cylinder and the posterior cylinder causes rotation of the hydraulic adjustment mechanism relative to the adapter portion. 
     
     
         48 . A prosthetic foot comprising:
 an elongate foot member extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an arch region between the proximal end and the distal end;   an ankle module operably coupled to the elongate foot member and configured to be coupled to a lower limb member, the ankle module selectively actuatable to adjust an angle between the prosthetic foot and the lower limb member to allow for adjustment of a heel height of the prosthetic foot, wherein the ankle module comprises a hydraulic adjustment mechanism; and   a cosmesis configured to receive the elongate foot member, wherein when the elongate foot member is disposed in the cosmesis and the prosthetic foot is resting on a support surface in a neutral position with the prosthetic foot adjusted to a neutral heel height, the arch region of the elongate foot member is separated from an inner surface of a sole portion of the cosmesis by a gap, and wherein the gap allows the cosmesis to adapt to varying heel heights of the prosthetic foot, the cosmesis comprising a region of channels or recesses in the inner surface of the sole portion of the cosmesis, the region of channels or recesses configured to allow the sole portion of the cosmesis to flex to adapt to varying heel heights of the prosthetic foot.