US1407369A - Artificial leg - Google Patents

Description

A. BEURDELEY- ARTIFICIAL LEG.

- APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 19,1920.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor.

A. BEURDELEY.

ARTIFICIAL LEG. APPLICATION FILIZD JULY 19,1920.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

S-SHE Inventor 3 SHEET 5;. 5

' A. BEURDELEY.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

APPLICATlON FILED JULY 19,1920.

1,407,369, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- Fig. 54

yUNi'ia D' star f ,-.A1\man BEURD LEY, or rams, FRANCE.

menace. i i

, (GRANTED UNDER THE 'rnovi'siciis or runner To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Armin BEUnnnLnY, en. gineemcitizen of the French Republic, residlng at Paris, Department of the Seine, in France, andhaving P. Oi address 79 Rue de Clichy; in the said city',"have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Artificial'Legs, (for-whichfI have filed applications in France Dec. 11; 1918, and March 7 1919;) and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventiom's'uch aswill enable others skilled in the art'to which it appe'rtains to make and use the same;

The present invention'relatesto artificial limbs and particularly to artificial legs intended to replace asnear'as possible, both from outward appearance and manipula tion, an amputated limb.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a device of the character indicated, wherein all the partsare articulated and connected in sucha manner as to fulfill all the requirements necessary in an efiicient apparatus of thisflkind; and the thigh parts are so designed as to provide the amputated subject with a flexible support underthe buttock by means of the hip bone which is a natural point-of support, and to fix the a1n-- putated member by .means of broad ters, one of which prevents the stump from moving out of the stock of the lower leg por: tion.

Another important feature is that the sup port can be adjusted as required'by the amputated subject according to the pressure the latter wishes to place respectively upon the knee or the buttock in consequence of temporary sensitiveness or for any other reason.

ment made by the leg in moving from the upright to the seated position when the am'-' putated-subject bends his leg, but there is no displacement relatively to the apparatus on account of the variations in length during this movement. V m I Still another feature is 'the part1cular 'means by which the articulation uniting the foot to the lower leg portion; namely the ankle, can be displaced in two directions at this is the lateral The articulation of the knee which: is integral on the one hand with the upright ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Specification of Letters ratent. Patint ed Fgb, 21, :1 Application. filed July .19, 1920. Serial No. 397,364.

or Manon aie'ai, 41 STAT. 1,1313.)

is in a plane formfront to back, in a manner similar to the movement employed in walls ing. The second, the amplitude of which is reduced, takes place in a frontal plane and play which permits the foot. to adjust itself to the irregularities of the ground. i

The part of the foot which represents the toesis also articulated and arranged insuc'h a manner as to restorethefunction of this part of the footas in the case of a normal person, the function being to continue the propulsion when the heelhas left the ground. The external part of the ankle articulation is efliciently protected by a rubberbracelet of special form, which joins the separate parts without folds continuous manner. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a View of the complete apparatus in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatus, as illustrated in 1; I

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus in rear elevation; H I j v Figs. 4 and 5fare enlarged sectional detail views of the foot and" ankle connections, illustrating the flexible joint construction; Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the manner of applying the complete de'viceto the wearer; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the device as adjusted to the wearer;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail View of the hinged knee joint construction;

Fig. 9 is a modification illustrating. another means of adjustingflthe height of the upper part of the apparatus; j v Fig. 10 is anothermodification illustrat ing another forin'of the upper sliding connection to which the hip securing straps or hands are attached; and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14] illustrate various modifications of means for adjusting the height of the upper part of the" apparatus and means for securing the same to the wearer. j u j Referring to thedrawings in detail, the, apparatus comprises a lower leg portion 1," preferably hollow, the vided with a toe extension 3, and an upper thigh embracing framework which isadapted to be held in position and secured was wearer by straps or handset, 5 andfi. rightangles .to oneanother, the first of these foot member 2 pro work, Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9, are formed essentially of: two hollow metallic uprights of oval shape in three pieces, 7, 8 and 4 which can slide in one another, the part 8 carrying at its lower extremity an eccentric for the purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. V

I At the top is the supportingband 4,wh 1ch is shaped to follow the contour of the thlgh at the height of the hip bone and receives that part of the weight of the amputated subjects body which he desires to put upon it. This band terminates at each of its extremities in an eyelet hole by means of which it is attached to a bolt or rivet in the part- 4 ,"theamputated member being also fixed by two additional bands of ample width 5 and 6, the band 5preventing the inversion produced by applying pressure to the band 4', while the band 6 prevents the stump from moving out of the stool: of the lower leg portion. 7

The part 7 referred to above can slide 1 with a gentle friction in the part 8,,and

' effected very conveniently.

the part 13 is provided with a collar which may be tightened by a bolt, thus allowing the height of the hip 41: to be adjusted with precision, and in addition,

on the part 7 a spring 14: is mounted,

the pointof support of which is located in a collar 14: fixed to the part 7. The part 4: can also slide in the part 7 and the force exerted by the band 1 is transmitted to the springs 1414, through the part 4: which presses on the lower end of it. A small screw placedat the bottom of the part 1 limits the movement of the springs and the point of this screw passing through a small groove 15 cut out in the part 7. The adjustment of the height may also be effected in another manner which, is shown in Figure 9. In this construction the part 7 is perforated at its lowerend by anuniber of small holes 12 while at the upper end of the'partS there is a corresponding hole.

The height can now be adjusted in a very simple manner by means of a small pin 11 having a fiat head, this pin being held in position by a spring 10,an arrangement which allows the height adjustment to be In order to increase the security against injury to the perinaeum, which might otherwise be causedby the impact of the part 4 against it, a modified arrangementof the part 4 is provided. lVith this object in view, the part 4: is designed as shown in .Fig. 10. uThe part 4 is much shorter than the part 4 but this difference is compensated for by a backward extension of the former part, at the top of which there is a hole 4? from which the band 4 is suspended. f

The thighparts terminate in an eccentric 16 the-details of which are shown in Figure 8 in two sections. The part 9 attached to the lower leg portion terminates in as -fork 16 forming a mortise, the part 8 ending in the axis 9, a bronze piece 16 which forms the eccentric being mounted on this bolt.

The fixing garter 6 is of. the customary form and is laced up on the outside as usual; it is attached to the thigh uprights by 1 a counter-plate which holds'it against the upright by means of small: bolts, the. heads' 'of which are imbedded in the plate. This method of assembly facilitates the removal of the parts and enables themto be cleaned. The foot 2 is united to the lower leg portion by a double articulation, the constructional details of which are shown in Figure 4; while the complete arrangement is shownin Figure 2. 1

The two axes of rotation may be clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the transverse axis being represented by thecpin 27 and the longitudinal axis being formed by the hollow half-cylinder 28, which serves in addition as an oil box and enables the pin 27 to be lubricated through the small passages 31, the oil being introduced through a small opening 28 covered with a plug. The longitudinal axis 28 is reinforced at itscenter by a rib 29, and interposed between'the member 28 and the foot isa leather pad 32 The return movements of the foot in a longitudinal direction are effected by means of two flexible connections fixed on the one hand to the foot, andbn the ot-her, to a specially shaped part whichgis integral with the lower portion of thelower leg portion.'

by a screw which enables the tensionof the" spring to be adjusted, and consequently the movement oftheanlrle "in the direction fro back to front. The-return movement for the front part of the foot, w-l1ich can be adjusted, is'efi'ected by means of arubber spring 20 connected on the one side to the lower leg portion and hooked at theother end to acstem 22' provided at its extremity with a screw-thread, the tension of the adjusted by means of the spring being screw 21.

The return movements of the foot in a transverse directionare efl'ected in the following manner Y Two stirrups v 24 provided with bronze :1 bushings 26 are mounted onthe pin 27 the lower part of' these stirrups taking the form of a stem 25-:provided atits extremity Wit- 1.11}?screw-thread.v Spiralsprings-23 are threa'clecl onito these stems, the springs be-f lng compressed by means of the screw against thejupper part'of -ithe cavity. provided to receive: them in the interior of the foot. Theeffect of :all lateral movement will beta cause thehollow half cylindrical axis 28 to oscillate, thus compressing first one alnd t-hcnatheother of the springs which will subsequently cause the foot to return-to its normal position i 7 ljllQtItlGHlablOIl as described above is proteotedbya rubber bracelet 18,'Fig. 1. 1T The articulation at the extremity of-th foot3 is illustrated-inv FigureQ and consists of a spring 34 which returns the foot when it :moves; round the articulation 85, the up penpart being "protected by a leather co.v-' ering 33; s Figure =6 shows another method of; articulatingthe extremity 3 of the foot.

y The-return moyementi'is effected here by means of arrangement which allows the tension ot a return spring to be adjusted, the said spring; which is fixed at .39 to the lower leg; portion is continued in the form ofa wire-through a brass, tube 40imbedded in the heelgiand is finally connectedto the hook ofan adjustable turnbuckle 36, the

otherextremity of which ishooked to ,a rod 38 fixedfat the extremity .3 of the foot.

'T he complete? apparatus is 'supported by a suspension device of {special form Whichis Shown, diagrammatically in Figure 7. The .actua-lsuspensiondevice is in two parts; the-part 4L1 takes ,the formfiof a somewhat wide band and the part/l2 on the other hand 'fications of the parts described above.

comprises-an ordinary catgut corda On this cord a roller-45 .can move; the roller, being connected ,to an intermediate flexible suspension 431, the length of which can beadjusted. At the other extremity of this part a second roller 45 is fixed, on which a second catgut cord 4st can move, the ends of this cord being fixed at 1717, Figures 1, 2 and 7. This suspension arrangement does not inconvenience the amputated subject in any way and adjusts itself automatically to the body, and owing to its light weight does not cause the wearer to become i'induly heated.

The lower leg portion is constructed in a special manner, the plastic material surrounding a frame of steel wire uprights tied together at suitable points. This detail is not shown in the figure. The vertical steel wires are placed at the front and rear of the prosthetic column in order to possessing conform'a light armoured beam siderable strength. Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate modi- In Fig. '11 the part 46 which slides into part 47 carries at its lower end a rack48 with which a double-toothed pawl engages, a

smalL-s 'iring =50fholding this ipawl in position. Inorder :to adjust the height it is only; necessary to press the end of the pawl in orderitoy-release the -pa'rt46 for :the purpose-of lowering or raising itfthe teeth ofrthelpaivl;beingallowed to engage with the rack. Thisoperation can be carried out with the; great-estri acilitywhen required by the amputated,subject.' Y.

. At the upper part otE-the thigh pieces the flexibility; o t. the-support was obtained as described above by means of springs which were-wound 'on'-the part in question and were not; protected; -This arrangement, which: possesses certain disadvantages,- is here replaced by -a=:part 51, Figures 11, 13, and 14 which permits thespringsto operate in a more eflicientf manner and enables .them tobe' protected trom contact with the garmGIltS." V i i I, i I

Th-e part 51' islocated between the upper endofthe thigh pieces and the actual thigh or hip support.

Part 510 is composed essentially of a metal covering forming a box in which twospiral springsI52 areelocated, these springs working under compression; Tlie box protects them and serves as a guide.- The two springs: are compressed by a small-crosspiece 53 which forms a piston inthe box 51,1-a belt holder 54: terminating in a threaded rod, and a screw 55 completing the arrangement. At the'lower end of the part 51 a hole 56 is provided by means of which the partis fixed by a bolt and screw to the upper end ofthe thigh piece 46, Figure 11. so that itcan l'ie adjusted to any desired 7 position -when oscillating around the bolt. The belt which takesthc load transmitted bythe hip iszprovided at its extermities with two series of eyelet: holes 58, Figure 11. by means orwliichit is fixed by passing a lace through the holcsm The-mounting and dismounting of the apparatus as well as the adjustment can thus be effected in a very 1 convenient manner.

, The modification to the belt or garter 59 has been made with a view to obtaining an easier method of dismounting the apparatus. The two pieces 47%? pass between the ac- 115 tual belt 59 and two additional pieces 60 are tightly secured to the belt 59 on each side of the latter. The belt is fixed to the part 47 17 by means of two small bolts fixed to supports ll-d7, which are passed through 120 corresponding holes in the parts 60-450, the whole apparatus being secured by nuts 61- 61. In order to dismount it, it is only neces- .sary to release the nuts 6161 and cleaning can thus be very conveniently carried out.

What I claim is:

1. An artificial leg, embodying a thigh portion, a lower leg portion and a foot portion, said thigh portion comprising a pair of complementary uprights hinged to the lower leg portion and provided with a flexible and adjustable seat for supporting the hip bone of the wearer, said seat consisting of-an oscillating band havingits ends pivotedto the upper ends of said uprights and means for adjusting the height of said band.

2. An artificial leg, embodying a thigh portion, a lower leg portion and a foot portion,-said thigh portion comprising a pair of complementary uprights hinged to the lower leg portion and provided with a flexible seat for supporting the hip bone of the wearer, said seat consisting of an oscillating band having its ends pivoted to the upper ends of said uprights, adjustable springs for suspending each end of the oscillating band and means for adjusting the height and length of said band.

' 3. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, and a foot portion, and a universal joint connection between the lower leg portion and said foot portion, said universal joint connection consistingof transversely arranged compression springs providing for the lateral play of said foot portion, an inclosed sprlng-controlled piston device connected to the rear of said .foot portion, and a flexible and extensible stay secured to the front thereof, all of said flexible and extensible connections having their upper ends secured to the lower leg portion. i

4;. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower'leg portion, and a foot portion, said thigh portion being eccentrically connected to the lower leg portion, and a universal joint connection between the lower leg portion and the foot portion, said universal joint connection consisting of transversely arranged compression springs providing for the lateral play of said foot portion, aninclosed spring-controlled piston device connected to the rear of said foot portion, and flexible and extensiblestay secured to the front thereof, all of said flexible and extensible connections having their up; 7

per ends secured to the lower legportion;

5. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh portion, a lower leg portion, a foot portion, and a flexible and extensible suspensiondevice, said device consisting of two members, one'of said members being supported from the shoulder of the wearer and the other portion, a lower leg portion, a footportion,

and a flexible and extensible suspension de-' vice, said device consisting oftwo members,

one member thereof being supported from the shoulder ofthe wearer andthe other-se- V cured to the lower leg portion, an intermedlate extenslble device mterposedbetween sa1d suspenslon members, an eccentric "connection between the thigh portion and the lower leg portion, and a universal 'j'oint'connection between the lower leg portion and said foot portion, said universal-joint con nection consisting of transversely arranged compression sprlngs providing for thelateral play of said foot portion, anfinclosed spring-controlled piston device'connected to the rear of said foot portion, and a flexibleand extensible stay secured to the front thereof, all ofsaid flexible and extensible connections having their upper ends secured to the lower leg portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix in presence of a witness.

Witness CLEMENT S. EDWARDS.

my signature,

ANDRE E RDELE Y i i

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