GB2507646A - Quick release locking prosthetic shoulder joint - Google Patents

Abstract

A prosthetic shoulder joint for mounting a prosthetic arm to the body provides for extension/flexion and abduction/adduction or can be locked. There are three major subunits: i) a circular boss (figure 1) secured to the body; ii) a boss connector (figure 3) for releasable connection to the boss; and iii) an arm connector (figure 5) to secure the prosthetic arm to the boss connector. The lateral face of the boss has circumferential holes (B, figure 1) and a central hole (A). The boss connector locates onto the boss and is secured to it by a pivoting sprung arm (figure 2) with a locating pin H to engage with the central hole of the boss and with a first locking pin J for engagement with the circumferential holes. The anterior and posterior sides of the boss connector have a central bore B to receive the arm connector and circumferential holes G to receive a second locking pin J on the arm connector. Upward movement of the sprung arm releases the prosthetic arm for removal from the boss.

Description

Description

Quick release prosthetic shoulder joint with two-axis articulation and locking in both axes.

The quick release prosthetic shoulder joint was designed for a specific purpose in mind. I am a man with total right arm amputation. I started flying lessons and have found the ideal prosthetic arm didn't exist that would allow me to take flying lessons.

The main qualities of a prosthetic arm was that it must be easily lockable/unlockable in both flexion/extension and abduction/adduction rotation. The most important feature was the prosthetic arm must be removable quickly and easily with one easy movement yet at the same time being secure and not falling off during flight.

The reason a prosthetic ann needs to be detachable quickly and easily was for emergency situations or simply for quick exchanging of arms. The quick release prosthetic shoulder joint is ideal because the prosthetic arm can be removed at the shoulder leaving the mounting boss attached to a body jacket or shoulder cap that is securely fitted to the body.

Previous experiences have proved that secure fitting to the body is needed, hence the need for a body jacket or shoulder cap but quick release is also needed. This prosthetic joint allows for quick release yet when connected to the securely fitted body jacket or shoulder cap provides a positive mounting.

This quick release prosthetic shoulder joint is unique in its abilty and designed out of necessity.

The problem my invention solves is the ability to quick release a prosthetic ann via a quick release shoulder joint. It also provides for quick release of prosthetics for other purposes not just in cases of emergency but also for ease of changing prosthetics for what ever the reason. The prosthetic joint also has lockable and un-lockaNed functionality so the arm may be locked if needed in the desired position or unlocked for free movement. The quick release shoulder joint can be used for eitherlboth shoulders and could also be used for elbows, knees and anldes.

Key features of my invention are its quick release abilities, and its lockable and un-lockable features and interchangeabilty for left/right shoulder and with slight modification can be used for other joints i.e. elbows, knees, ankles, wrists Explanation of figures/diagrams References such as Figure t refer to figure 1 if a reference is figure Ia this refers to figure 1 item a.

Figure 1 shows the construction of the shoulder boss, d' is a wider circular mounting that is used to mount to a shoulder cap or body jacket, its also part of the interlocking capability of the quick release prosthetic shoulder joint..

The series of holes marked b' are locking holes, that locking pin figure 4 mates with.

Fascia c' is a smaller circular mounting around which the shoulder boss connector rotates.

The central hole a' is for locating the shoulder boss connector's locator pin.

In the centre of the boss e' is a reduced circular mount around which the shoulder boss connector rotates and which provides for boss and boss connector interlocking.

Figure 2 shows a front and side view of the spring loaded fork assembly.

q' is a handle for the quick release of the shoulder boss connector's central locating pin and spring loaded locking pin assembly j'. An alternative handle may be implemented, an example could be a knob mounted on the central locating pin of the shoulder boss connector.

The central locating pin for the shoulder boss connector is labelled h', h' is positioned in an elongated hole (figure 2o) allowing for angular changes of the central locating pin during extraction.

P' is a holding bracket that allows for angular changes of the shou'der boss connector's central locating pin during extraction.

The body of the spring-loaded fork is labelled s' The spring loaded locking pin assembly is labelled j' m' is the pivot point of the spring-loaded fork and its torsion spring is labelled n' Figure 3 shows the components of the shoulder boss connector.

m' is the hinging pivot for the spring-loaded fork The spring-loaded fork is labelled s' The flexion/extension locking pin hole is located at i' its purpose is to allow the locking pin (figure 4) to pass through it into the boss locking hole, located inside the boss connector when interconnected.

The central locating pin hole for the shoulder boss connector is bbelled a' d' is the main body fascia of the shoulder boss connector.

The semi circular locking plates that allows for locking of abduction/adduction are both labelled p' are the pivot holes for the prosthetic arm connector spindles (figure 5r) Fascia f' provides for the opening and entry point for the boss and is part of the interlocking capability of the flexionlextension rotation of the shoulder joint.

Side views of the shoulder boss shows the semi circular locking plates that allows for locking of abductionladduction and are both labelled p' these are part of the machined shoulder boss connector.

The central locating pin hole for the shoulder boss connector is abelled a' and the locating pin is (figure 2h) Pivot points/axles of figure 5r connect into the pivot/axle holes of b' Figure 4 the locking pin assembly is located at j' please note that this assembly is on a loose pivot so enabling the angular changes of the locking pin during quick release of the prosthetic joint.

Spring loaded fork assembly is labelled s' The body of the shoulder boss assembly is labelled k and d' The spring loaded fork assembly pivot point/axle is labelled m' and its torsion spring Figure 4 is an illustration and an examp'e of a locking pin assembly.

j' is a round knob for twisting and lifting the locking pin.

The locking pin v' is spring loaded via spring y' and the spring is held in place via a c clip z' I' is apin that passes through the locicing pin v', 1' extends through the pin and rides up a ramp w' when twisting the locking pin knob 1'* u' is a groove that holds the locking pin in an unlocked position via pin 1'.

The body of the locking pin assembly is labelled x' Figure 5 is a diagram of the upper arm connector.

r' is the pivot points/axles for AbductionlAdduction rotation which locate into the pivot point/axle holes of figure 3b.

Spring-loaded locking assembly figure 4 is located over hole g' the side is dependent on which arm i.e. left or right is being used.

The body of the upper ann connector is labelled d' and the reduced diameter section f' is intended to be an insert boss for the prosthetic upper arm structure.

Figure 6 is an illustration of how the quick release prosthetic shoulder and all its components connect together.

Figure 7 shows the components superimposed on each other and are colour coded.

Blue = shoulder boss as in figure 1.

Black = shoulder boss connector as shown in figure 3.

Red = upper arm connector as in figure 5..

Figure 8 ia an image and explanation of flexion and extension rotation of a shoulder joint.

Figure 9 is an image and explanation of Abduction and Adduction rotation of a shoulder joint.

Prosthetic shoulder joint, lockable in both axes in a range of positions/degrees. The prosthetic shoulder joint is comprised of numerous parts, a shoulder boss (figure 1) which remains fixed on a shoulder cap or a body jacket. The shoulder boss is one of two main components that provide the fiexion and extension rotation (figure 8).

Another component of the shoulder joint that provides the fiexion/extension rotation is the boss connector ifigure 3). The boss connector hooks over and slides down interlocking with the shoulder boss (figure 1) and is held in position onto the shoulder boss by a central locating pin (figures 2h, 3h. 6h.) and a spring-loaded fork assembly (figure 2). The central locating pin passes through a hole in the boss connector (figure 3a) and into the central locating hole in the shoulder boss (figure Ia), See figure 6 for an overview of how the main parts interact with each other and figure 7 for a diagram of all components superimposed over each other in a connected state.

The spring-loaded fork assembly (figures 2, 3s, 6s) also holds a flexion/extension locking pin in place (figures 2j, 3j, 4. 5j, 6j). Both the central locating and flexion/extension locking pins are held in the spring-loaded fork (held via a hinging pivot pin) and pass through elongated holes (figures 2t, 2o) of the fork into their respective locking positions/holes.

Abduction/Adduction (figure 9) is provided by hinging pivot points either side of the boss connector (figures 3b. 6b) corresponding connectors are on the upper arm connector (figures 5r, 6r).

To the right and left hand side of the boss connector is a semi circular plate (figure 3p) that houses one of the pivot points (figure 3b) either side and numerous locking holes for different locking positions (figure 3g) that allow for locking of abductionladduction. Locking plates are on both sides of the boss connector for interchangeability of shoulder joints i.e. left or right shoulder.

The abduction/adduction locking pin in thcated on the upper ann connector (figure 5j) and is spring-loaded (figure 4) and can be placed in unlocked or locked position. The locking pin is connected to the upper arm connector and the pin passes through a hole on the upper aim connector (figure 5g) and locks into one of the abduction/adduction locking holes (figure3g). Both sides of the upper arm connector have mountings for the locking pin assembly, this is for ease of interchangeability for right or left aim.

The locking mechanisms (figure 4) may be changed or even of electronic format for electrical locking and unlocking, in which case construction modification may be needed but the overall concept and design of the prosthetic shoulder joint will be essentially unchanged.

in emergency situations or for general quick release the central locating pin can be removed along with the flexion/extension locking pin by pulling upwards on the spring loaded fork via a handle (figure 2q) or via a central locating pin ball head. The prosthetic arm is then removed quickly in one easy upwards movement, separating the joint by removing/lifting the boss connector up and off the shoulder boss.

Purpose/logic The spring-loaded fork assembly has elongated holes (figure 2t, 2o) for the boss connector's central locating pin and locking pin, this is to accommodate angular changes that occur during quick release of the shoulder joint and extraction of locating and locking pins, Bracket p' of figure 2 is just an example of securing the central locating pin of the shoulder boss connector but not restricting movement, the same type of pivot would be needed for the spring loaded locking pin (figure 2j) on the spring loaded fork but is not shown in the diagram.

The semi circular locking plates figure 3p can be machined on one side only of the shoulder boss connector or both sides as in figure 3. It is intended to be on both sides of the boss connector, this is for ease of engineering purposes and for standardisation of shoulder boss connectors of eft and right shodders the same standardisation for the same reasoning is to be applied to figure 5 the upper arm connector.