Maintenance System Ankle Joints with plug + go Modularity

Step 1/12

You can find information on system components that have to be checked particularly carefully during maintenance in the instructions for use under “Maintenance”.

Step 2/12

Demount the spring units in order to examine them. Check if the system joint moves without lateral play.

Step 3/12

Hold the tibial shell and try to move the foot shell in pronation-supination direction. If there is lateral play, this can indicate loosened screws and/or worn out sliding washers.

Step 4/12

Check if there is play around the axis. If there is play, the bearing nut and the repair bushing should be replaced or inserted if necessary.

Step 5/12

Check if the system joint moves freely. Bring the system joint in plantar flexion/dorsiflexion. If the system joint does not move freely, mount the next thinner sliding washer or clean the system joint thoroughly.
Note: At a bilateral orthosis, only check one system joint at a time.

Step 6/12

Disassemble the system joint completely.
Unscrew both countersunk flat head screws. Place the washer on the cover plate and screw the pressing screw into the thread of the first screw. The pressing screw must not be screwed in completely.

Push the joint's upper part and the cover plate apart by exerting force on them (arrows). For this purpose, use a vice or perform controlled knocks.
Remove pressing screw and washer.
Clean all system components and check them carefully.

Step 7/12

Replace the sliding bushing if it is worn out.

Step 8/12

-  damaged sliding washer
-  worn out bearing nut
-  worn out screw

Exchange the sliding washer, the bearing nut or the screw for a new system component when they are worn out.

Step 9/12

-  worn out axle bore in the system stirrup

Bore and ream the axle bore if it is worn out and insert a repair bushing.

Step 10/12

-  worn out spring units

Particularly check the disc springs for wear. If you should notice e.g. a breakage, you must exchange the entire spring unit!
If the disc springs have shifted, they don’t have to be replaced. Realign shifted disc springs with pliers in order to increase the useful life of the spring units.

Replace the pressure springs if they are damaged.

Step 11/12

Check the spring unit’s O-ring and the O-ring of the alignment screw. Replace the O-rings if they are worn out. 

Step 12/12

Follow the online tutorial for the joint assembly of system ankle joints with plug + go modularity in order to reassemble the system joint.