A releasable attachment system is provided for use with a bone anchored
post and related external prosthesis such as a prosthetic limb or the
like, wherein the attachment system includes a safety release mechanism
designed to release or break away when encountering an excess mechanical
load. The bone anchored mounting post is implanted for direct affixation
to patient bone, and carries or is connected to a fixator structure
protruding through soft skin tissue and the like at the end or stump of
an amputated limb for mechanical connection to the external prosthesis.
The safety release mechanism accommodates substantially normal patient
movement throughout a corresponding range of substantially normal
mechanical loads, but releases in the presence of an excess load to
prevent undesirable fracture failures.