A61F2/68

Soft exosuit for assistance with human motion

In at least one aspect, there is provided a system for generating force about one or more joints including a soft exosuit having a plurality of anchor elements and at least one connection element disposed between the plurality of anchor elements. The system also includes at least one sensor to determine a force the at least one connection element or at least one of the plurality of anchor elements and to output signals relating to the force, at least one actuator configured to change a tension in the soft exosuit and at least one controller configured to receive the signals output from the at least one sensor and actuate the at least one actuator responsive to the received signals.

Prosthesis

A joint for a prosthesis comprises a prosthesis part and a body part. The two parts are connected by a connection part. A first pair of engaging sets of abutments is provided on the connection part and the prosthesis part and a second pair of engaging sets of abutments is provided on the connection art and the body part. By adjusting position of the connection part, the first pair of sets are disengageable and by further adjusting the position, the second pair of sets are also disengageable. This allows for adjustment of the joint at two levels. A prosthesis includes two stripes of resilient material of which at least one has a curved part and a straight part. The joint is provided at a distal end, at the concave part of the strips. At straight parts, the strips cross and one strip extends beyond the other.

ORTHOSIS AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING THE POSITION OF THE SCAPULA, SYSTEM FOR MOVING AN ARM AND METHOD FOR LIFTING A LOAD

The invention concerns an orthosis (10) for stabilizing the position of the scapula (3) at least during a lateral movement of an arm (8) related to the scapula (3), comprising a torso fixation means (20), in particular a harness, fixable to the torso (2) of a person (1), and a pressure element (30) in a translational and/or pivotable way coupled to the torso fixation means (20) for applying a normal pressure force onto the scapula (3), as well as an arm fixation means (40) fixable to the arm (8), in particular to the upper arm, of the person (1), wherein the arm fixation means (40) is connected to the pressure element (30) by means of a coupling device (50) and wherein the position of connection (51) of the coupling device (50) to the pressure element (30) is realized in a distance h1 to the position of coupling (31) between the pressure element (30) and the torso fixation means (20), such that a movement of the arm (8), in particular a lifting movement (401), of a person (1) attached to the orthosis (10) is transferred by the coupling device (50) to the pressure element (30) such that the pressure element (30) is moved essentially together with the scapula (3). The invention also concerns a method for stabilizing the position of the scapula (3), a system (300) for moving an arm (8) of a person (1) and a method for lifting a load (200).

CONVECTION LINER FOR USE IN REGULATED ENVIRONMENTS FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
20170367854 · 2017-12-28 ·

The conformable convection liner is for use with a prosthetic system and configured to be donned over a residual limb of an amputee. The conformable convection liner includes a tubular body formed from an elastomeric limb-conforming material and including an outer surface and inner surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. A seal area is defined at the proximal end of the tubular body on the inner surface thereof. An outlet port is positioned at the distal end of the tubular body between the inner and outer surfaces thereof. An inner regulated environment is defined between the inner surface of the tubular body and the residual limb, the inner regulated environment extending between the proximal end of the tubular body with the seal area and the distal end of the tubular body with the outlet port. One or more internal convection guides are formed in the elastomeric limb-conforming material on the internal surface of the tubular body below the seal area and configured to promote the flow of fluid within the inner regulated environment towards the outlet port at the distal end of the tubular body.

PROSTHETIC JOINT WITH A MECHANICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM TO POSITION AND RATE OF CHANGE

A prosthetic joint and a method of controlling dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the hydraulic prosthetic ankle joint. The method includes generating ground reaction forces with a hydraulic prosthetic ankle, wherein the prosthetic hydraulic ankle comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, and the ankle is connected to a prosthetic foot; rotating the prosthetic foot in response to the ground reaction force; transferring fluid between the forward and rear chambers in response to rotation of the foot; providing a feature to occlude or partially occlude the fluid transfer between chambers; providing a non-electronic mechanism for controlling the flow responsive to both a position of the joint and a rate of change of position of the joint, and wherein the mechanism is arranged such that a dwell at a particular joint location or locations will occlude the flow path.

PROSTHETIC-FOOT INSERT AND FORCE-TRANSMISSION ELEMENT, AND SYSTEM COMPOSED THEREOF
20230201008 · 2023-06-29 ·

The invention relates to a system composed of a prosthetic-foot insert (1), comprising: a proximal attachment device (2) for fixing the prosthetic-foot insert (1) on a stump or a prosthetic component; and at least one sole element (3), which is connected to the attachment device (2); wherein the system comprises a plurality of different force-transmission elements (4, 5), which can be fastened to the at least one sole element (3) at at least one fastening region (34, 35) and comprise various distal sole contours (41, 51) and/or various force-transmission regions (42, 52).

SEMI-ACTIVE ROBOTIC JOINT

A robotic joint comprises a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce a torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.

Wearable robot and method of controlling the same

Provided is a method of controlling a wearable robot, the method including: measuring a ground reaction force (GRF) exerted on a wearer's soles; calculating a time variation rate of the measured GRF; measuring the wearer's knee joint angle; and detecting a time point at which the calculated time variation rate of the GRF and the measured knee joint angle cross each other.

System for powered ankle-foot prosthesis with active control of dorsiflexion-plantarflexion and inversion-eversion

A system and method for operating a prosthesis is provided. The system includes a socket configured to engage a residual limb of a subject and a shaft having a first end connected to the socket and an opposing second end. The system also includes a foot piece connected to the second end of the shaft. The foot piece includes an ankle plate and a sole piece configured to contact a surface. The system also includes at least one computer configured to detect a state of the foot piece and to transmit an indication of the state of the foot. The system further includes a motor assembly configured to receive the indication of the state of the foot and to control a position and impedance of the ankle plate based on the state of the foot.

Methods and apparatus for improved interface between the human body and prosthetic or similar devices
11684496 · 2023-06-27 ·

Apparatus is provided to cushion between a prosthetic socket and an amputee's residual limb. A plurality of putty-filled packets are assembled into a liner that, when assembled, provides a generally smooth contact surface toward the residual limb. At least one of the packets has a fluid bladder positioned between the putty material and the socket, and the fluid volume in the bladder can be adjusted to affect the fit of the assembly on the residual limb. Methods of fabrication, fitting, and use of such prosthetic devices are disclosed.