An artificial joint for a prosthesis or robot arm, the artificial joint comprising a first rigid link, a second rigid link, a compliant joint rotatably connecting the first rigid link and the second rigid link with respect to a principal plane of rotation, and comprising an elastic link extending between the first rigid link and the second rigid link, and a first string section and a second string section both extending between the first rigid link and the second rigid link, being arranged on opposite sides with respect to the compliant joint, such that shortening one of the first string section and of the second string section and lengthening the other one of the first string section and of the second string section drives a rotation of the first rigid link and the second rigid link with respect to each other in the principal plane of rotation.

An autonomous wearable leg device employs an array of sensors embedded along a support area, whereby a controller can generate a controlling command and send a controlling command to a prosthetic, orthotic, exoskeletal or wearable component to thereby control the prosthetic, orthotic, exoskeletal or wearable component. A method for controlling autonomous wearable device collects kinetic signals from an array of sensors embedded in a prosthetic, orthotic or exoskeletal component, wherein all values are extracted from at least one feature of the collected kinetic signals, which are applied to a controller that generates a controlling command that is sent to the prosthetic, orthotic exoskeletal component to thereby control the prosthetic, orthotic or exoskeletal component during a portion of a gait cycle.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot having an upper foot element with a concave-forward facing portion and foot portion extending forwardly therefrom. An intermediate foot element is disposed below the upper foot element and has a front portion coupled to the foot portion of the upper foot element. A lower foot element is disposed below the intermediate foot element. A pump system is coupled to the prosthetic foot and comprises a pump mechanism including a housing defining a cavity, and a membrane situated in the cavity. The pump mechanism is movable between an original configuration and an expanded configuration. An arm member is connected to the pump mechanism and operatively coupled to the intermediate foot element. The arm member is arranged to move the pump mechanism toward at least the expanded configuration upon movement of the intermediate foot element relative to the upper foot element.

A powered ankle-foot prosthesis and associated methods of use are described herein. Such prostheses can employ an actuator and elastic components, the actuator being controlled to deliver net positive work to propel the wearing amputee forward and the elastic components being used to store and release negative energy to improve efficiency. Elastic components can be linear springs coupled with a cam and configured in parallel to the actuator. The cam profile can be designed to generate a desired spring torque versus angle curve rather than a spring stroke versus angle curve, thereby reproducing human ankle controlled dorsiflexion stiffness. Such configurations improve system energy efficiency and reduce both actuator torque and power requirements. Such prostheses can also operate in a passive mode, in which a nearly normal gait can be achieved even without powered assist.

A mounting bracket for a prosthetic foot configured to attach to a residual limb, comprising an upper member, a lower member and compression torsion joint. The upper member comprises an upper flange, a mating post, and mounting portion configured to attach to the residual limb. The lower member comprises a mating portion, a lower flange, and a mounting portion configured to attach to the prosthetic foot. The compression torsion joint couples the upper member to the lower member and is configured to limit the vertical movement and torsional movement of the upper member with respect to the lower member.

A prosthetic knee having a passive knee locking mechanism that uses the same four-bar mechanics found in a natural knee. The flexible four-bar mechanism guides the motion of the knee, aids in the return of the knee from full flexion to extension, and connects a femoral gear to a tibial gear. The gears have a circular radius and are connected using parallel links to keep the femur and tibia together when the knee is active. The knee stays locked throughout the stance phase. At toe off, no weight is applied on the prosthetic knee allowing the knee to flex. The flexible links are stretched, thereby increasing the stiffness in the springs, and at terminal swing phase, moments before heel strike, the flexible links in the four-bar mechanism snap back to the extended/locking position and lockout once the user applies his/her weight on the knee.

A prosthetic knee joint includes an upper part, a lower part which is arranged pivotably to the upper part, a fastening device arranged on the upper part for a proximal prosthetic element, a fastening device arranged on the lower part for a distal prosthetic element, a four-limbed joint system with four linkages articulatedly fastened to each other, which are each pivotable to each other around a pivot axis, wherein the upper part is arranged on the joint system. The joint system may be mounted pivotably on the lower part from a starting position counter to a spring force during a stance phase flexion, and the action line of the spring force may be aligned such that a moment acting against an inflexion of the joint system is present.

A prosthetic foot comprising a vacuum system configured to attach to a vacuum attachment apparatus and a residual limb. The prosthetic foot may comprise a resilient bottom member, a resilient top member, and a vacuum system. The resilient bottom member may comprise a front end and a rear end. The resilient top member may comprise a front end and a rear end and the front end of the resilient top member may be connected to the front end of the resilient bottom member. The vacuum system may be coupled to an underside of the rear end of the top member. The vacuum system may comprise a compressible member, a chamber located within the compressible member, a universal valve system received within the compressible member, a passageway connecting the valve system and the chamber, and an air return coupled to the valve system and the vacuum attachment apparatus.

A mounting bracket for a prosthetic foot configured to attach to a residual limb, comprising an upper member, a lower member and compression torsion joint. The upper member comprises an upper flange, a mating post, and mounting portion configured to attach to the residual limb. The lower member comprises a mating portion, a lower flange, and a mounting portion configured to attach to the prosthetic foot. The compression torsion joint couples the upper member to the lower member and is configured to limit the vertical movement and torsional movement of the upper member with respect to the lower member.

A device is provided to allow adaptation of a prosthetic or robotic foot in the medial-lateral direction, including pronation and supination of the foot using a series of articulations. Articulations are permitted in the disclosed device due to linkage systems positioned at various locations of the prosthetic foot. In particular, the device includes multiple connected linkage systems each including upper and lower portions with an articulating contact surface designed for load carriage and stability. The point of contact between the contact surfaces of each linkage system comprises the position-dependent instantaneous center of rotation of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion. The device also includes a platform coupled between the linkage systems and a base.