Patent classifications
A61F2002/5018
Robust adaptable foot prosthesis
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.
PROSTHETIC HAND
The present invention provides A prosthetic device (10) having an anchor portion (30) in combination with a base portion (12) which is connected to said anchor portion (30). An elongate digit (14) is coupled to a first portion of a pivot connection (16a) mounted on the base portion (12), whilst a second portion of a pivot connection (16b) is mounted on the proximal end (14a) of the digit (14) and is connected to the first portion (16a) of the pivot connection (16). A linear actuator (40) within the elongate digit (14) has a first portion (40a) secured to the elongate digit (14) for movement therewith and a second portion (40b) remote therefrom and axially movable relative thereto and is operable with said pivot connection (16) to thereby to cause pivotal movement of said digit (14) around said pivot connection (16a, 16b) upon axial movement of said second portion (40b) of said linear actuator (40).
Controlling power in a prosthesis or orthosis based on predicted walking speed or surrogate for same
In some embodiments of a prosthetic or orthotic ankle/foot, a prediction is made of what the walking speed will be during an upcoming step. When the predicted walking speed is slow, the characteristics of the apparatus are then modified so that less net-work that is performed during that step (as compared to when the predicted walking speed is fast). This may be implemented using one sensor from which the walking speed can be predicted, and a second sensor from which ankle torque can be determined. A controller receives inputs from those sensors, and controls a motor's torque so that the torque for slow walking speeds is lower than the torque for fast walking speeds. A controller determines a desired torque based on the output, and controls the motor's torque based on the determined desired torque.
Alignment angle sensor systems for limb prostheses
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining alignment angles between a first prosthetic component and a second prosthetic component that are joinable together in a fixed orientation relative to each other, wherein the fixed orientation includes a first angle and optionally also a second angle that are perpendicular to each other, and wherein the first and/or second angles are selectable from a range of angles to provide a desired fixed orientation between the two prosthetic components. The system includes a magnet fixedly coupled to the first prosthetic component and one or more magnetic intensity sensors configured to be coupled to the second prosthetic component in a fixed orientation relative to the second prosthetic component such that the sensors are operable to sense a magnetic field of the magnet and produce an output signal in response to the strength of the sensed magnetic field. The system can include a processor operable to receive the output signals from the sensors and determine the first and/or second angles.
Adjustable socket system
An adjustable socket system includes a plurality of shell components and longitudinal supports connected to a base and is movable between an open configuration to loosen the fit of the adjustable socket system, and a closed configuration to secure the fit of the adjustable socket system on residual limb received therein. A tightening system includes a tensioning unit having a handle defining a moment arm rotatable about a rotation axis, and a tensioning element operatively coupled to the handle via a movable connection point and to the shell components via a control point. Rotation of the handle displaces the movable connection point and the tensioning element relative to the control point to move the adjustable socket system to the closed configuration.
ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME
An orthopedic technical device having a top part and a bottom part, which are connected to each other by at least one joint device so as to be pivotable about a joint axis, and at least one attachment device with which the orthopedic technical device can be fixed to a limb. The orthopedic technical device also has an actuator, which is fixed to attachment points on the top part and the bottom part and influences a pivoting of the top part relative to the bottom part, wherein the orientation of the bottom part can be adjusted relative to the limb which is fixable to the upper part.
SINGLE AXIS ANKLE-FOOT PROSTHESIS WITH MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE RANGE OF MOTION
An ankle prosthesis can have a base and an upper hinge component that is pivotably attached to the base about an axis. First and second biasing elements can bias the upper hinge component in first and second rotational directions, respectively. At least one selectively extendable and retractable locking element can extend from one of the base and the upper hinge component and engage the other of the base and the upper hinge component to limit the pivotable movement of the upper hinge component.
Powered prosthetic hip joint
A powered prosthetic thigh can have a proximal portion configured to couple to a prosthetic hip socket and can have a distal portion attached to the proximal portion. The distal portion can have a distal connector configured to couple to a prosthetic knee. The powered prosthetic thigh can also have a computer controlled actuator configured to rotate the prosthetic thigh relative to the prosthetic hip socket.
PROSTHETIC FEET HAVING HEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTABILITY
Prosthetic feet that allow for heel height adjustment and/or provide metatarsal joint functionality to more closely mimic natural human feet are provided. A prosthetic foot can include an ankle module having a locking mechanism configured to lock the heel at a particular height. The prosthetic foot can also include a toe region that adapts to varying heel heights. The ankle module and/or locking mechanism can be adjusted, controlled, and/or locked via a hydraulic mechanism. The toe region can curve upward relative to a portion of the foot proximal of the toe region.
Adjustable prosthetic ankles
A method for adjusting a flexion angle of a prosthetic ankle includes a user adjusting a relative angle between first and second coupling members of the prosthetic ankle using a flexion angle adjustment mechanism of the prosthetic ankle that requires no tools to adjust.