The current document is directed to a two-way, by-passable, overrunning clutch incorporated within a mechanical prosthetic knee that provides functionality similar to a biological knee or incorporated in another articulated device, such as a robotic or orthotic articulated device or member. The currently disclosed two-way, by-passable, overrunning clutch allows for two-way free rotation when disabled, but, when enabled, prevents rotation in one direction while allowing free rotation in the other direction. In the mechanical prosthetic knee, the two-way, by-passable, overrunning clutch is enabled by application of a mechanical force and disabled by removal of the mechanical force.

A prosthesis or orthosis has a first body and a second body rotatable relative to one another, a passive mechanical converting mechanism with a third body arranged movably with respect to the first body, and an elastic element arranged between the third and the second body. The mechanical converting mechanism is configured for converting an angular change between the first body and the second body into a change of load on the elastic element. There is further provided a ratio adapting device interacting with the converting mechanism and configured for modifying the conversion ratio by which the change of load on the elastic element is performed.

A prosthetic knee can include a variable-torque magnetorheological (MR) actuator assembly or braking system, a frame and an electronics assembly or system that also serves as a mount for the knee actuator and facilitates in monitoring and controlling the operation of the knee actuator. The prosthetic knee system advantageously provides resistive forces to substantially simulate the position and motion of a natural knee joint during ambulation and/or other locomotory activities performed by the amputee. The prosthetic knee can be enclosed in a waterproof compartment. An outer cover can be configured to fit around the waterproof cover of the prosthetic knee.

This invention relates to a technique for hermetically sealing an artificial leg including a cylinder device. A rod member of the cylinder device extends from the inside to the outside of a shell structure of the cylinder device. The rod member is hermetically sealed at the periphery thereof by a bellows packing member. The bellows packing member comprises an inner bead, an outer bead which concentrically surrounds the outside of the inner bead, and a bellows packing body part which connects the inner and outer beads. The bellows packing body part includes corrugations, and each corrugation is less curved than an imaginary circle which is concentric with the inner bead and the outer bead. Both ends of each of the plurality of corrugations extend to the outer bead or are located at positions closer to the outer bead than the inner bead.

An orthopedic system having at least one stimulation electrode for activating at least one muscle, an orthotic or prosthetic device, which may be placed on a patient's body and secured there with at least one joint by which a proximal and a distal component of the orthotic or prosthetic device are connected to each other in swivelling fashion, at least one adjustable resistance device which is arranged between the distal component and the proximal component and with which a motion resistance against a swivelling of the proximal component relative to the distal component is adjustable, sensors for detecting of forces positions, accelerations and/or torques, and a control device which is coupled to the sensors and the resistance device, processes sensor values of the sensors and adjusts the resistance device in dependence on the sensor values.

A prosthetic knee can include a variable-torque magnetorheological (MR) actuator assembly or braking system, a frame and an electronics assembly or system that also serves as a mount for the knee actuator and facilitates in monitoring and controlling the operation of the knee actuator. The prosthetic knee system advantageously provides resistive forces to substantially simulate the position and motion of a natural knee joint during ambulation and/or other locomotory activities performed by the amputee. The prosthetic knee can be have a series of internal blades for providing resistive forces. A locking ratchet can be used to lock knee position. A dynamic seal with a protective shim can be disposed in the knee actuator. A coil with a non-circular cross-section can be used.

A prosthetic knee uses a hydraulic damper to regulate the rotation of the prosthetic knee joint. A magnetic rotary on-axis position sensor located at the joint between the upper and lower portions of the prosthetic knee measures the motion of the upper portion of the knee by detecting the magnetic field which is generated by a diametrically polarized magnet. A microprocessor correlates the measured motion to a knee joint angle, and adjusts the resistance provided by the hydraulic damper according to a corresponding stage of gait.

A prosthetic knee includes a housing and a brake member pivotally connected to the housing at a first location point. The brake member defines a first pair of slots along a posterior surface of the brake member. A knee shaft extends through the brake member and is secured within a cavity defined by the housing. The knee shaft defines a second plurality of slots along a posterior surface of the knee shaft corresponding in location to the first slots. An extension assist system includes an extension assist link with a body portion and a plurality of arm portions situated in the first slots defined in the brake member and in the second slots defined in the knee shaft. The arm portions are pivotally connected to the knee shaft at a second location point located within the second slots and a distance from the first location point.

A finger actuator, includes a plurality of fluidically interconnected inflatable chambers, wherein each chamber comprises outer walls having an embedded extensible layer selected to constrain radial expansion and freestanding inner walls; and an inextensible layer connected to the chambers at a base of the chambers, the inextensible layer comprising a flexible polymer and having an embedded inextensible layer that extends along the length of the finger actuator.

An exoskeleton includes two torque generators, two thigh links, and a supporting trunk rotatably coupled to the thigh links. When a wearer bends forward in the sagittal plane such that the supporting trunk extends beyond a predetermined angle A with respect to vertical, at least one of the torque generators imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and a corresponding thigh link, thus imposing a force onto a wearer's trunk and thighs to aid in supporting the wearer in a bent position. The exoskeleton may include an active or passive means for actuating the generators. When the supporting trunk does not extend beyond the predetermined angle A, the torque generators do not impose resisting torques between the supporting trunk and the thigh links during the entire range of motion of the thigh links, thus enabling a wearer to walk, run and sit without constraint while in an upright position.