A thermally responsive shape memory polymer (SMP) actuator includes a body having at least one non-linear segment arranged between first and second ends, with the body comprising a plurality of dots, rods, or layers of SMP material. The SMP material my include a linear aliphatic thermoplastic polyester and at least one other polymer. The non-linear segment may have a substantially flat zig-zag shape arranged between first and second substantially straight segments. A prosthetic device may include multiple thermally responsive shape memory actuators and a movable joint arranged between structural members having anchors associated therewith. A first group of SMP actuators provides pivotal movement in a first direction, and a second group of SMP actuators provides pivotal movement in a second direction. Methods for forming SMP actuators include body formation by additive manufacturing, heating the body to a glass transition temperature range while applying tension, and cooling the body.

A device with a wall (6) designed to tightly enclose a body part is made of an electrically non-conductive material (9) and has a shape adapted to the body part or adapting thereto as a result of the elasticity of the wall, wherein an inner face (7) of the wall (6) comes to bear on the skin (14) of the body part, and the inner face (7) is provided with at least one electrically conductive portion (4) which, in order to transmit electrical signals from or to the skin (14) of the body part, is arranged all the way through the electrically non-conductive material (9) of the wall (6), permits reliable transmission of electrical signals with a simple design of the liner, by virtue of the fact the electrically conductive portion (4) is covered by the electrically non-conductive material (9) and is connected to at least one conductor (5, 5) passing through the electrically non-conductive material (9).

A hollow tubulous composite structure and method for prosthetic limbs is described.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a customized breast prosthesis in such a manner as to perform three-dimensional scanning of user's body and apply the same shape, the same volume, and the same density as the actual breast to have the same weight, a system for manufacturing the same, a computer program and computer-readable record medium for the same, a customized breast prosthesis manufacture by the above method, and a customized correction brassiere for accommodating the customized breast prosthesis.

Mould assembly for injection moulding a personalised hollow breast prosthesis, wherein the mould assembly comprises: a front mould being a female mould of a front side of a patients breast and comprising a first mould surface, a rear mould being a female mould of a patients mastectomized chest and comprising a second mould surface, a mould core comprising a mould core main body being a scaled positive mould of a combination of the patients breast and the patients mastectomized chest, wherein the mould core is smaller than the combination, a support configured to support the mould core main body in an assembled state of the mould assembly, wherein an injection opening is defined by any of the front mould, the rear mould, and the mould core, and wherein in the assembled state the mould core is located between the front mould and the rear mould in order for a mould core surface to be located at a distance from the first mould surface and the second mould surface, wherein in the assembled state an inner volume is defined by the front mould, the rear mould and mould core and is configured to be filled with an injection moulding material.

A prosthetic interface includes a body portion having an open proximal end and a closed distal end including a distal cup. The body portion includes a membrane component having a flexible configuration defining an internal flow space extending along a length of the membrane component between an inner side arranged to face a skin surface of a residual limb and an outer side arranged to face away from the skin surface. At least one material coating is selectively applied to the membrane component that interacts with at least one of the membrane component and the distal cup to define at least one breathable region along the inner side that allows fluid flow between the internal flow space and the residual limb, and at least one impermeable region along the outer side that allows for vacuum suspension between the prosthetic interface and a prosthetic socket.

An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable liquid region and a dielectric liquid housed within the housing. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric liquid into the expandable liquid region, expanding the expandable liquid region. The artificial muscle also includes a composite electrical insulating layered structure in contact with at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode, wherein the composite electrical insulating layered structure that includes an electrical insulator layer surrounded by adhesive surfaces. The adhesive surfaces are located between one or more flexible electrical insulators.

A liner is arranged for use in prosthetic and orthopedic devices. The liner defines first and second end portions, and inner and outer surfaces. The liner includes an inner layer having a frictional component and forms at least part of the periphery of the inner liner surface. The inner layer defines a plurality of apertures. A porous element is in communication with the inner liner surface and is connected to the inner layer such that the apertures permit a transfer of air from the inner surface to the porous element. A base layer adjoins the porous element and extends between the first and second end portions of the liner.

A compression stabilized prosthetic device for a patient having an amputated limb includes a first socket portion for contacting a patient's limb, and a second portion for the attachment of a prosthetic component. The first socket portion has compression portions configured for compressing portions of the patient's limb, and relief portions for receiving other portions of the patient's limb which bulge upon the compression applied by the compression portions. The relief portions may be formed as openings or as enlarged radius portions of the first socket portion.

A socket to interface a lower limb which has undergone amputation and a modular element, includes a proximal portion allowing the lower limb that has undergone amputation to be inserted; a distal portion allowing the modular element to be fastened; an internal deformable layer made of silicone rubber, designed to be in contact with the lower limb that has undergone amputation; an external deformable layer made of silicone rubber; a structure made of rigid material arranged between the internal layer and the external layer, comprising at least two posts, each post extending substantially axially from a base on the distal side towards an end on the proximal side, the ends of the various posts being not linked, so as to separate from or approach each other due to the effect of deformation of the internal layer and of the external layer.