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

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 ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.

A prosthetic foot has a frame, a forefoot keel, a heel keel, and an adjustable spring member. The frame couples to a prosthetic leg. The forefoot keel includes a first resilient substrate extending from the frame to the anterior end of the foot. The heel keel member includes a second resilient substrate extending from the frame to the posterior end. The first and second resilient substrates are load bearing substrates for a walking human. The adjustable spring member includes a third resilient substrate and a brake. The third resilient substrate has a first end directly or indirectly coupled to the brake, and a second end coupled to the forefoot keel proximate to the anterior end. The third resilient substrate extends through or around the first resilient member and the second resilient member. The brake provides resistance to the travel of the first end of the third resilient substrate in the superior direction.

A mechanical grasping device where each of the segments of the finger assemblies, are individually sizeable. This allows for both a proportionately scalable grasping device as well as individual customization of geometric configurations tailored to specific use patterns. The mechanical grasping device is crushable since it has flexible and pivotable connections between digits along its length and width. It has a hollow member construction that imparts a strong lightweight design. It is modular so individual parts can be replaced for quick repair. From an aesthetics point, it is visually pleasing and can be offered in different colors, and with custom digit sleeves for specific applications. Finger assemblies can be operated individually or in groups via pairs of cables which allow operation in either voluntary open or voluntary closed modes of control. The flexible construction allows gripping of irregularly shaped objects and deforms before failing giving indication of overload prior to failure.

Orthotic and prosthetic devices having integrated features such as cushioning features are described, as well as methods for computer aided designing and making of these devices. The orthotic or prosthetic devices comprise a cushioning layer superimposed onto an orthotic or prosthetic shell, the cushioning layer comprising an array (35) of discrete solid and resilient cushioning elements (31). In one preferred embodiment, the cushioning structure is a beam, defined around a centerline of any arbitrary shape. In another preferred embodiment, the cushioning structure has the shape of a spiral.

A prosthetic knee joint with buffering and braking effects has an upper connecting base, a linking assembly, a braking assembly, and a lower connecting base. The upper connecting base has two extending arms and an accommodating recess. The linking assembly has two linking arms respectively and pivotally connected to the upper connecting base. The braking assembly has a braking arm protruding into the accommodating recess of the upper connecting base and pivotally connected to the two extending arms. The lower connecting base is connected to the linking assembly and the braking assembly. The upper connecting base, the linking assembly, the braking assembly and the lower connecting base form a four-bar linkage. A cushion between an abutting element and a main body provides a buffering effect during walking. Thus, the prosthetic knee joint has simplified structure and reduced cost and is convenient in assembly and use.

It is provided a joint prosthesis (1) configured to reciprocally rotate a first prosthesis (1a) and a second prosthesis (1b) and comprising: a first attachment (2) to the first prosthesis (1a); a second attachment (3) to the second prosthesis (1b): a hinge (4) defining an axis of rotation (4a) between the attachments (2, 3); a mover (5) configured to apply to the hinge (4) a driving torque defining a reciprocal rotation between the attachments (2, 3); and a compensator (6) configured to apply to the hinge (4) a variable locking torque depending on the angular opening between the attachments (2, 3) and defining the minimum torque to be applied to the hinge (4) to have said reciprocal rotation.

The subject matter of the invention is an articulation (1) with controllable stiffness and a force-measuring system, comprising a first device (20) that comprises a frame (4) having a curved face and connected to a first motor element (2), the first device (20) regulating the position of the articulation (1), and a second device (22) that regulates the stiffness of the articulation (1) and comprises a thrust element (15), the movement (D) of which determines the pre-compression of a resistive element (11) and thus the stiffness of the articulation (1); the first motor element (2) causes the frame (4) to rotate such that a wheel (8) of the second device (22) rolls on the curved face of the frame (4), causing the resistive element (11) to be compressed (C) via a transmission rod (7) associated with the wheel (8) and with the resistive element (11).