An orthopedic joint for a prosthesis, includes an upper part, a lower part which is mounted on the upper part in a pivotal manner about a pivot axis, and a rotation hydraulic unit, which has a housing with a chamber and a pivot piston that is pivotally mounted in the chamber and divides the chamber into a flexion chamber and an extension chamber, the chambers being hydraulically connected together via at least one channel. The joint also includes a pretensioning device which supports a pivoting movement of the upper part relative to the lower part, wherein the pretensioning device is coupled directly to the pivot piston via a support.

Knee orthoses or prostheses can be used to automatically, when appropriate, initiate a stand-up sequence based on the position of a person's knee with respect to the person's ankle while the person is in a seated position. When the knee is moved to a position that is forward of the ankle, at least one actuator of the orthosis or prosthesis is actuated to help raise the person from the seated position to a standing position.

An improvement to a prosthetic device which provides a spring member between first and second structural members that are rotatably connected to one another, the spring member providing predictable resistance as it is compressed by the rotation of the first and second structural members with respect to each other. The known resistance of the spring is used as an input to a model controlling a motor control circuit to provide counter-torque as rotational torque is applied to compress the spring.

An acoustic muffler sock for use with a prosthetic device liner or with a socket of a prosthetic device includes a first sock opening at one end and sound absorbing material designed to inhibit noises that are often created from the liner/amputated limb interaction. The acoustic muffler sock is configured to be positioned over the liner before the liner and the acoustic muffler sock thereon is inserted into the socket for the prosthetic device. The acoustic muffler sock may further comprise a sound barrier material. The muffler can also be part of a sock that goes over the prosthetic device.

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.

Systems and methods for assistive devices for replacing or augmenting the limb of an individual, such devices comprising a joint and a powered system; the powered system having a first configuration in which the powered system rotates the joint by applying power to the joint, and a second configuration that allows for rotation of the joint without actuation of the powered system.

Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities; (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive.

An improvement to a prosthetic device which provides a spring member between first and second structural members that are rotatably connected to one another, the spring member providing predictable resistance as it is compressed by the rotation of the first and second structural members with respect to each other. The known resistance of the spring is used as an input to a model controlling a motor control circuit to provide counter-torque as rotational torque is applied to compress the spring.

Knee orthoses or prostheses can be used to automatically, when appropriate, initiate a stand-up sequence based on the position of a person's knee with respect to the person's ankle while the person is in a seated position. When the knee is moved to a position that is forward of the ankle, at least one actuator of the orthosis or prosthesis is actuated to help raise the person from the seated position to a standing position.

Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such, as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive.