Methods and systems for assisting hemiplegic and hemiparetic patients are described herein. A wearable gripper system assists a user with one functional hand to independently perform basic tasks. A wearable gripper is located on the forearm above a disabled hand. The user controls the wearable gripper easily and intuitively based on gestures measured by an instrumented wristband device. Movements detected at the functioning wrist and forearm are translated into the motion control commands communicated to the actuators of the wearable gripper. In this manner, the wearable gripper assists the user to manipulate objects in lieu of the disabled hand. In some embodiments, a number of conductive, stretchable string sensors are wrapped around the hand of a user to estimate wrist and hand motion. In some embodiments, a gripper actuator includes two or more fingers, each having a location dependent shape profile and compliance to accommodate different manipulation tasks.

Generator systems and methods are provided for generating a neuromuscular-to-motion decoder from a healthy limb. The generator system is configured to receive neuromuscular signals from neuromuscular sensors associated to predefined muscle/nerve locations of at least one pair of agonist and antagonist muscles/nerves of the healthy limb, obtained during performance by the person of a predefined exercise (defined by predefined exercise data) with the healthy limb; to receive motion signals from motion sensors associated to predefined positions of the healthy limb, during performance by the person of the predefined exercise with the healthy limb; and to generate the neuromuscular-to-motion decoder by mapping the neuromuscular signals to the motion signals over time using a mapping method. Rehabilitation systems are also provided for rehabilitating a paretic limb by using a neuromuscular-to-motion decoder produced by a generator system.

An individual who has had a limb amputation and wears a prosthetic limb on an amputated residual limb may have a difficult time adjusting the prosthetic limb discreetly in a public setting. Described herein are articles of clothing, access opening systems, clothing cuffs, or devices for securing a prosthetic limb to a residual limb fitted with the prosthetic limb and for providing access to the prosthetic limb discreetly without removing a substantial portion of the clothing.

Prosthetic devices and, more particularly, modular myoelectric prosthesis components and related methods, are described. In one embodiment, a hand for a prosthetic limb may comprise a rotor-motor; a transmission, comprising a differential roller screw; a linkage coupled to the transmission; and at least one finger coupled to the linkage. In one embodiment, a component part of a wrist of a prosthetic limb may comprise an exterior-rotor motor, a planetary gear transmission, a clutch, and a cycloid transmission. In one embodiment, an elbow for a prosthetic limb may comprise an exterior-rotor motor, and a transmission comprising a planetary gear transmission, a non-backdrivable clutch, and a screw.

A supply system for at least one orthopedic technology component, which has at least one electronic and/or electrical device and has a supply connection and/or a radio device for receiving data and/or electrical energy. The supply system also includes a holder for the orthopedic technology component, which has a supply device, and which is compatible with the supply connection and/or the radio device, for supplying the orthopedic technology component with data and/or energy. The invention further relates to a system consisting of a supply system and an orthopedic technology device, and to a method for supplying the system with data and/or energy.

A control system for control of a prosthetic device having a plurality of actuators receives an orientation signal indicative of a desired movement. The control system evaluates whether the prosthetic device may move as desired with a current angle of rotation and commands at least one actuator to move the prosthetic device as desired by maintaining the current angle of rotation or by adjusting the angle of rotation if the prosthetic device cannot move as desired with the current angle. The control system may alternate between commanding a first subset of actuators and a second subset of actuators each time the orientation signal is indicative of a neutral position. The control system may include a position sensor and a compliance sensor and may command at least one actuator based on a combination of positional control using the position sensor and force control using the compliance sensor.

A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer layer adapted to mechanically deform upon application of voltage, the multilayer sheet secured to a substrate, and a source of electrical stimulation coupled to drive electrodes on the polymer layer with an AC signal to vibrate the polymer layer. In particular embodiments, the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrodes are patterned to control local electric fields. Another haptic stimulator has first and second electrodes with an air gap and an insulating sheet between first and second electrodes, with an AC voltage driver connecting to the electrodes. In a method of providing haptic stimulation to skin an alternating current supply drives first and second electrodes, the electrodes disposed upon either a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer sheet, vibrating the polymer layer by driving the electrodes; and coupling vibrations of the polymer layer to the sensate skin.

Low-cost prosthetic apparatus, methods, kits, and systems with improved force transfer elements are disclosed. For example, the prosthetic apparatus may comprise: a plurality of first components manufactured from a first material to define 3D shapes with exterior surfaces resembling digits of a human hand; and a plurality of second components manufactured from a second material to define 2D shapes that are rotatably engageable with the 3D shapes to define force transfer elements operable to close the digits around an object responsive to a pull force applied to the force transfer elements, wherein the first material is different from the second material. Methods for manufacturing and assembling prosthetic apparatus also are disclosed along with related kits and systems.

A prosthetic device may include a forearm portion having a prosthesis wall, a prosthesis interior formed by the prosthesis wall, a control module access opening in the prosthesis wall and communicating with the prosthesis interior, an access opening cover reversibly closing the control module access opening and a control module in the prosthesis interior adjacent to the control module access opening. A cosmetic prosthetic glove may be configured for deployment on the forearm portion. The cosmetic prosthetic glove may include a dorsal glove surface and a ventral glove surface. At least one display may be provided in at least one selected position on the cosmetic prosthetic glove. The control module may be configured to be disposed in electronic communication with the display upon deployment of the cosmetic prosthetic glove on the forearm portion. The control module may be operable to present at least one image on the display.

A prosthetic arm apparatus comprising a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a harness mount that may be adorned by the user. Each segment of the plurality of segments provides a portion of the movement capability, enabling the plurality of connected segments connected to the harness mount to provide substantially the same movement capability as that lacking in the user.