The present application relates to a smart knee joint for a human lower limb exoskeleton, a prosthesis, and an orthosis. The smart knee joint reproduces part or all of the biomechanics of the knee joint of the human body by using a motor driving unit and a controllable elastic energy storage unit based on a magnetorheological damper. The motor driving unit here can be replaced with a controllable damping unit. The smart knee joint is developed for helping amputees or patients with impaired mobility regain/repair natural gaits and also reduce their burden of walking. The motor drive unit operates in a generator mode and an actuator mode. Energy harvesting technologies are exploited to reduce the power consumption of the smart knee joint then to prolong the working time. In addition, the controllable elastic energy storage unit based on the magnetorheological damper can further reduce the energy consumption of the smart knee joint, and also simplify the control of the knee joint.

A prosthesis or orthosis device includes a knee joint connectable with the user's leg; a swing storage spring-gear mechanism comprising a balancing spring inserted in an ankle member housing located in an ankle member, a drive gear, a driven gear, an intermediate gear and a gear rod, and a foot part comprising a dorsiflexion spring; a lower leg connecting a knee joint and a foot part to each other, in which a weight-receiving member is located; and a swing storage mechanism connected to the foot part by a second housing of the connection tube and a gear rod pin, and to the knee joint by a first housing of the connection tube and a first housing of the knee joint; and a weight-receiving mechanism comprising a weight-receiving member and a compression arm and a lock fork for activating and deactivating the weight-receiving member.

A prosthesis or orthosis device includes a knee joint connectable with the user's leg; a swing storage spring-gear mechanism comprising a balancing spring inserted in an ankle member housing located in an ankle member, a drive gear, a driven gear, an intermediate gear and a gear rod, and a foot part comprising a dorsiflexion spring; a lower leg connecting a knee joint and a foot part to each other, in which a weight-receiving member is located; and a swing storage mechanism connected to the foot part by a second housing of the connection tube and a gear rod pin, and to the knee joint by a first housing of the connection tube and a first housing of the knee joint; and a weight-receiving mechanism comprising a weight-receiving member and a compression arm and a lock fork for activating and deactivating the weight-receiving member.

A knee joint that is capable of widening a moveable range, and that has good energy efficiency and is small and lightweight is described. Also described is a knee joint that is of an active type, but comparatively inexpensive. A drive section moves a driven member. An elastic member is arranged between the driven member and a linear motion member. The linear motion member elastically moves in at least one direction, in accordance with movement of the driven member, by way of the elastic member. A crank mechanism can realize bending and extension of the knee joint by converting linear motion of the linear motion member to rotational motion.

A knee joint that is capable of widening a moveable range, and that has good energy efficiency and is small and lightweight is described. Also described is a knee joint that is of an active type, but comparatively inexpensive. A drive section moves a driven member. An elastic member is arranged between the driven member and a linear motion member. The linear motion member elastically moves in at least one direction, in accordance with movement of the driven member, by way of the elastic member. A crank mechanism can realize bending and extension of the knee joint by converting linear motion of the linear motion member to rotational motion.

Systems and methods for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, the orthopedic device comprising an upper part, a lower part mounted in articulated fashion to the upper part, and a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts. The conversion device provides for, during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part, mechanical work from a relative movement between the upper and lower parts to be converted and stored in at least one energy store and supplied back to the joint device with a time offset in order to assist the relative movement. The stored energy is converted back and the supply of mechanical work takes place in a controlled manner during the assistance of the relative movement.

Systems and methods for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, the orthopedic device comprising an upper part, a lower part mounted in articulated fashion to the upper part, and a conversion device arranged between the upper and lower parts. The conversion device provides for, during pivoting of the upper part relative to the lower part, mechanical work from a relative movement between the upper and lower parts to be converted and stored in at least one energy store and supplied back to the joint device with a time offset in order to assist the relative movement. The stored energy is converted back and the supply of mechanical work takes place in a controlled manner during the assistance of the relative movement.

A lower limb prosthesis comprises a knee chassis (10), a shin carrier (20) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and a piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and the shin carrier (20). The piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) comprises a piston assembly (40) comprising a piston (40) mounted on a piston rod (42), a cylinder body (32B) having a cavity (46) defining a cylinder within which the piston (44) is arranged to reciprocate along the piston and cylinder assembly axis, and a foot component attachment means (36) for attaching a foot component to the piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40).

A lower limb prosthesis comprises a knee chassis (10), a shin carrier (20) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and a piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and the shin carrier (20). The piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) comprises a piston assembly (40) comprising a piston (40) mounted on a piston rod (42), a cylinder body (32B) having a cavity (46) defining a cylinder within which the piston (44) is arranged to reciprocate along the piston and cylinder assembly axis, and a foot component attachment means (36) for attaching a foot component to the piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40).

The present invention relates to a prosthesis covering with a closed cross-section which comprises a first section, a second section and a third section. The second section is arranged in longitudinal direction between the first section and the third section and comprises other material, other diameter and/or other circumference than one or both of the other two sections.