Systems and methods for controlling an orthopedic joint device of a lower extremity, the orthopedic joint 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 joint 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 method for operating an accessory device to guide the placement of an ostomy appliance on a user having a stoma. The method can include capturing an image or a sequence of images of the user applying the ostomy appliance to the user's body, processing the captured image or sequence of images, including: identifying a location of the stoma in one or more of the captured image or sequence of images, identifying a location of the ostomy appliance in one or more of the captured image or sequence of images, and generating location indicia representative of the location of the ostomy appliance with respect to the stoma in one or more of the captured image or sequence of images. A visual display including the location indicia associated with one or more of the captured image or sequence of images can be provided.

Systems, devices and methods for detecting ground contact with a lower-limb POD. A sensor array for the POD on a first or second body may include two or more sensors in an array that each detect a distance to a respective target on the other of the first or second body. The first and second bodies may move relative to each other thereby changing an offset distance or distances between the two bodies which is detected by the sensors. In some embodiments, the sensors may include Hall Effect sensors that detect distances to respective magnets. Load data based on the detected distances may be generated for control of the POD, such as for stance phase control.

An orthopedic joint device is provided, the device having an upper part, a lower part pivotably mounted thereon and an actuator fastened to the upper part and the lower part and having a drive shaft coupled to an output element via a force transmission device, the force transmission device having a load transmission element that can by adjusted depending on the load.

Disclosed is a para-bi-cycling knee joint prosthesis for interconnecting a prosthetic lower leg and a prosthetic thigh, the knee joint prosthesis including an upper body portion configured to support a socket adapter, for connection with a prosthetic thigh; a lower body portion extending from the upper body portion and configured to connect with a prosthetic lower leg; a pair of ball bearings mounted on ends of a pivot shaft, the pivot shaft forming un upper part of the lower body portion, the upper body portion having left and right upper body portions, each configured to receive the external surface of one of the bearings, thus enabling rotation between the upper and lower body portions; the rotation allowing for flexion between the upper and the lower body portions of at least 140 degrees; and the upper body portion having an extended surface configured to engage a complementarily-shaped surface of the lower body portion, to prevent the backward rotation of the knee joint.

Disclosed is a para-bi-cycling knee joint prosthesis for interconnecting a prosthetic lower leg and a prosthetic thigh, the knee joint prosthesis including an upper body portion configured to support a socket adapter, for connection with a prosthetic thigh; a lower body portion extending from the upper body portion and configured to connect with a prosthetic lower leg; a pair of ball bearings mounted on ends of a pivot shaft, the pivot shaft forming un upper part of the lower body portion, the upper body portion having left and right upper body portions, each configured to receive the external surface of one of the bearings, thus enabling rotation between the upper and lower body portions; the rotation allowing for flexion between the upper and the lower body portions of at least 140 degrees; and the upper body portion having an extended surface configured to engage a complementarily-shaped surface of the lower body portion, to prevent the backward rotation of the knee joint.

A prosthetic limb includes: a socket as a thigh part; a thigh joint part provided on a side of the socket; a lower leg part coupled to the thigh joint part and provided to be rotatable around a knee shaft; a thigh part inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle Ψ formed by the socket relative to a vertical line passing through the knee shaft; and a rotational resistance control unit that weakens a rotational resistance of the knee shaft in accordance with a transition from a positive inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined rearward relative to the vertical line to a negative inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined forward relative to the vertical line.

A prosthetic limb includes: a socket as a thigh part; a thigh joint part provided on a side of the socket; a lower leg part coupled to the thigh joint part and provided to be rotatable around a knee shaft; a thigh part inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle Ψ formed by the socket relative to a vertical line passing through the knee shaft; and a rotational resistance control unit that weakens a rotational resistance of the knee shaft in accordance with a transition from a positive inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined rearward relative to the vertical line to a negative inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined forward relative to the vertical line.

Provided is a method of stimulating regeneration of cartilage in an area of diseased cartilage in a layer of cartilage in a first bone of a joint. The method includes forming a first recess in the first bone at the area of diseased cartilage, and positioning a first spherical implant within the first recess, where the first spherical implant is dimensioned to be smaller than the first recess so that the first spherical implant is capable of moving in two dimensions within the first recess resulting in shear forces between the first spherical implant and the cartilage and stimulates formation of fibrous tissue which subsequently transforms into cartilage.