The invention relates to a method for controlling an orthotic or prosthetic device and an orthotic or prosthetic device, which can be placed on the body of a user and secured, including a joint device having a proximal component and a distal component, which are pivotally mounted on one another about a pivot axis; at least one adjustable actuator which is arranged between the proximal component and the distal component and via which a movement behaviour relating to a pivoting of the proximal component relative to the distal component can be adjusted; at least one detection device for detecting muscle contractions; and a control device which is coupled to the detection device and to the actuator, processes (electrical) signals from the detection unit, and adjusts the actuator according to the signals, wherein the detection device is designed for detecting muscle contractions.

A device for enhancing a user's grasping capability comprises a belt-like support configured to be tightly fitted about a user's part of the body; an articulated gripping element having a plurality of phalanxes: proximal, fixed to the support, intermediate and distal, which are articulated to each other by articular joints; a motor unit fixed to the support; a winding drum; a tendon partially wound on the drum and extending along the phalanxes and the joints, arranged so that, by pulling it from the drum, the phalanxes rotate about respective articular joints and move the articulated gripping element from an extended position to a gripping bow-shaped position, causing a flexion/extension movement of the articulated gripping element, the joints configured so that by releasing the tendon from the drum, the phalanxes rotate about the respective joints and move the articulated gripping element between gripping bow-shaped position and extended position.

A method for controlling the standing-phase damping of an artificial knee joint comprising an upper part and a lower part which are secured together in a pivotal manner about a pivot axis, a resistance unit which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and has an adjustment device via which the damping resistance can be modified, and a control unit which is coupled to the adjustment device and which is connected to at least one sensor. The adjustment is carried out on the basis of sensor data, and the knee angle is detected by the at least one sensor during the standing-phase inflexion up to the terminal standing phase. The flexion damping is increased to a level above an initial flexion damping in order to prevent a further inflexion upon reaching a specified maximum knee angle.

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure an electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising a first sheet having a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the first conductive layer, and a second sheet comprising a second conductive layer and disposed proximate to the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first sheet and the second sheet are non-extensible and flexible, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are slidable relative to each other in a first state. The first sheet and the second sheet are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. In some embodiments, the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

The invention relates to a method for controlling an orthopedic joint of a lower extremity in at least one degree of freedom by means of an adjustable actuator for adjusting an orthopedic apparatus to walking situations that differ from walking on a plane. Said orthopedic apparatus comprises top connecting means to a limb and an orthopedic element that is hingedly arranged distal to the connecting means. The method encompasses the following steps: —several parameters (A) of the orthopedic apparatus are sensed by means of sensors; —the sensed parameters are compared with criteria (K) that have been established based on several parameters and/or parameter curves and are stored in a computer unit; —a criterion is selected that is suitable on the basis of the determined parameters and/or parameter curves; and —resistances to movements, extents of movements, driving forces, and/or the progresses thereof are adjusted in accordance with the selected criterion in order to control special functions (5) that differ from walking on a plane.

A method for controlling the standing-phase damping of an artificial knee joint comprising an upper part and a lower part which are secured together in a pivotal manner about a pivot axis, a resistance unit which is arranged between the upper part and the lower part and has an adjustment device via which the damping resistance can be modified, and a control unit which is coupled to the adjustment device and which is connected to at least one sensor. The adjustment is carried out on the basis of sensor data, and the knee angle is detected by the at least one sensor during the standing-phase inflexion up to the terminal standing phase. The flexion damping is increased to a level above an initial flexion damping in order to prevent a further inflexion upon reaching a specified maximum knee angle.

A prosthetic joint and a method of controlling dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the hydraulic prosthetic ankle joint. The method includes generating ground reaction forces with a hydraulic prosthetic ankle, wherein the prosthetic hydraulic ankle comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, and the ankle is connected to a prosthetic foot; rotating the prosthetic foot in response to the ground reaction force; transferring fluid between the forward and rear chambers in response to rotation of the foot; providing a feature to occlude or partially occlude the fluid transfer between chambers; providing a non-electronic mechanism for controlling the flow responsive to both a position of the joint and a rate of change of position of the joint, and wherein the mechanism is arranged such that a dwell at a particular joint location or locations will occlude the flow path.

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 valve with an inlet, an outlet that is connected to the inlet via a fluid connection, and a valve body, which can be brought by displacing it along a displacement direction into a first position, in which the fluid connection is blocked, and a second position, in which the fluid connection is open, wherein the inlet is designed and arranged in such a way that a fluid entering through the inlet exerts a total force on the valve body that at least also acts in a force direction which is perpendicular to the displacement direction when the valve body is in the first position.

A method for controlling an orthopedic joint of a lower extremity in at least one degree of freedom by an adjustable actuator for adjusting an orthopedic apparatus to walking situations that differ from walking on a plane. The orthopedic apparatus comprises top connecting members to connect to a limb, and an orthopedic element that is hingedly arranged distal to the connecting members. The method includes sensing, with sensors, several parameters of the orthopedic apparatus; comparing the sensed parameters with criteria that have been established based on several parameters and/or parameter curves and are stored in a computer unit; selecting a criterion that is suitable on the basis of the determined parameters and/or parameter curves; and adjusting resistances to movements, extents of movements, driving forces, and/or the progresses thereof in accordance with the selected criterion in order to control special functions that differ from walking on a plane.