A prosthesis device having a tension element, fastened to a tensile force brace, which drives a movable component of a prosthesis device upon applying a tension force, wherein a sensor device is allocated to the tension element which detects the actuation of the tension element and activates a motor allocated to the movable component.

Features for a prosthetic digit actuator. The various systems and methods allow for smaller volume actuators, which in turn allows for smaller digits and/or more space for other features of the digit. The actuator includes a motor that causes rotation of a worm gear along a fixed worm wheel. The worm gear is unibody with the output shaft. The worm gear climbs along the worm wheel to cause rotation of a digit or digit segment. The arrangement of the actuator parts allows for transmitting axial forces in first and second directions corresponding respectively to performing opening and closing rotations of the digits.

Features for a powered prosthetic thumb are described. The thumb provides for rotation of a digit that mimics the natural movement possible with a sound thumb. The thumb may attach to a full or partial prosthetic hand or socket on a residual limb. The thumb may include an upper assembly, including a prosthetic thumb digit, rotatably attached to a mount about a pinch axis and a lateral axis. The digit may rotate about only the pinch axis, only the lateral axis, or both the pinch and lateral axes simultaneously. A first actuator may actuate to cause rotation of the digit about the pinch axis. A second actuator may actuate to cause rotation of the digit about the lateral axis. The first and second actuators may be actuated together at appropriate speeds to cause rotation about both the pinch and lateral axes simultaneously. A swaying chassis may be rotatably connected with the upper assembly and a lower assembly about various offset axes to provide for rotation about the lateral axis.

A joint device includes a control unit configured to control the power source, the first connection and disconnection mechanism, and the second connection and disconnection mechanism, and an applied weight acquisition unit which acquires an applied weight applied to the joint device. The control unit controls at least one of the first connection and disconnection mechanism and the second connection and disconnection mechanism based on the applied weight acquired by the applied weight acquisition unit.

A release mechanism especially but not exclusively for use in a prosthetic hand. The release mechanism includes a retainer and a release pin held within the retainer so as to be moveable between an engagement position and a release position. The retainer is provided with portions which engage the release pin to restrain it to movement between the engagement position and the release position. The portions include ball bearings to reduce the friction between the retainer and the release pin. Also, a prosthetic hand having such a release mechanism is provided so that the user can release the hand if it becomes jammed.

A hand prosthesis base body having an outer side, a motor, and a first rotatable shaft which is connected with an output shaft of the motor. The first rotatable shaft has a coupling element for a detachably coupling at least one finger element to the rotatable shaft.

An orthotic or prosthetic actuator is provided which includes a parallel eccentric gear train which terminates on a first end in a first plate, and which terminates on a second end in a second, rotatable plate which is adjacent to the first plate. The actuator further includes a spring which is disposed between these adjacent plates. The actuator preferably utilizes Oldham coupling, by way of a pair of crosslinks disposed on each side of the motor, to restrain rotation of the dual parallel eccentric gears in the actuator, while permitting their linear oscillation. The crosslinks are preferably equipped with a tongue/spline lubrication system to provide continuous lubrication to the mated and loaded crosslink tongue and groove surfaces.

Embodiments are directed to a prosthetic finger that includes a track that couples to a hand, a first phalange coupled to the track at a first joint, a second phalange coupled to the first phalange at a second joint, a third phalange coupled to the second phalange at a third joint, and a motor positioned at least partially within the second phalange. The prosthetic finger can include a first linkage positioned within the first phalange and configured to cause the first phalange to move relative to the knuckle in response to a motor output and cause the second phalange to move relative to the first phalange in response to the motor output. The prosthetic finger can include a second linkage coupling the third phalange to the second phalange and configured to cause the third phalange to move relative to the second phalange in response to the motor output.

Embodiments are directed to a prosthetic finger that includes a track that couples to a hand, a first phalange coupled to the track at a first joint, a second phalange coupled to the first phalange at a second joint, a third phalange coupled to the second phalange at a third joint, and a motor positioned at least partially within the second phalange. The prosthetic finger can include a first linkage positioned within the first phalange and configured to cause the first phalange to move relative to the knuckle in response to a motor output and cause the second phalange to move relative to the first phalange in response to the motor output. The prosthetic finger can include a second linkage coupling the third phalange to the second phalange and configured to cause the third phalange to move relative to the second phalange in response to the motor output.

Embodiments are directed to a prosthetic finger that includes a track that couples to a hand, a first phalange coupled to the track at a first joint, a second phalange coupled to the first phalange at a second joint, a third phalange coupled to the second phalange at a third joint, and a motor positioned at least partially within the second phalange. The prosthetic finger can include a first linkage positioned within the first phalange and configured to cause the first phalange to move relative to the knuckle in response to a motor output and cause the second phalange to move relative to the first phalange in response to the motor output. The prosthetic finger can include a second linkage coupling the third phalange to the second phalange and configured to cause the third phalange to move relative to the second phalange in response to the motor output.