A prosthetic arm apparatus comprising a plurality of interconnected segments that provide the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connected to one another and connectable to a harness mount that may be adorned by the user. Each segment of the plurality of segments includes an actuator providing a portion of the movement capability, and each segment may operate independently of each of the other segments of the plurality of segments. One segment of the plurality of segments includes a non-backdriving clutch that transfers power from the actuator to an output interface of the segment when the actuator is actuated to generate movement of the output interface in either of two opposing directions and prevents backward transfer of power from the output interface to the actuator of the segment in both of the two opposing directions.

A prosthetic arm apparatus including 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 prosthetic support apparatus 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.

Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such, as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive.

Features for a prosthetic wrist and associated methods are described. The wrist couples with a prosthetic socket and a prosthetic hand. The wrist may rotate the hand. The wrist includes features to prevent or mitigate undesirable separation of the wrist from the socket. The wrist may have an expanding coupling, such as an expanding ring, to better secure the wrist with the socket. An actuator may cause the coupling to expand outward to prevent or mitigate undesirable separation of the wrist from the socket. Alternatively or in addition, the wrist may include torque control features to prevent undesirable or premature separation of the hand from the wrist, for example when using a quick wrist disconnect (QWD) apparatus. A torque control method may tailor or limit multiple torques to be applied by the wrist to the hand based on operational requirements and phases, such as anticipated torque loads and operational timing.

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.

A motion assistance apparatus including a proximal frame configured to support a proximal part of a user, a distal frame configured to support a distal part of the user, and a force transmitting member slidably connected to the proximal frame, and rotatably connected to the distal frame is provided.

Disclosed herein is a control method of a wearable robot, including: generating reference gait data based on the results of sensing by a sensor unit included in a structure; estimating, when a wearer walks, the wearer's gait phase based on the results of sensing by the sensor unit; detecting a gait phase having a minimum difference from the estimated gait phase from the reference gait data; and driving a driver of the structure, according to a control signal generated based on the estimated gait phase and the detected gait phase.

An electric prosthetic leg includes a below-knee member, an above-knee member, a knee joint mechanism coupling the below-knee member and the above-knee member such that angles formed between the below-knee member and the above-knee member are variable, and an expansion-contraction device capable of varying the angles formed between the below-knee member and the above-knee member by expanding and contracting, in which one side of the expansion-contraction device in an extending direction is mechanically connected to the below-knee member, and the other side of the expansion-contraction device is mechanically connected to the above-knee member. Assuming that smaller one of minimum formed angles, of the angles formed between the below-knee member and the above-knee member centering on a pivoting portion of the knee joint mechanism, is defined as a second formed angle, the expansion-contraction device is partially disposed on a side of a first formed angle.

Features for a prosthetic wrist and associated methods are described. The wrist couples with a prosthetic socket and a prosthetic hand. The wrist may rotate the hand. The wrist includes features to prevent or mitigate undesirable separation of the wrist from the socket. The wrist may have an expanding coupling, such as an expanding ring, to better secure the wrist with the socket. An actuator may cause the coupling to expand outward to prevent or mitigate undesirable separation of the wrist from the socket. Alternatively or in addition, the wrist may include torque control features to prevent undesirable or premature separation of the hand from the wrist, for example when using a quick wrist disconnect (QWD) apparatus. A torque control method may tailor or limit multiple torques to be applied by the wrist to the hand based on operational requirements and phases, such as anticipated torque loads and operational timing.

Disclosed is an elbow structure, for an electronic artificial arm, which hinge-connects the humeral part and radioulnar part and enables the joint movement of the humeral part and radioulnar part about one central axis. The elbow structure for an electronic artificial arm comprises: a first connection unit of which one end is connected to the radioulnar part and which has inside the other end a plurality of driving portions provided concentrically with and a predetermined distance away from the central axis and each having a gear on one end; and a second connection unit of which one end is connected to the humeral part and which has teeth portions aligned in a circle so as to interlock and rotate with the gears of the plurality of driving portions in the outer direction.