A magnetic locking actuator for a prosthetic or orthotic device is provided. The actuator includes a first component including one or more magnets and a second component including one or more magnets. The first and second components are coupled to separate portions of the device. The magnets allow for adjustment of a length of the actuator to adjust an angular orientation of the first and second portions of the device. When magnets in the second component are aligned with magnets in the first component having an opposite polarity, a position of the second component is fixed relative to the first component, locking the actuator. When magnets in the second component are not aligned with magnets in the first component having the opposite polarity, the position of the second component is adjustable relative to the first component, thereby allowing adjustment of the height of the actuator.

A prosthetic ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.

A method for controlling a damping modification in an artificial knee joint of an orthosis, an exoskeleton, or a prosthesis. The artificial knee joint has an upper part pivotally connected to a lower part A resistance unit is secured between the upper part and the lower part in order to provide a resistance against a flexion or extension The resistance unit is paired with an adjustment device to modify the resistance when a sensor signal of a control unit paired with the adjustment device activates the adjustment device. The flexion resistance is reduced for the swing phase. A curve of at least one load characteristic is detected when walking or standing; a maximum of the load characteristic curve when standing is ascertained; and the flexion damping is reduced to a swing-phase damping level during the standing phase when a threshold of the load characteristic below a maximum is reached.

A conditional braking knee includes an upper member configured to couple to a prosthetic socket. A braking member couples to the upper member. A lower member couples to the braking member and is configured to rotate with respect to the upper member. A flexion coupler couples to the braking member and is configured to couple to a prosthetic foot. The braking member is configured to prevent a rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member in response to a flexion of the prosthetic foot communicated to the braking member through the flexion coupler. In implementations the braking member is a clamping member rotatably coupled to the upper member with a first axle, the lower member is rotatably coupled to the clamping member with a second axle, and the clamping member prevents a rotation of the upper member relative to the lower member by clamping on the first axle.

A technology for a prosthetic above-knee device is provided. A socket may be used to attach the device to a residual limb, and may have a rigid body coupled to the socket. The device may include a first link with a first link end coupled through the rigid body to the socket and a second link end coupled to the rigid body. The second link of the device may have a third link end attached to the rigid body, and a fourth link end coupled to a housing. The device may include a hydraulic cylinder with a piston and a hydraulic cylinder link coupled between the rigid body and the piston of the hydraulic cylinder. The stability adjustment nut may adjust a travel distance of the hydraulic cylinder link with respect to the hydraulic cylinder to provide an adjustment of an instant center for stability modification.

A system and method are described for profiling a distribution of forces transferred from the body weight and the residual limb of a wearer of a prosthetic socket through the socket. The system may include a prosthetic socket, a sensor network comprising multiple sensors coupled with the prosthetic socket in a pattern defining multiple internal regions within the prosthetic socket, and a processor coupled with the sensor network and configured to receive sensed data from the sensor network, divide the sensed data into groups corresponding to the multiple internal regions within the prosthetic socket, and process the sensed data to provide force distribution profile data corresponding to the force distribution profile.

A prosthetic or orthotic device includes a body configured to support at least a portion of a human limb of a user wearing the prosthetic or orthotic device. The device can also include a shock absorption member coupled to the body. The shock absorption member includes one or more magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) springs disposed between a first portion of the body and a second portion of the body. The one or more MRE springs are selectively actuatable to vary a stiffness of the shock absorption member via the application of a magnetic flux, thereby adjusting a stiffness of the body of the prosthetic or orthotic device to a level corresponding to an activity level of the user.

A prosthetic knee can include a variable-torque magnetorheological (MR) actuator assembly or braking system, a frame and an electronics assembly or system that also serves as a mount for the knee actuator and facilitates in monitoring and controlling the operation of the knee actuator. The prosthetic knee system advantageously provides resistive forces to substantially simulate the position and motion of a natural knee joint during ambulation and/or other locomotory activities performed by the amputee. The prosthetic knee can be have a series of internal blades for providing resistive forces. A locking ratchet can be used to lock knee position. A dynamic seal with a protective shim can be disposed in the knee actuator. A coil with a non-circular cross-section can be used.

A prosthetic knee uses a hydraulic damper to regulate the rotation of the prosthetic knee joint. A magnetic rotary on-axis position sensor located at the joint between the upper and lower portions of the prosthetic knee measures the motion of the upper portion of the knee by detecting the magnetic field which is generated by a diametrically polarized magnet. A microprocessor correlates the measured motion to a knee joint angle, and adjusts the resistance provided by the hydraulic damper according to a corresponding stage of gait.

A prosthetic ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, thereby influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.