A prosthetic knee joint includes a thigh connection part, a lower leg part coupled to the thigh connection part rotatably around an axis of a knee, an actuator coupled to the thigh connection part and the lower leg part, where the actuator is configured to restrict or assist movement of the thigh connection part, a detector unit for obtaining information about how the thigh connection part and the lower leg part are relatively positioned, a control unit for controlling driving of the actuator based on a result detected by the detector unit, and an estimating unit for estimating a state of the user's movement based on the result detected by the detector unit. When the estimating unit estimates that the user is not walking, the control unit sets a longer control cycle for the driving of the actuator than when the estimating unit estimates that the user is walking.

A robotic joint includes a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce a torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of making a knee joint of an artificial leg close to a movement of a knee of a human body with a simple configuration. The knee joint component 4, which is one application example of the present invention, includes a first oil passage 20 connecting a first oil chamber 13a and a second oil chamber 13b in a cylinder tube 12 coupled to a socket 8 mounted on a thigh part 7, a second oil passage 30 branched from the first oil passage 20 so as to be in parallel with the first oil passage 20, and a switching mechanism 50 that switches whether a oil 19 passes through the first oil passage 20 or the second oil passage 30, which are different from the first oil passage 20 in the passage characteristics, and the switching mechanism 50 that is rotatably mounted around the first rotating shaft 53 and that is rotatable by its own weight when the artificial leg 9 is tilted, and a first rotating member 52 that switches whether the oil 19 passes through the first oil passage 20 or the second oil passage 30 by opening or closing the inlet/outlet 31,32 of the second oil passage 30.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of making a knee joint of an artificial leg close to a movement of a knee of a human body with a simple configuration. The knee joint component 4, which is one application example of the present invention, includes a first oil passage 20 connecting a first oil chamber 13a and a second oil chamber 13b in a cylinder tube 12 coupled to a socket 8 mounted on a thigh part 7, a second oil passage 30 branched from the first oil passage 20 so as to be in parallel with the first oil passage 20, and a switching mechanism 50 that switches whether a oil 19 passes through the first oil passage 20 or the second oil passage 30, which are different from the first oil passage 20 in the passage characteristics, and the switching mechanism 50 that is rotatably mounted around the first rotating shaft 53 and that is rotatable by its own weight when the artificial leg 9 is tilted, and a first rotating member 52 that switches whether the oil 19 passes through the first oil passage 20 or the second oil passage 30 by opening or closing the inlet/outlet 31,32 of the second oil passage 30.

A prosthetic leg system includes a prosthetic leg, a system controller, and a system memory. The system controller includes a driving information acquirer structured to acquire driving information representing a driving state of a driving mechanism of the prosthetic leg and an environmental information acquirer structured to acquire environmental information around the prosthetic leg. The system controller configures a system for calculating power consumption of the prosthetic leg, a system for estimating a state of the prosthetic leg, and a system for estimating a physical condition of a user of the prosthetic leg.

A prosthetic leg system includes a prosthetic leg, a system controller, and a system memory. The system controller includes a driving information acquirer structured to acquire driving information representing a driving state of a driving mechanism of the prosthetic leg and an environmental information acquirer structured to acquire environmental information around the prosthetic leg. The system controller configures a system for calculating power consumption of the prosthetic leg, a system for estimating a state of the prosthetic leg, and a system for estimating a physical condition of a user of the prosthetic leg.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot having an upper foot element with a concave-forward facing portion and foot portion extending forwardly therefrom. An intermediate foot element is disposed below the upper foot element and has a front portion coupled to the foot portion of the upper foot element. A lower foot element is disposed below the intermediate foot element. A pump system is coupled to the prosthetic foot and comprises a pump mechanism including a housing defining a cavity, and a membrane situated in the cavity. The pump mechanism is movable between an original configuration and an expanded configuration. An arm member is connected to the pump mechanism and operatively coupled to the intermediate foot element. The arm member is arranged to move the pump mechanism toward at least the expanded configuration upon movement of the intermediate foot element relative to the upper foot element.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot having an upper foot element with a concave-forward facing portion and foot portion extending forwardly therefrom. An intermediate foot element is disposed below the upper foot element and has a front portion coupled to the foot portion of the upper foot element. A lower foot element is disposed below the intermediate foot element. A pump system is coupled to the prosthetic foot and comprises a pump mechanism including a housing defining a cavity, and a membrane situated in the cavity. The pump mechanism is movable between an original configuration and an expanded configuration. An arm member is connected to the pump mechanism and operatively coupled to the intermediate foot element. The arm member is arranged to move the pump mechanism toward at least the expanded configuration upon movement of the intermediate foot element relative to the upper foot element.

A lower limb prosthesis comprises an attachment section (10), a shin section (12), a foot section (14), a knee joint (16) pivotally connecting the attachment section (10) and the shin section (12), and an ankle joint (22) pivotally connecting the shin section (12) and the foot section (14). The knee joint includes a dynamically adjustable knee flexion control device (18) for damping knee flexion. The prosthesis further comprises a plurality of sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) each arranged to generate sensor signals indicative of at least one respective kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion or of walking environment, and an electronic control system (100) coupled to the sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) and to the knee flexion control device (18) in order dynamically and automatically to modify the flexion control setting of the knee joint (16) in response to signals from the sensors. When the inclination sensor signals indicate descent of a downward incline, the damping resistance of the knee flexion control device (18) is set to a first level during a major part of the stance phase of the gait cycle and to a second, lower level during a major part of the swing phase of the gait cycle. During an interval including a latter part of the stance phase, the knee flexion control device (18) is adjusted so that the damping resistance to knee flexion is between the first and second levels.

A valve 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.