[Object] To provide a hybrid actuator attaining both driving force and responsiveness, capable of reducing inertia of a movable portion.

[Solution] A pneumatic air muscle has a cylinder (112) provided in a flexible member (100) forming a pneumatic artificial muscle. At the center of an upper lid element (109) of the cylinder, a through hole is opened, and an inner wire (103) of a Bowden cable passes through this through hole and is coupled by means of a spring (106) to a bottom portion of the cylinder. When the pneumatic artificial muscle contracts, the inner wire (103) and the pneumatic air muscle move together because of the stopper (105), and the contraction force is transmitted. In contrast, when the pneumatic air muscle extends, the stopper (105) is disengaged, while the tension of inner wire (103) is kept by the spring (106) to prevent slacking.

The invention relates to an orthopedic device with an energy storage device 2 that comprises at least one cylinder 4, in which a first cylinder chamber 6, a second cylinder chamber 8, which is fluidically connected to the first cylinder chamber 6 by at least one fluid line 14, and a piston 10 are located, wherein the piston 10 is arranged relative to the cylinder 4 such that it can be displaced in such a way that by displacing the piston 4, an operating medium, which is a fluid, is conveyed through the at least one fluid line 14 from one cylinder chamber 6, 8 into the other cylinder chamber 8, 6, wherein the energy storage device 2 has at least one compensation volume 24, which is fluidically connected to the fluid line 14 via a fluid connection 22, and a first controllable valve 26, by means of which the fluid connection 22 can be opened and closed.

The invention relates to an orthopedic device with an energy storage device 2 that comprises at least one cylinder 4, in which a first cylinder chamber 6, a second cylinder chamber 8, which is fluidically connected to the first cylinder chamber 6 by at least one fluid line 14, and a piston 10 are located, wherein the piston 10 is arranged relative to the cylinder 4 such that it can be displaced in such a way that by displacing the piston 4, an operating medium, which is a fluid, is conveyed through the at least one fluid line 14 from one cylinder chamber 6, 8 into the other cylinder chamber 8, 6, wherein the energy storage device 2 has at least one compensation volume 24, which is fluidically connected to the fluid line 14 via a fluid connection 22, and a first controllable valve 26, by means of which the fluid connection 22 can be opened and closed.

A selectively actuated textile includes one or more pieces of fabric having one or more circumferentially constrained channels and one or more hollow elastic tubes located within the circumferentially constrained channels and configured to receive a working fluid. Selectively providing or removing working fluid from the hollow elastic tubes provides for selective actuation of the textile.

A high torque active mechanism for an orthotic and/or prosthetic joint using a primary brake which can be provide by magnetorheological (MR) rotational damper incorporating and an additional friction brake mechanism driven by the braking force generated by the MR damper. This combination of MR damper and friction brake mechanism allows an increase in torque density while keeping the same level of motion control offered by the MR damper alone. The increased torque density achieved by this high torque active mechanism allows to minimize the size of the actuating system, i.e. its diameter and/or breath, while maximizing its braking torque capability. In this regard, the friction brake mechanism is advantageously positioned around the MR damper, such that the dimension of the package is minimized.

A prosthetic limb including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic limb 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. The prosthetic limb includes a controller and at least one antenna in connection with the controller for transmitting and receiving signals, the at least one antenna including a housing of a segment of the prosthetic limb as a radiating element. The prosthetic limb further including a user interface incorporated therein and one or more communication systems for communicating with external devices. The user interface is integrally formed in the housing and includes a status indicator for displaying information. A flexible protective cover is disposed around a portion of the housing and covers the user interface, the flexible protective cover includes a translucent portion over the status indicator.

A lower limb prosthesis system and a method of controlling the prosthesis system to replace a missing lower extremity of an individual and perform a gait cycle are disclosed. The prosthesis system has a controller, one or more sensors, a prosthetic foot, and a movable ankle joint member coupled to the prosthetic foot. The movable ankle joint member comprises a hydraulic damping system that provides the ankle joint member damping resistance. The controller varies the damping resistance by providing volumetric flow control to the hydraulic damping system based on sensor data. In one embodiment, the hydraulic damping system comprises a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly, hydraulic fluid, and a valve to regulate the fluid. In one embodiment, the controller alters the damping resistance by modulating the valve to vary the hydraulic fluid flow within the hydraulic piston cylinder assembly of the movable ankle joint member based on sensor data.

The adjustable prosthetic leg, which is connected between a thigh and an artificial foot, has a controller, a connecting mechanism, a hydraulic unit, and a shell. The connecting mechanism and the hydraulic unit are pivotally connected to the controller, and the shell is pivotally connected to the hydraulic unit. The connecting mechanism extends into a hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic unit. The hydraulic cylinder is in communication with a reserve hydraulic cylinder and a brake hydraulic cylinder of the hydraulic unit. The prosthetic leg allows a user to climb up or go down the stairs and walk on uneven ground easily without falling down.

A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.

A lower limb prosthesis comprises a foot component and an ankle unit pivotally mounted to the foot component. The ankle unit comprises an ankle joint mechanism comprising a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for providing hydraulic damping whenever the ankle joint flexes, and a vacuum mechanism comprising a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly for generating a vacuum. The hydraulic and pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies are arranged such that the vacuum mechanism generates a vacuum during plantar-flexion of the ankle unit.