Systems, devices and methods for detecting ground contact with a lower-limb POD. A sensor array for the POD on a first or second body may include two or more sensors in an array that each detect a distance to a respective target on the other of the first or second body. The first and second bodies may move relative to each other thereby changing an offset distance or distances between the two bodies which is detected by the sensors. In some embodiments, the sensors may include Hall Effect sensors that detect distances to respective magnets. Load data based on the detected distances may be generated for control of the POD, such as for stance phase control.

A separated prosthetic foot with a transverse arch belongs to the technical field of manufacturing of artificial limbs. The characteristics of the transverse arch of the human foot are combined into the previous transverse-straight carbon fiber foot design to improve the stiffness of the prosthetic foot and reduce the weight of the prosthetic foot. A forefoot part employs a separated curved plate design, and two simple curved plates with different curvatures are used for simulating a complex curved surface of the transverse arch of the human, such that the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the various parts of the sole are non-uniform in stiffness distribution: the outer side of the foot is a single-layer forefoot plate with a smaller curvature and minor stiffness; and the inner side of the foot is a double-layer stacked forefoot plate, and the lower layer plate has a large radius in curvature and stiffness.

A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping resistances in the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion directions. An electronic control system coupled to the ankle joint mechanism includes at least one sensor for generating signals indicative of a kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion, the mechanism and the control system being arranged such that the damping resistances effective over the range of motion of the ankle are adapted automatically in response to such signals. Single and dual piston hydraulic damping arrangements are disclosed, including arrangements allowing independent heel-height adjustment.

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.

A covering shell for a prosthesis of a given limb, the shell having at least two zones of different flexibility. The arrangement of the zones of the covering shell in relation to one another corresponding to the arrangement of the parts of the given limb having different hardnesses. An exoskeletal structure, having preferably a tubular shape, of a prosthesis of a given limb. The exoskeletal structure being designed to provide a connection between a socket and a hand prosthesis or between a socket and a foot prosthesis, in order to form the prosthesis of the limb. The exoskeletal structure having at least two zones of different flexibility. The arrangement of the zones of the exoskeletal structure in relation to one another corresponding to the arrangement of the parts of the given limb having different hardnesses.

Prosthetic coupling interfaces and methods of use are disclosed herein. An example system can include an external fixator apparatus, a prosthetic appendage assembly, and a prosthetic coupling interface for connecting the external fixator apparatus with the prosthetic appendage assembly.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot defining an upper surface and having a flexible configuration and a pump system attached to the prosthetic foot. The pump system includes a pump mechanism defining a fluid chamber having variable configuration and an actuating part. The actuating part is arranged to selectively engage with and separate a distance from the upper surface of the foot plate to move the pump mechanism between a first position in which a volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and a second position in which the volume of the fluid chamber is expanded relative to the first position. The volume of the fluid chamber increases when the actuating part moves away from the upper surface of the foot plate.

A passive prosthetic foot enables a below-knee amputee to walk with near able-body walking motions. The prosthetic foot includes a resilient heel that enables the heel to strike a walking surface more softly than in the prior art and more accurately transition the leg from swing phase to stance phase. The prosthetic foot is modeled generally as a wide Bézier curve, and the foot is characterized according to a set of at least 12 variables, including h, C1d, C2x, C2y, C2d, C3x, C3y, C3d, C4x, C4d, C5d and C6d, where C3y is heel size, C4x is heel geometry and C6d is curve intersection location. The variables are optimized to minimize a difference between a normal lower leg trajectory during gait and a modeled trajectory that includes the prosthetic foot.

A vertical suspension system for a prosthetic foot includes a first member operatively coupleable to an amputee's residual leg. The suspension system can also include a second member coupleable to a prosthetic foot. One or more upper leaf springs and one or more lower leaf springs extend between and are attached to the first and second members such that at least one of the ends of each leaf spring is rotationally fixed to the first or second members, where the upper an lower leaf springs are spaced apart from each other.

The present invention relates to a foot prosthesis (1, 61) comprising a heel (6, 71) and a tip (7, 62), both of which can bear on the ground, and an ankle support (2, 67), characterised in that the prosthesis also comprises at least one damping element (10, 76) designed to be at a distance from the ground.