Provided are a multi-degree-of-freedom myoelectric artificial hand control system and a method for using same. The system comprises a robotic hand, a robotic wrist (2), a stump receiving cavity (1) and a data processor (3), wherein the robotic hand and the stump receiving cavity (1) are respectively mounted on two ends of the robotic wrist (2); a multi-channel myoelectric array electrode oversleeve, a control unit circuit board, and a battery are connected in the stump receiving cavity (1); and the other end of the control unit circuit board is connected to the robotic hand and the robotic wrist (2). The method for using the system comprises the following steps: (S1) a user wearing a multi-channel myoelectric array electrode oversleeve, and connecting a battery and a control unit circuit board; (S2) the user completing a gesture, collecting a surface electromyography signal and then uploading same to a data processor (3); (S3) the data processor (3) receiving the surface electromyography signal and inputting same into a neural network algorithm to generate a gesture prediction model; and (S4) the user controlling the multi-degree-of-freedom movement of the robotic wrist (2) and the robotic hand. By means of the system, continuous gestures and the gesture strength thereof can be identified, and multi-degree-of-freedom gestures can be made.

Artificial limbs and joints that behave like biological limbs and joints employ a synthetic actuator which consumes negligible power when exerting zero force, consumes negligible power when outputting force at constant length (isometric) and while performing dissipative, nonconservative work, is capable of independently engaging flexion and extension tendon-like, series springs, is capable of independently varying joint position and stiffness, and exploits series elasticity for mechanical power amplification.

Systems and methods for controlling a passive prosthetic knee joint with adjustable damping in the direction of flexion such that a prosthetic unit attached to the knee joint can be adapted for climbing stairs.

Routines and methods disclosed herein can increase a power efficiency of a prosthetic hand without drastically reducing the speed at which it operates. A prosthesis can implement an acceleration profile, which can reduce an energy consumption of a motor, or an amount of electrical and/or mechanical noise produced by a motor, as the motor as the motor transitions from an idle state to a non-idle state. A prosthesis can implement a deceleration profile, which can reduce the energy consumption of the motor, or an amount of electrical and/or mechanical noise produced by a motor, as the motor transitions from a non-idle state to an idle state.

A limb activation system includes a sensor configured to monitor movement of a user. The system also includes a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine, based on the movement of the user, that the user is engaged in walking or running. The processor is also configured to generate an activation signal responsive to the determination that the user is engaged in walking or running. A data-based model integrates sensor information to drive activation and arm swing of the affected upper limb.

A method for controlling an artificial knee joint comprising an upper part and a lower part pivotally connected to each other, a resistance unit arranged between the upper part and the lower part and having an adjusting device to adjust the damping resistance, a control unit, the adjustment taking place on the basis of sensor data from at least one sensor. During the swing phase at least one of the knee angle (KA), the knee angle velocity (KAV), the knee angle acceleration (KAA), the lower limb angle, the lower limb velocity, the lower limb acceleration, the ankle moment (AM) and the axial force (AF) is sensed, the curve of the parameter is determined and the damping resistance is changed when, after an extreme value of the parameter is reached, the monotonic behavior of the curve of the parameter changes within the swing phase.

A prosthetic limb in amputation rehabilitation, having a forearm and a hand with four fingers and a thumb, with the wrist and the fingers & thumb thereof being fully independently controlled by nerve signals originating in the amputee's brain and not being controlled by the actions of nearby muscles in the amputee's upper arm or shoulder. Control of the prosthesis is achieved by a fully contained electronic unit in the forearm of the prosthesis that receives neural signals from the brain, converts the analog neural signals to digital signals that are fed into an artificial intelligence engine circuit that utilizes a library of algorithms to learn from the brain what the signals are that will produce a desired hand and finger movement, then convert its computed digital output to analog electrical signals that are fed to the prosthetic hand and finger to produce actual motion as instructed by the brain.

A variable gain impedance controller for use in a control system for controlling a motorized prosthetic or orthotic apparatus provided with a joint. The controller comprises a sensor input for receiving a signal indicative of an interaction between the apparatus and the ground, a torque sensor input for receiving a signal indicative of the torque at the joint, and a variable gain scheduler in communication with the sensor input to receive data therefrom thereby providing a variable torque gain. The variable gain impedance controller adjusts its control on the apparatus based on the variable torque gain and the indicated torque to increase the joint resistance to motion when the signal received from the sensor input indicates an interaction between the apparatus and the ground, and decrease the joint resistance to motion when the signal received from the sensor input indicates an absence of interaction between the apparatus and the ground.

A prosthetic appendage for attachment to an outer extremity of an amputated limb that is composed of modular elements fabricated by three-dimensional printing. In one embodiment the prosthetic appendage is a leg. The prosthetic leg includes a foot portion and a plurality of modular and three-dimensionally printed limb elements. One of the plurality of limb elements is pivotally coupled to the foot portion and another of the limb elements is configured at one end to receive the outer extremity of the amputated leg. In another embodiment of the present invention the prosthetic appendage is a hand. The prosthetic hand includes a wrist element with one end configured to receive the outer extremity of an amputated hand, a base portion attached to the wrist element and a plurality of modular and three-dimensionally printed finger elements selectively coupled to adjacent finger elements or the base to form prosthetic fingers.

Systems and methods for postural control of a multi-function prosthesis are provided. Various embodiments provide for a postural controller that use EMG signals to drive a point in a posture space and outputs continuously varying joint angles for a powered prosthetic hand. The postural controller can include an EMG signal processing unit to receive signals from electrodes for processing (e.g., band pass filtering, rectification, root mean square averaging, dynamic tuning, etc.). The processed EMG signals can then be combined or converted to produce a point in the postural control domain. The PC domain map defines the posture that corresponds to each PC cursor coordinate. This map can have limitless possible postures and limitless possible positions of the postures. The Joint Angle Transform converts the PC cursor coordinate into the joint angle array which is sent to the prosthetic hand thereby creating more natural movements.