A system and method for transmission of a signal for a powered assistive device has a sensor node with a wireless transmitter adapted for digitally transmitting a transmitted signal, the sensor node adapted for receiving and monitoring a sensor signal from a sensor attached to a user, and a master node with a controller and a wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted signal from the wireless transmitter. The master node processes the transmitted signal and communicates a control signal to the powered assistive device. The wireless transmitter transmits the transmitted signal at a first rate when the wireless transmitter adapted to transmit the transmitted signal at a first rate when the sensor signal is indicative of the rest state and to transmit the transmitted signal at a second rate when the sensor signal is indicative of the active state, the second rate being greater than the first rate.

An artificial muscle including an internal electromechanically charged rod extending beyond two attach points. A plurality of mesh cylinders having a mesh cylinder top and a mesh cylinder bottom surrounding the charged rod. A fiber surrounding the mesh cylinders and mechanically attached to the mesh cylinders at an attachment spacing and wherein an electromagnetic source activates the artificial muscle through at least one microprocessor. The artificial muscle fiber may be nylon and the attach points may be titanium. The artificial muscle fiber may be coated with nylon. The artificial muscle fiber may contain a viscous fluid.

In a communication system for controlling a powered human augmentation device, a parameter of the powered device is adjusted within a gait cycle by wirelessly transmitting a control signal thereto, whereby the adjusted parameter falls within a target range corresponding to that parameter. The target range is selected and the device parameters are controlled such that the powered device can normalize or augment human biomechanical function, responsive to a wearer's activity, regardless of speed and terrain and, in effect, provides at least a biomimetic response to the wearer of the powered device.

A method includes fixing at least one sensor to a body part of a person, sending signals, with the at least one sensor, to an electronic data processing device, the signals containing measurement data and an individual sensor identifier, and determining, with the electronic data processing device, the body part on which the sensor is arranged or is to be arranged, and allocating the measurement data of the at least one sensor to the body part.

A powered leg prosthesis including a powered knee joint with a knee joint and a knee motor unit for delivering power to the knee joint, a powered ankle joint coupled to the knee joint including an ankle joint and an ankle motor unit to deliver power to the ankle joint, a prosthetic foot coupled to the ankle joint, a plurality of sensors for measuring a real-time input, and controller for controlling movement of the prosthesis based on the real-time input. In the powered leg prosthesis, at least one of the knee motor unit or the ankle motor unit includes at least one drive stage, where the drive stage includes a rotary element for generating torque and at least one looped element affixed around the rotary element and configured for transmitting the torque to another rotary element coupled to a joint to be actuated.

A prosthetic or exoskeleton component for a prosthesis or exoskeleton includes a shock-absorbing unit. The shock-absorbing unit contains a damping device that can be controlled by way of a control device. A detection device has a sensor unit for receiving a signal. The detection device is configured to detect uneven ground depending on the acquired signal and to control the damping device in response to the detected uneven ground such that a damping property of the damping device can be adjusted on the basis of a signal of the detection device.

A system for control of a prosthetic device includes at least one Inertial Measurement Unit detecting orientation of a user's foot. The at least one Inertial Measurement Unit is in communication with a device module configured to command at least one actuator of a prosthetic device. The at least one Inertial Measurement unit sends output signals related to orientation of the user's foot to the device module and the device module controls the at least one actuator of the prosthetic device based on the signals from the at least one Inertial Measurement Unit.

Devices, methods and systems for transmitting signals through a device located in a blood vessel of an animal, for stimulating and/or sensing activity of media proximal to the device, wherein the media includes tissue and/or fluid.

Various aspects of the present disclosure characterize apparatuses and/or methods as may be implemented with a variety of prosthetic components and applications. As may be consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, movement parameters pertaining to movement of a user of a prosthetic foot are sensed as the user travels along a surface, with the prosthetic foot having a front ball region and a rear heel region for respectively contacting the surface. A state of movement of the user, including a speed at which the user is travelling along the surface, is determined based on the sensed movement parameters. Utilizing a mechanical actuator, the prosthetic foot is dynamically positioned in response to the speed at which the user is travelling along the surface, by manipulating the mechanical actuator to move the rear heel region relative to the front ball region based on changes in the speed.

Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for measuring socket fit in lower limb prostheses and detecting motion of a residual limb relative to a prosthetic socket. Also disclosed herein are methods for developing a socket-fit detection system for sock management that can be applied to adjustable socket systems.