Patent classifications
A61F2/741
Disarticulated compression socket
A disarticulated compression socket configured to secure a residual limb. The disarticulated compression socket may include a rigid socket frame having one or more compression apertures each having one or more disarticulated compression inserts. Each disarticulated compression insert may be coupled with, and responsive to, a compression actuator configured to adjust the disarticulated compression insert individually, or in concert. In one preferred embodiment, at least one compression actuator may be coupled with one, or a plurality of disarticulated compression inserts and further configured to retract and/or expand the coupled disarticulated compression inserts securing the residual limb within said socket frame. Control of the compression actuators may be manual or automatic in response to a signal from a sensor. Additional embodiments may also include one or more lateral release channels configured to accommodate soft tissue expansion of the residual limb as it is compressed and/or secured within the socket frame.
DYNAMIC SUPPORT APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
A dynamic support system includes a control system for controlling inflation and deflation of at least one actuator having an inlet connectable to the a control unit of the dynamic support system. The control unit may be in communication with a sensor and may control inflation and deflation of the at least one actuator in response to information provided by the sensor.
Intelligent Power Routing Device
A power routing device includes processing circuitry configured to receive inputs from device monitors configured to determine load status information from a plurality of loads, power-source monitors configured to determine source status information from a plurality of power sources, and command modules configured to provide context information regarding the loads or the power sources. Some of the loads have different operational characteristics than others. Some of the power sources have different operational characteristics than others. The power routing device is operably coupled to power-source distribution hardware selectively operably coupling selected ones of the power sources to selected ones of the loads. The power routing device is configured to direct the power-source distribution hardware to define routing between the selected ones of the power sources and the selected ones of the loads based on the source status information, the load status information and the context information.
ORTHOTIC OR PROSTHETIC JOINT DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME
The invention relates to an orthotic or prosthetic joint device with an upper part and a lower part arranged in a hinged manner on the latter, and fastening means for securing the joint device on a user, with at least one hydraulics unit between the upper part and the lower part, which hydraulics unit has a piston that is movable in a housing with an extension chamber and a flexion chamber and that is coupled to the upper part or the lower part, and which hydraulics unit is assigned a pressure supply device with a pump and a pressure accumulator via which the piston, controlled by a control device, is subjected to a pressure, wherein the pump can be operated in generator mode, the pressure accumulator can be coupled drivingly to the pump, and the hydraulic fluid can be conveyed by the pressure accumulator through the pump to the hydraulics unit.
Hydraulic Pump Assembly for Artificial Hand
A hydraulic pump assembly (72) comprises: a low-pressure hydraulic pump (74), a high-pressure hydraulic pump (76), and a drive shaft assembly (78) that passes along an axis of the pump assembly (72); wherein both hydraulic pumps (74, 76) are arranged to be rotated simultaneously by the drive shaft assembly (78); and wherein the pump assembly (72) is formed a single unit arranged to fit into a pump chamber (80).
MODULAR KNEE JOINT
The modular knee joint has a connecting rod assembly, a locking assembly, and an actuating assembly. The locking assembly selectively locks the connecting rod assembly, such that the connecting rod assembly cannot pivot. When the heel of the prosthesis contacts the ground, the connecting rod assembly activates the actuating assembly, such that when the thigh and the prosthetic shank rotate at a small angle relative to each other, the locking assembly intervenes to lock the connecting rod assembly, thereby locking the actuating assembly. Therefore, the modular knee joint can maintain the resistance during the entire bending process without losing resistance after bending to a specific angle.
Method for controlling an orthopedic joint
The invention relates to a method for controlling an orthopedic joint of a lower extremity in at least one degree of freedom by an adjustable actuator for adjusting an orthopedic apparatus to walking situations that differ from walking on a plane. The orthopedic apparatus includes a top connector connected to a limb and an orthopedic element that is arranged in a hinged manner distal to the top connector. The method encompasses the following steps: several parameters (A) of the orthopedic apparatus are sensed by sensors; the sensed parameters are compared with criteria (K) that have been established based on several parameters and/or parameter curves and are stored in a computer unit; a criterion is selected that is suitable on the basis of the determined parameters and/or parameter curves; and resistances to movements, extents of movements, driving forces, and/or the progresses thereof are adjusted in accordance with the selected criterion in order to control special functions (5) that differ from walking on a plane.
Microprocessor controlled prosthetic ankle system for footwear and terrain adaptation
A prosthetic ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.
PROSTHETIC HYDRAULIC JOINT WITH ACCUMULATOR AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING JOINT
A prosthetic foot assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a pivoting ankle joint with a hydraulic system, a prosthetic foot connected to the distal side of the ankle joint, and, at the proximal side, the ankle joint includes a transducer with pyramid adaptor for attaching to a pylon. The ankle joint sensor provides data collection during the stance and optionally, the swing, phases of walking using, for example, strain gages and accelerometers. Also disclosed are methods for real-time feature extraction. Key parameters are captured to which are applied linear, fuzzy logic, neural net, or generic algorithms to determine current state (walking flat, uphill, downhill etc.) in real time and execute changes to the angle between the ankle and foot almost instantaneously based on those parameters.
Orthopedic device with a joint
The application relates to an orthopedic device comprising a joint and to a method for controlling an orthopedic device, which has an upper part and a lower part supported pivotally thereon, wherein upper connecting means for fixation onto a limb are disposed on the upper part, and a locking device, which prevents a bending motion of the upper part relative to the lower part, wherein the locking device is configured such that it can be actively actuated by the user of the orthopedic device, wherein a control device is associated with the locking device, the control device being attached to the device with at least one sensor and automatically unlocking or locking the locking device as a function of the sensor signal.