A vacuum suction and pressure regulation cylinder includes a pneumatic cylinder, in which a fixed division plate is arranged. A piston assembly is slidably arranged in the fixed division plate and includes an airtight piston mounted to a middle portion thereof and including a flowrate regulation screw and an end of the piston assembly is provided with a second airtight piston so as to define, in an interior space of the pneumatic cylinder, a first air chamber, a second air chamber, and a third air chamber, which are in communication with a prosthesis sleeve. When the piston assembly moves, air flow induced in the pneumatic cylinder varies the sizes of the air chambers for regulation of the spaces thereof. Further, the variation of the air chambers helps evacuate the sleeve so as to make a stump and the prosthesis tightly coupled to each other through suction.

Pump systems for use in suspension of a prosthetic device from a residual limb and methods of suspending a prosthetic device from a residual limb are disclosed. The pump systems include a mechanically activated pump having a first compression member coupled to a second compression member, a diaphragm disposed between the first and second compression members, and coupling elements that engage and couple together the first and second compression members. The mechanically activated pump may be connected with an electrically activated pump, forming a hybrid pump system to provide vacuum engagement between a prosthetic device and a residual limb.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic valve having a valve body with a shaft defining a flow channel fluidly connectable to an interior of a socket. One or more ports in the valve body are in fluid communication with the flow channel and a membrane is positioned in the valve body. A release button associated with the membrane controls allow air flow into the socket via the one or more ports while air can flow out of the socket via the one or more ports independent of operation of the release button. A one-way valve is connected to the valve assembly that selectively permit air flow out of the socket. A valve insert is mountable on the socket and arranged to couple the valve body to the socket. The valve insert defines an opening configured to allow the shaft to extend through the valve insert and into the socket.

A vacuum suction and pressure regulation cylinder includes a pneumatic cylinder, in which a fixed division plate is arranged. A piston assembly is slidably arranged in the fixed division plate and includes an airtight piston mounted to a middle portion thereof and including a flowrate regulation screw and an end of the piston assembly is provided with a second airtight piston so as to define, in an interior space of the pneumatic cylinder, a first air chamber, a second air chamber, and a third air chamber, which are in communication with a prosthesis sleeve. When the piston assembly moves, air flow induced in the pneumatic cylinder varies the sizes of the air chambers for regulation of the spaces thereof Further, the variation of the air chambers helps evacuate the sleeve so as to make a stump and the prosthesis tightly coupled to each other through suction.

A vacuum assisted suspension system includes a prosthetic foot and a pump mechanism connected to the foot and fluidly couplable to a prosthetic socket. The pump mechanism includes an elongate pivoting member rotatable relative to the prosthetic foot about a joint and including a distal recess. A piston is connected to the foot and is movably received in the recess. A fluid chamber is defined between the piston and the interior of the recess. When no weight is placed on the foot a volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and when weight of a user is placed on the prosthetic foot the pivoting member rotates away from the piston and expands the volume of the fluid chamber to draw fluid into the fluid chamber from the prosthetic socket.

A digit mechanism for an artificial hand comprises: a lower digit (44) arranged to be rotatably coupled to a palm unit (12) of the artificial hand; an upper digit (48) rotatably coupled to the lower digit (44); a lower digit rotation mechanism (34, 46, 52, 58) for applying a moment to the lower digit (44) to rotate the lower digit (44) relative to the palm unit (12); an upper digit rotation mechanism (50, 54, 56) for applying a moment to the upper digit (48) to rotate the upper digit (48) relative to the lower digit (44); and a force balancing mechanism (60, 58) for mechanically adjusting the magnitude of the moment applied by the lower digit rotation mechanism (34, 46, 52, 58) and/or the upper digit rotation mechanism (50, 54, 56) in accordance with the magnitude(s) of outside forces resisting rotation of the upper digit (48) and/or the lower digit (44) in order to preferentially apply movement to the digit experiencing lower resistance to movement; wherein the force balancing mechanism is arranged to increase the force applied to rotate a controlled digit when a controlling digit experiences a greater resistance to movement than the controlled digit, and decrease the force applied to rotate the controlled digit when the controlling digit experiences a lesser resistance to movement than the controlled digit; wherein the lower digit rotation mechanism (34, 46, 52, 58) and upper digit rotation mechanism (50, 54, 56) are arranged to be mechanically actuated, in use, by a force applied from a single actuator at the palm unit (12).

A prosthesis liner for placing on a stump includes an elastic main body which has a proximal opening for inserting the stump into a receiving space, and a distal end. At least one suction cup is arranged on the outside of the prosthesis liner.

A prosthetic system includes first and second parts rotatable relative to one another about a joint. The first and second parts are adapted to form at least part of a weight bearing connection between a prosthetic foot and a socket. A pump system includes a pump mechanism operatively connected to the first and second parts. Rotation of the first part and/or the second part about the joint moves the pump mechanism between an original configuration in which the volume of a fluid chamber defined by the pump mechanism is zero or near-zero, and an expanded configuration in which the volume of the fluid chamber is increased.

A vacuum assisted suspension system includes an elongate compression transfer element and a pump housing. The pump housing defines an enclosed space to receive a fluid. At least one wall of the housing and at least one movable wall define a fluid compartment and a non-fluid chamber. The at least one movable wall is connected to the compression transfer element. The compression transfer element causes the at least one movable wall of the fluid compartment to reciprocate in the fluid compartment to increase the volume of the fluid compartment in response to a compressive force on the compression transfer element and enables the at least one movable wall to decrease the volume of the fluid compartment in the absence of a compressive force.

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.