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 prosthetic limb includes: a socket as a thigh part; a thigh joint part provided on a side of the socket; a lower leg part coupled to the thigh joint part and provided to be rotatable around a knee shaft; a thigh part inclination angle acquisition unit that acquires an inclination angle Ψ formed by the socket relative to a vertical line passing through the knee shaft; and a rotational resistance control unit that weakens a rotational resistance of the knee shaft in accordance with a transition from a positive inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined rearward relative to the vertical line to a negative inclination angle formed when the socket is inclined forward relative to the vertical line.

A prosthetic or orthotic device (POD) can include first and second limb members coupled at a joint, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator can be configured to actuate the first limb member relative to the second limb member. The controller can cause the actuator to exhibit a force rejection behavior during a portion of stance phase and cause the actuator to exhibit a force following behavior during a portion of swing phase. The controller can, based on a determination that a gait parameter satisfies a gait parameter threshold, cause the actuator to at least one of: apply a first torque at the joint to cause the POD to flex during a portion of stance phase, decelerate flexion of the POD during at least a first portion of the swing phase, or decelerate extension of the POD during at least a second portion of the swing phase.

The invention relates to an orthopaedic joint comprising an upper part and a lower part pivotably mounted thereon and a resistance device which is located between the upper part and the lower part and provides resistance against a pivoting movement about a pivot axis, and has a resistance adjusting device coupled to a control device which is coupled to at least one sensor such that the resistance can be adjusted by means of the control device on the basis of sensor data transmitted from the at least one sensor to the control device, a function is stored in the control device in which the joint is locked against pivoting in at least one direction in accordance with the sensor data, the function can be activated for locking and deactivated for unlocking on the basis of the sensor data.

The present disclosure provides for a device and method of control for an artificial prosthetic knee. A prosthetic knee according to the present disclosure relies on strictly passive means of providing support during weight bearing and supplements a resistive swing-phase mechanism with a small powered actuator. This actuator adds power to the knee, exclusively during swing phase, to improve swing-phase behavior. In particular, the knee still relies on the resistive swing-phase mechanism to provide nominal swing-phase knee motion, but supplements that motion as needed with the small powered actuator.

A both-leg artificial knee joint device includes a first artificial knee joint worn on a first leg of a user, a second artificial knee joint worn on a second leg of the user and capable of communicating with the first artificial knee joint, and a controller structured to control at least one of the first artificial knee joint and the second artificial knee joint based on information received from the other artificial knee joint. The first artificial knee joint and the second artificial knee joint communicate via a communication device communicable with the first artificial knee joint and the second artificial knee joint.

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.