A prosthetic device includes a socket assembly defining a cavity and configured to receive a portion of a residual limb of a user within the cavity, a force sensing member configured to detect forces applied to the residual limb at a plurality of locations about the portion of the residual limb and generate signals based on the detected force, a vacuum system in fluid communication with the socket and configured to control an amount of vacuum applied to the cavity, and a controller coupled to the force sensing member and the vacuum system. The controller is configured to receive the signals from the force sensing member and control operation of the vacuum system during use of the prosthetic device by the user based at least in part on the signals received from the force sensing member.

Systems and methods for assistive devices for replacing or augmenting the limb of an individual, such devices comprising a joint and a powered system; the powered system having a first configuration in which the powered system rotates the joint by applying power to the joint, and a second configuration that allows for rotation of the joint without actuation of the powered system.

A prosthetic arm apparatus including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a prosthetic support apparatus that may be adorned by the user. Some segments may provide movement about more than one axis using a single actuator. The prosthetic arm apparatus may include a user interface incorporated therein and may include one or more communication systems for communicating with external devices.

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.

An upper extremity prosthesis may include a prosthetic hand including a prosthetic thumb having a base and a tip, and a prosthetic index finger having a base and a tip. Actuators may be coupled to the upper extremity prosthesis. Prosthetic flexion tendons may have first ends operably coupled to the actuators and second ends coupled to the tips of the thumb and the index finger. Biasing systems may be operably coupled to the prosthetic thumb and the index finger. Upon actuation of the actuators in a first direction, the prosthetic flexion tendons cause the thumb and index finger to flex. Upon actuation of the linear actuators in a second direction opposite the first direction, the biasing systems cause the thumb and index finger to extend.

The synergetic prosthetic system comprises of a knee and an ankle sleeve on the functional leg and a prosthesis on the amputated leg. Each sleeve comprises of a power supply, an accelerometer, a wireless transmitter and a wire connecting the accelerometer to the wireless transmitter. The prosthesis comprises of a power supply, a microcontroller, servo motors, a knee joint assembly, and an ankle joint assembly. A steel rod covered with a casing connects the knee and ankle joints. The accelerometer measures and transmits the angle of rotation of the functional knee and ankle joint to a microcontroller. The microcontroller pre-programmed with normal gait data pairs the data from the healthy leg and controls the servo motors. The servo motors, move the prosthetic joints to mimic a normal human gait.

An artificial foot and ankle joint consists of a curved leaf spring foot member having a heel extremity and a toe extremity, and a flexible elastic ankle member that connects the foot member for rotation at the ankle joint. An actuator motor applies torque to the ankle joint to orient the foot when it is not in contact with the support surface and to store energy in a catapult spring that is released along with the energy stored in the leaf spring to propel the wearer forward. A ribbon clutch prevents the foot member from rotating in one direction beyond a predetermined limit position. A controllable damper is employed to lock the ankle joint or to absorb mechanical energy as needed. The controller and sensing mechanisms control both the actuator motor and the controllable damper at different times during the walking cycle for level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent.

A prosthesis can include a femoral segment suitable for a femoral connection to a user and a tibial segment connected to the femoral segment based on an articulation which reproduces movements of the knee, the tibial segment being articulated on a foot segment based on an articulation reproducing movements of the ankle, a first hydraulic damper the ends of which are joined respectively with the femoral and tibial segments, and a second hydraulic damper of which the ends are joined respectively with the tibial and foot segments.

A prosthesis socket having a proximal insertion opening and an inner circumference which at least partially surrounds a limb stump, at least one connection device for a prosthesis component, which is connectable to the prosthesis socket, at least one actuator, by means of which the inner circumference of the prosthesis socket is changeable, and at least one sensor coupled to a control device, wherein the control device is connected to the actuator and activates or deactivates same, depending on the received sensor signals, and to a method for adjusting the inner circumference.

An impedance simulating motion controller for orthotic and prosthetic devices includes an equilibrium trajectory generator that receives locomotion data regarding the locomotion of a user, a dynamic trajectory compensator that generates one or more control parameters based on the locomotion data and one or more physiological characteristics of the user, and a dynamic gain tuner that adjusts the one or more control parameters based on a gain scaling factor that is calculated using a measured deflection point and an expected deflection point. The adjusted control parameters are used to control movement of an actuator of an orthotic or prosthetic device.