An aid device for the motor disabled, suitable for allowing walking of transfemoral amputees, having: a lower-limb prosthesis of an amputated limb; a lower-limb orthosis suitable to be worn at a sound contralateral lower-limb; an orthotic pelvis module connecting the prosthesis to the lower-limb orthosis; and a control unit for the operational coordination of movements of the prosthesis and the lower-limb orthosis.

A variable gain impedance controller for use in a control system for controlling a motorized prosthetic or orthotic apparatus provided with a joint The controller comprises a sensor input for receiving a signal indicative of an interaction between the apparatus and the ground, a torque sensor input for receiving a signal indicative of the torque at the joint and a variable gain scheduler in communication with the sensor input so as to receive data therefrom thereby providing a variable torque gain. The variable gain impedance controller adjusts its control on the apparatus based on the variable torque gain and the indicated torque so as to a) increase the joint resistance to motion when the signal received from the sensor input indicates an interaction between the apparatus and the ground and b) decrease the joint resistance to motion when the signal received from the sensor input indicates an absence of interaction between the apparatus and the ground.

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.

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.

A method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower-leg component is arranged and with which a resistance device is associated, the bending resistance (R) of which resistance device is changed in dependence on sensor data that are determined by means of at least one sensor during the use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, wherein a linear acceleration (a.sub.F) of the lower-leg component is determined, the determined linear acceleration (a.sub.F) is compared with at least one threshold value, and, if a threshold value of the linear acceleration (a.sub.F) of the lower-leg component is reached, the bending resistance (R) is changed.

A method for controlling a damping modification in an artificial knee joint of an orthosis, an exoskeleton, or a prosthesis. The artificial knee joint has an upper part pivotally connected to a lower part. A resistance unit is secured between the upper part and the lower part in order to provide a resistance against a flexion or extension. The resistance unit is paired with an adjustment device to modify the resistance when a sensor signal of a control unit paired with the adjustment device activates the adjustment device. The flexion resistance is reduced for the swing phase. A curve of at least one load characteristic is detected when walking or standing; a maximum of the load characteristic curve when standing is ascertained; and the flexion damping is reduced to a swing-phase damping level during the standing phase when a threshold of the load characteristic below a maximum is reached.

A robotic joint includes a first link, a middle link, a torque generator, a second link, and a locking mechanism. Different ends of the middle link are rotatably coupled to the first link and the second link. The torque generator is coupled to the first link and the middle link and is configured to produce a torque between these links. The locking mechanism is switchable between a locking state and an unlocking state. In the unlocking state, the locking mechanism allows free rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first and second rotation directions. In the locking state, the locking mechanism is configured to impede rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the first rotation direction and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the middle link in the second rotation direction opposite of the first rotation direction.

A prosthetic leg system includes a prosthetic leg, a system controller, and a system memory. The system controller includes a driving information acquirer structured to acquire driving information representing a driving state of a driving mechanism of the prosthetic leg and an environmental information acquirer structured to acquire environmental information around the prosthetic leg. The system controller configures a system for calculating power consumption of the prosthetic leg, a system for estimating a state of the prosthetic leg, and a system for estimating a physical condition of a user of the prosthetic leg.

A lower limb prosthesis comprises an attachment section (10), a shin section (12), a foot section (14), a knee joint (16) pivotally connecting the attachment section (10) and the shin section (12), and an ankle joint (22) pivotally connecting the shin section (12) and the foot section (14). The knee joint includes a dynamically adjustable knee flexion control device (18) for damping knee flexion. The prosthesis further comprises a plurality of sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) each arranged to generate sensor signals indicative of at least one respective kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion or of walking environment, and an electronic control system (100) coupled to the sensors (52, 53, 54, 85, 87) and to the knee flexion control device (18) in order dynamically and automatically to modify the flexion control setting of the knee joint (16) in response to signals from the sensors. When the inclination sensor signals indicate descent of a downward incline, the damping resistance of the knee flexion control device (18) is set to a first level during a major part of the stance phase of the gait cycle and to a second, lower level during a major part of the swing phase of the gait cycle. During an interval including a latter part of the stance phase, the knee flexion control device (18) is adjusted so that the damping resistance to knee flexion is between the first and second levels.

A multi-articulated link knee joint includes: a knee unit in which an upper link unit rotates relative to a lower link unit by a multi-articulated link mechanism including a plurality of link units including the upper link unit and the lower link unit; a relative position detector for detecting a relative position of the upper link unit relative to the lower link unit; and an angle detector for obtaining a bending angle of the knee unit from the detected relative position.