A knee prosthesis system including a knee prosthesis, an actuator and a controlling unit. The knee prosthesis includes a thigh segment and a shank segment. The actuator rotatably connects the shank segment and the thigh segment. The actuator is configured to controllably assume a powered knee behavior to generate knee motion or a passive knee behavior to resist knee motion. The controlling unit includes a finite-state control structure. The controlling unit electrically communicates with the actuator. The control structure includes at least three passive states and at least one powered state. The passive states include a passive stance-resistance state, a swing-flexion state, and a swing-extension state and the at least one powered state includes at least one of a swing-assistance state, a stance-assistance state, and a powered-swing state.

A prosthetic arm apparatus comprising 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 harness mount that may be adorned by the user. Each segment of the plurality of segments provides a portion of the movement capability, enabling the plurality of connected segments connected to the harness mount to provide substantially the same movement capability as that lacking in the user.

Prosthetic and/or orthotic devices (PODS), control systems for PODS and methods for controlling PODS are provided. As part of the control system, an inference layer collects data regarding a vertical and horizontal displacement of the POD, as well as an angle of the POD with respect to gravity during a gait cycle of a user of the POD. A processor analyzes the data collected to determine a locomotion activity of the user and selects one or more control parameters based on the locomotion activity. The inference layer may be situated between a reactive layer control module and a learning layer control module of the control system architecture.

Described here are prosthetic systems, devices, and methods of use therefor. Generally, a prosthesis may be configured to set a resistance to rotation of a prosthetic joint based on a phase of gait. The prosthesis may include a first cylinder, a first piston slidable within the first cylinder, a fluid sump, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit may include a plurality of interconnected fluid channels having a unidirectional variable-resistance valve and a set of check valves that are configured to provide unidirectional flow through the valve during piston compression and extension.

An assistance device is described to assist a joint motion of a lower limb. The assistance device includes a driving part, an elastic part, and a crank mechanism. The driving part includes a motor and a transmission mechanism to change a speed of the motor and converts a rotational motion of the motor into a linear motion. The elastic part includes at least: a series spring provided in series between the transmission mechanism and the crank mechanism, a first parallel spring provided between the driving part and the ankle part, and a second parallel spring provided between the ankle part and the foot part. The crank mechanism is provided between the driving part and the foot part and converts the linear motion to a rotational motion while changing a deceleration coefficient according to an ankle angle.

Technology is described to provide a powered prosthetic wrist flexion device or elbow device. This device helps individuals with upper-limb loss to orient and position grasped objects.

A system for powering a prosthetic arm is disclosed. The system includes at least one internal battery located in the prosthetic arm, at least one external battery connected to the prosthetic arm, and a master controller configured to connect either the at least one internal battery or the at least one external battery to a power bus to power the prosthetic arm.

A knee joint that is capable of widening a moveable range, and that has good energy efficiency and is small and lightweight is described. Also described is a knee joint that is of an active type, but comparatively inexpensive. A drive section moves a driven member. An elastic member is arranged between the driven member and a linear motion member. The linear motion member elastically moves in at least one direction, in accordance with movement of the driven member, by way of the elastic member. A crank mechanism can realize bending and extension of the knee joint by converting linear motion of the linear motion member to rotational motion.

A robotic joint comprises 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 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 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.