An assist device includes a first harness, a second harness, and a grip portion. The first harness is configured to be fitted to at least one of a shoulder region and a breast region of a user. The second harness is configured to be fitted to a leg region or a waist region of the user. The grip portion is to be held by a person other than the user, the grip portion being attached to at least one of the first harness and the second harness.

The disclosed embodiments provide an adjustable brace including a first wearable part, a second wearable part, an angle adjustment mechanism and a resistance mechanism. The first wearable part and the second wearable part are pivotably connected to each other via the angle adjustment mechanism and the resistance mechanism.

A method for controlling an orthopedic joint of a lower extremity in at least one degree of freedom by an adjustable actuator for adjusting an orthopedic apparatus to walking situations that differ from walking on a plane. The orthopedic apparatus comprises top connecting members to connect to a limb, and an orthopedic element that is hingedly arranged distal to the connecting members. The method includes sensing, with sensors, several parameters of the orthopedic apparatus; comparing the sensed parameters with criteria that have been established based on several parameters and/or parameter curves and are stored in a computer unit; selecting a criterion that is suitable on the basis of the determined parameters and/or parameter curves; and adjusting resistances to movements, extents of movements, driving forces, and/or the progresses thereof in accordance with the selected criterion in order to control special functions that differ from walking on a plane.

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 of which resistance device is changed in dependence on sensor data that are determined by at least one sensor during the use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, wherein a linear acceleration of the lower-leg component is determined, the determined linear acceleration is compared with at least one threshold value, and, if a threshold value of the linear acceleration of the lower-leg component is reached, the bending resistance is changed.

Variable stiffness devices and methods of their use are provided. In some embodiments, a variable stiffness device comprises an inner member defining a compartment for receiving an actuating fluid; an outer member disposed around the inner member; and a granular medium disposed between the inner member and the outer member; wherein the inner member is being moveable in a radial direction from a relaxed state to an expanded state by introducing the actuating fluid into the compartment of the inner member to compress the granular medium against the outer member to increase the stiffness of the device.

A joint device of an orthosis with an upper part and with a lower part that is arranged on the upper part in an articulated manner, with a first fastening device for securing the upper part to a patient and a second fastening device for securing the lower part to a limb, wherein the joint device connects the upper part to the lower part in an articulated manner and has an upper part binding and a lower part binding via which the upper part and the lower part can be secured to the fastening devices, wherein the joint device has at least four degrees of freedom.

The present disclosure includes, in one embodiment, an orthosis device. The orthosis device, in one embodiment, includes an actuator housing, an electric motor contained within the actuator housing, the electric motor including a motor stator and a motor rotor forming an inner diameter, and the electric motor further having high output torque. The orthosis device according to this embodiment further includes a transmission including a gear system contained within the actuator housing, the gear system positioned within the inner diameter of the electric motor, and a body attachment coupled to an output of the gear system.

A driving assembly for moving a first body part relative to a second body part comprising at least one manipulator unit for body part including a housing for accommodating at least partly of an actuator, a torque/force transmission gear, a partial gear wheel operatively connected with each other and a first connector arranged at a first/tail end of the manipulator unit for coupling with the first body part and a second connector movably arranged at a second/head end of the manipulator unit for coupling with the second body part and driven by the partial gear wheel actuated by the actuator via the torque transmission gear for coupling and moving with the second body part, and preferably an arc channel or rail for guiding back and forth movement of the partial gear wheel.

A motion assistance apparatus including a support link to be attached to a waist of a user, a thigh link connected to a first end of the support link, a knee link connected to a first end of the thigh link, a connecting link connected to a first end of the knee link, and selectively connected to a second end of the support link, and an actuator configured to rotate the knee link with respect to the thigh link is provided.

A first exemplary aspect is a walking training apparatus including: an walking assistance apparatus attached to a lower limb of a trainee; at least one wire connected to the lower limb directly or through the walking assistance apparatus; a first wire winding mechanism configured to wind the wire for applying a pull-up force to the wire; a sensor for detecting displacement information according to a displacement of a position connected to the wire in a lateral direction; and a controller configured to control the first wire winding mechanism based on the displacement information.