An arm vibration damping device, comprising a housing (9), a longitudinal vibration damping module (1) and a transverse vibration damping module (2), the longitudinal vibration damping module (1) comprising a longitudinal motor (11), a support frame (12) and a mounting frame (13), the mounting frame (13) comprising a U-shape element (131) and a mounting element (132); the support frame (12) being located between the U-shape element (131) and two arms, the longitudinal motor (11) being in a transmission connection with the U-shape element (131); a transverse motor (21) of the transverse vibration damping module (2) being in a transmission connection with the support frame (12) via a reverse mechanism (22); the transverse motor (21), the support frame (12), the U-shape element (131) and the mounting element (132) being arranged along an axial direction of the transverse motor (21). Vibration can be cancelled through movements in a longitudinal direction and in a direction of the longitudinal vibration damping module, and the use of two arms of the U-shape element ensures the stability of the whole mounting frame and a components fitted thereon in a longitudinal movement.

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.

In an artificial limb system having an actuator coupled to a joint for applying a torque characteristic thereto, a control bandwidth of a motor controller for a motor included in the actuator can be increased by augmenting a current feedback loop in the motor controller with a feed forward of estimated back electromotive force (emf) voltage associated with, the motor. Alternatively, the current loop is eliminated and replaced with a voltage loop related to joint torque. The voltage loop may also be augmented with the feed forward of estimated back emf, to improve the robustness of the motor controller.

Systems and methods are provided for supporting an arm of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the user moves and the arm support follows the movement of the user's arm, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm support.

A movement assistance device includes: a back plate that is fitted onto the back of a wearer; a back frame that has an elongated shape and is supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back plate so as to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the back plate; a side frame that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back frame and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the back frame and extends from the back frame toward the vicinity of the side waist of the wearer; a thigh holding portion that is fitted onto the anterior thigh of the wearer; and a drive portion that is connected to each of the side frame and the thigh holding portion and generates force that increases the angle between the side frame and the thigh holding portion.

A device for supporting at least one arm of a user, has one or more arm support elements, each of which has an arm shell for mounting on an arm. Passive actuator(s) are configured to exert a force on an arm support element by way of which an upward movement of the arm in the arm shell is supported when the device is in the mounted state. The device includes at least one counter bearing for the force to be applied, and at least one actuating element, the actuation of which allows the actuator to be moved into a first state where the actuator exerts the force on the at least one arm support element, and into a second state in which it exerts a smaller or no force on the arm support element.

A selectively actuated textile includes one or more pieces of fabric having one or more circumferentially constrained channels and one or more hollow elastic tubes located within the circumferentially constrained channels and configured to receive a working fluid. Selectively providing or removing working fluid from the hollow elastic tubes provides for selective actuation of the textile.

A high torque active mechanism for an orthotic and/or prosthetic joint using a primary brake which can be provide by magnetorheological (MR) rotational damper incorporating and an additional friction brake mechanism driven by the braking force generated by the MR damper. This combination of MR damper and friction brake mechanism allows an increase in torque density while keeping the same level of motion control offered by the MR damper alone. The increased torque density achieved by this high torque active mechanism allows to minimize the size of the actuating system, i.e. its diameter and/or breath, while maximizing its braking torque capability. In this regard, the friction brake mechanism is advantageously positioned around the MR damper, such that the dimension of the package is minimized.

A power assistive device for hand rehabilitation that provides training of a combined movement of finger flexion-extension and forearm supination-pronation to a user. The power assistive device includes a hand brace and a base. The hand brace includes finger assemblies that adjustably connect to a platform, actuators that connect to the finger assemblies, and strain gauge sensors that connect to the finger assemblies and detect force signals generated by movement of the finger assemblies. The base removably connects to the hand brace and includes a forearm support, a C-shaped ring that includes C-shaped tracks formed along an inner circumferential surface of the C-shaped ring, a rotatable platform that moves along the C-shaped tracks, a mounting platform that connects to the rotatable platform, and an electromyography (EMG) sensor that attaches to the forearm of the user and senses EMG signals generated by movement of the hand of the user.

This invention pertains to a therapeutic pressure applicator with a sensor and transceiver worn by a patient during daily activity to apply pressure to a specific body part during long term treatment, and used in a system with a device such as a cell phone to receive and display real-time pressure data to alert the patient and physician when the pressure is outside a desired range. The applicator includes a securement member and a pressure adjusting device with a pressure adjusting dial, pressure sensing component, pressure focusing plate and cushion. Rotating the dial retracts or extends the sensing component, focusing plate and cushion. The applicator has a computer module with a CPU, memory, transceiver, power source and a force sensor. The focusing plate aligns a pressure button into pressed engagement with the sensor to transmit real-time focused pressure data to the CPU, which converts the focused data into real-time cushion pressure data. The transceiver periodically communicates the long-term, real-time cushion pressure data to the cell phone that displays and stores the data.