A socket for engaging a residual limb includes a plurality of hard counters, each configured to engage the residual limb at defined “go points”. The go points can bear pressure without discomfort or impeding range of motion. The counters are further configured to avoid contact with identified “no go” points where excess tissue may inhibit motion or experience irritation upon movement and which include one or more contoured pads to more effectively engage the bony prominences of the limb without inhibiting motion. A chassis from which each of the counters may flexibly depend connects the residual limb mechanically to a limb extension. A lacing system alternately intersects the counters and terminates in a tensioning reel. Rotation of the tensioning reel in a first direction will draw the laces over each of the counters such that the tensioned laces will draw counters together to engage the residual limb.

The invention relates to a method and a device for generating a vibration pattern in a person, having a drive which sets a mass in rotation, and at least one sensor device which is coupled to a controller which controls the drive as a function of sensor data over the sensor device. The mass (m) is arranged in a homogeneously concentric fashion around its rotational axis (10), and an interface (20) transmits to the person reaction forces from the mass which arise owing to the change in the rotation.

The invention relates to a method and a device for generating a vibration pattern in a person, having a drive which sets a mass in rotation, and at least one sensor device which is coupled to a controller which controls the drive as a function of sensor data over the sensor device. The mass (m) is arranged in a homogeneously concentric fashion around its rotational axis (10), and an interface (20) transmits to the person reaction forces from the mass which arise owing to the change in the rotation.

A flexible medical appliance intended to be placed on a part of a patient's body and to match its shape comprises a rigid structure having a contour, as well as at least one deformable layer. The appliance further comprises a bonding fabric engaging at least one peripheral portion of the rigid structure extending along its contour, the rest of the bonding fabric forming an exposed portion for receiving the deformable layer. The rigid structure and the deformable layer are assembled edge to edge, the deformable layer completing the rigid structure to form the medical appliance. The present disclosure also proposes a method for manufacturing such an appliance.

Various examples are provided for modular prosthetic devices and their use. In one example, a device includes a chassis assembly including a joint portion; and an interchangeable module that can be removably attached to the chassis assembly. The interchangeable modules can be configured for use in a wide variety of applications. The interchangeable modules can be quickly exchanged for different activities.

A prosthetic foot device (1) having a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (T) and comprising a base spring blade (2), an ankle spring blade (3) being made from a composite material comprising glass fibres and a heel spring blade (4), the base spring blade (2) and the ankle spring blade (3) being connected in a forefoot region (5) of the prosthetic foot device (1), the base spring blade (2) and the heel spring blade (4) being connected in a heel region (7) of the prosthetic foot device and the ankle spring blade (3) and the heel spring blade (4) being connected in an ankle region (9) of the prosthetic foot device.

A compliant prosthetic foot is designed and fabricated by combining a compliant mechanism optimization technique with a calculation of low leg trajectory error under a reference loading condition. The compliant mechanism optimization technique includes a set of determinants for the compliant prosthetic foot. An optimized set of determinants of the compliant prosthetic foot is formed that minimizes the lower leg trajectory error relative to a target kinematic data set. The compliant prosthetic foot is then fabricated in conformance with the optimized set of determinants.

A soft buckling linear actuator is described, including: a plurality of substantially parallel bucklable, elastic structural components each having its longest dimension along a first axis; and a plurality of secondary structural components each disposed between and bridging two adjacent bucklable, elastic structural components; wherein every two adjacent bucklable, elastic structural components and the secondary structural components in-between define a layer comprising a plurality of cells each capable of being connected with a fluid inflation or deflation source; the secondary structural components from two adjacent layers are not aligned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and the secondary structural components are configured not to buckle, the bucklable, elastic structural components are configured to buckle along the second axis to generate a linear force, upon the inflation or deflation of the cells. Methods of actuation using the same are also described.

A soft buckling linear actuator is described, including: a plurality of substantially parallel bucklable, elastic structural components each having its longest dimension along a first axis; and a plurality of secondary structural components each disposed between and bridging two adjacent bucklable, elastic structural components; wherein every two adjacent bucklable, elastic structural components and the secondary structural components in-between define a layer comprising a plurality of cells each capable of being connected with a fluid inflation or deflation source; the secondary structural components from two adjacent layers are not aligned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and the secondary structural components are configured not to buckle, the bucklable, elastic structural components are configured to buckle along the second axis to generate a linear force, upon the inflation or deflation of the cells. Methods of actuation using the same are also described.

A method utilizing digital scanning, additive manufacturing, and electronic embedded garments for advanced fitment of prosthetic devices.