A prosthesis having a prosthetic foot with a forefoot area and a heel area, a prosthetic lower leg, and a prosthetic foot adapter for arranging the prosthetic foot on the prosthetic lower leg. The prosthetic foot adapter includes an upper part for fixing it to the prosthetic lower leg such that it is torque-proof in relation to a sagittal plane, a lower part for fixing it to the prosthetic foot such that it is torque-proof in relation to a sagittal plane, and a resistance element. The upper part can be swivelled on the lower part about a swivel axis against a restoring force exerted by the restoring element, the swivel axis extending from the heel area to the forefoot area.

Knee orthoses or prostheses can be used to automatically, when appropriate, initiate a stand-up sequence based on the position of a person's knee with respect to the person's ankle while the person is in a seated position. When the knee is moved to a position that is forward of the ankle, at least one actuator of the orthosis or prosthesis is actuated to help raise the person from the seated position to a standing position.

A prosthetic liner having a lower longitudinal stretch in the distal region than in either the proximal or optional intermediate region. The distal region may stretch anywhere from 0-30% vertically and 10-200% horizontally as compared to the proximal region's vertical stretch of 55-125% and 100-175% horizontally. The stretch of the liner at various pressure sensitive regions of a residual limb can also be lowered or heightened depending on the area. A variety of stitches may be used at the distal end to implement this lowered longitudinal stretch. Preferably, the liner is made of a stretchable material. The liner also has an interior layer of elastomer gel. The design of this prosthetic liner is primarily to prevent the “pistoning” of the amputee's residual limb within the liner and for comfort over pressure-sensitive areas of the residual limb. The liner also includes the use of a low extensibility material which is adhered to the fabric portion of a prosthetic liner or orthotic liner either internally or externally and limits the longitudinal movement while allowing for transversal movement. The customizable nature of the invention allows for shaping and personalization depending on the needs of the user.

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.

A knee joint includes: a thigh connection portion that is provided on a thigh portion side; a lower leg portion that is connected to the thigh connection portion and rotatably provided around a knee shaft; a knee angle restrictor structured to restrict a relative rotation of the thigh connection portion and the lower leg portion such that a knee angle θ formed by the thigh connection portion with respect to the lower leg portion does not exceed a predetermined lock angle θ.sub.L; and an accommodation space that accommodates a rotational resistor applying resistance to the rotation around the knee shaft in a case where the knee angle θ is equal to or less than the lock angle θ.sub.L.

A prosthetic liner for use with a prosthetic socket that has a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) layer that is in contact with the amputee's residual limb. The TPE layer is not uniform in thickness but has ridges to extend circumferentially around the TPE layer. A fabric exterior layer covers the outer surface of the TPE layer conforming to the ridges and is used as a substrate to form a mechanical bond to an elastomeric material. Impregnating the elastomeric material within the fabric exterior occurs by applying an uncured material to the fabric exterior layer and onto at least the apex surfaces located within the sealing regions thereby creating an air tight boundary layer when inserted into a socket. When a vacuum is applied the air is evacuated from the volume below the seal layer. An alternative embodiment comprises a silicone or elastomeric liner with at least one non-unitary sealing element made of silicone or other thermoplastic elastomer further comprising a single radially extending, straight or arcuate silicone or a elastomeric engaging member.

An apparatus for suspending a prosthesis from a residual limb comprises a tubular liner adapted to receive the residual limb. A lanyard is secured at one end to the distal end of the liner. A hollow prosthetic socket defines a well configured to receive the residual limb and includes a socket seal disposed at the distal end of the socket. An upper surface of the socket seal defines a recess opening to the exterior of the socket through a side wall. A sealing element disposed along the length of the lanyard is configured to engage within the passage. The free end of the lanyard is pulled through passage such that the sealing element sealingly engages within the passage for preventing fluid communication through the passage. The liner at least partially contacts the interior surface of the socket for providing a fluid seal and creating negative pressure within the socket.

An artificial knee that includes a first knee component having an extension member, a second knee component having a slot configured and dimensioned to allow the extension member to move therein. A fastener connects the knee components to facilitate rotation of the knee components between an upright and rotated positions. The knee components also include a terminal end that includes a central opening and transverse apertures to receive pylons therein. A biasing member of a flexible rod or tube of an elastomeric material urges the knee components towards the upright position when the knee components are rotated. The biasing member passes through the apertures of the terminal ends of the knee components, as well as through the extension member and the slot. Also, a prosthetic leg along with a kit and method for assembling the prosthetic leg.

A multi-articulated link knee joint includes an upper link provided on a thigh part side, a lower link rotatably connected to the upper link via at least one rotation shaft, a bearing that rotatably supports the rotation shaft, an elastic body provided between an outer periphery of the rotation shaft and the upper link and elastically deformable in a radial direction of the rotation shaft, and a fixing member that presses and fixes a pair of left and right front links against both end portions of the rotation shaft. The upper link and the lower link are rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the rotation shaft in a non-contact manner with the pair of left and right front links.

A prosthetic socket system having an interchangeable distal end, includes a prosthetic socket defining a substantially rigid base, and a funnel formed from a polymeric material and removably attached to the base of a prosthetic socket. The funnel is arranged to be positioned in the base, and is configured and dimensioned to accommodate a distal end of a residual limb.