A prosthetic knee for active users has a locking head generally parallel to a vertical axis of the prosthetic knee, a chassis, and a plurality of links connecting the locking head to the chassis. The knee includes a swing control mechanism having a flexion stop connected to the chassis and arranged to control the flexion angle of the knee. The flexion stop extends outwardly from the chassis and obliquely relative to the vertical axis. The knee has an audible feedback mechanism for providing the user with information about the location of the knee. The knee may also have a block lock forming a manually activated mechanism allowing load bearing in a flexed position.

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.

The present application describes apparatus for supporting a mechanical hand, comprising a support member (200) pivotally coupled at a hinge axis (604) to a mounting member (700); and at least one leaf spring (707) configured to resist movement of the support member about the hinge axis. Apparatus for supporting a mechanical hand, comprising a lock arrangement (750) to lock the support member with respect to the mounting member in a rotational position about the hinge axis is also described.

The present application describes a mechanical hand (100) comprising a plurality of finger assemblies (102) each selectively moveable by a respective finger drive assembly about a finger pivot axis along a finger flexion/extension plane and between a finger open position and a finger closed position; a thumb assembly (104) selectively rotatable by a first thumb drive assembly about a first thumb axis between an opposed position and a non-opposed position with respect to the finger assemblies, and selectively moveable by a second thumb drive assembly about a second thumb axis along a thumb flexion/extension plane and between a thumb open position and a thumb closed position; a controller operatively coupled to the finger and thumb drive assemblies; and a selector operatively coupled to the controller for selecting a desired thumb rotational position or a desired grip to be defined by the finger assemblies and the thumb assembly. A method of operating a mechanical hand is also described.

The present application describes a prosthetic or robot part (500), comprising at least one phalange member (532) pivotally coupled to a base (509) at a pivot axis; and a drive assembly to selectively move the phalange member about the pivot axis along a flexion/extension plane between an open position and a closed position, said drive assembly comprising a drive element (512) coupled to an actuator (506) and a driven element (514) coupled to the phalange member; wherein the driven element (514) is decouplable from the drive element (512) when the phalange member is caused to move in a first rotational direction about the pivot axis by an external force.

The invention relates to a gripping device, such as an automated hand, comprising a plurality of metacarpal members, each metacarpal member having a first end attached to a support frame via a universal joint and having a second end attached to a gripping member, wherein the metacarpal members are able to pivot upwardly, downwardly and laterally. Where adjacent metacarpal members together form a palm of the hand, the ability of the metacarpal members to move up, down and laterally helps the palm to grip an object and also helps the palm to withstand at least some forces from above, below and from the side.

An upper limb prosthetic device may comprise a hybrid-drive prosthetic device that includes one or more actuators fixed to a first arm portion and one or more cables extending from the one or more actuators along one or more cable paths defined through the first arm portion and a second arm portion to a terminal device/device assembly, where the one or more cables are configured to be actuated by the one or more actuators and are further configured to be actuated by pivoting the second arm portion toward the first arm portion, Alternatively, or additionally, the upper limb prosthetic device may comprise a modular prosthetic device that includes a modular terminal device assembly with removably coupled first, second, and third modular links configured to control the respective yaw, pitch, and roll of an end effector (e.g a prosthetic hand, a tool, an instrument or any other attachment).

Systems, methods, and apparatus provide artificial knees. Artificial knees include a thigh link configured to move in unison with a thigh of the person, a shank link configured to be rotatably coupled to the thigh link, and a compression spring rotatably coupled to the thigh link and coupled to a second end of shank link with a second end of the compression spring. During a first range of motion, the compression spring is configured to provide an extension torque between the thigh link and the shank link causing the artificial knee to resist flexion. After the first range of motion, the compression spring is configured to provide a flexion torque between the thigh link and the shank link encouraging the artificial knee to flex resulting in toe clearance during the swing phase. During the swing phase, the compression spring provides no torque between the thigh link and the shank link.

The invention relates to a prosthetic foot component comprising a proximal fastening system for securing the prosthetic foot component to a proximal component, a retaining portion situated distally relative to the fastening system and coupled to the latter, an elastic heel element provided on the retaining portion, and a main spring extending in a front-foot region and coupled to the retaining portion, wherein the main spring is mounted in the heel element between a proximal heel component and a distal heel component.

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic foot having an upper foot element with a concave-forward facing portion and foot portion extending forwardly therefrom. An intermediate foot element is disposed below the upper foot element and has a front portion coupled to the foot portion of the upper foot element. A lower foot element is disposed below the intermediate foot element. A pump system is coupled to the prosthetic foot and comprises a pump mechanism including a housing defining a cavity, and a membrane situated in the cavity. The pump mechanism is movable between an original configuration and an expanded configuration. An arm member is connected to the pump mechanism and operatively coupled to the intermediate foot element. The arm member is arranged to move the pump mechanism toward at least the expanded configuration upon movement of the intermediate foot element relative to the upper foot element.