An apparatus for assisting a finger motion, including a palm support installed to surround a part of a hand-back and a wrist; an extension assist unit secured at a first side thereof to a middle phalanx region of a finger and connected at a second side thereof to the palm support to assist extension of the finger through an elastic force between both ends; and a flexion assist unit comprising a distal phalange support mounted on an end of the finger, and a first flexion wire and a second flexion wire mounted on a part of the finger and assisting flexion of the finger on the basis of tensile force supplied from an outside.

Provided is a wearable assisted-walking device including one lower attachment body to the foot defining a lower anchoring point at the heel of the foot of a leg of the user; an upper attachment body to an upper part of the leg proximal from the knee defining an upper ventral anchoring point and an upper dorsal anchoring point arranged on the opposite side of the coronal plane of the user; and an intermediate attachment body defining a first intermediate anchoring point, a second intermediate anchoring point and a third intermediate anchoring point, each anchoring point movable respect and connected by cables to the leg; the intermediate attachment body being adapted to store the energy by a relative motion between the anchoring points and then use it for assist walking.

Artificial limbs and joints that behave like biological limbs and joints employ a synthetic actuator which consumes negligible power when exerting zero force, consumes negligible power when outputting force at constant length (isometric) and while performing dissipative, nonconservative work, is capable of independently engaging flexion and extension tendon-like, series springs, is capable of independently varying joint position and stiffness, and exploits series elasticity for mechanical power amplification.

Features for prosthetic digits are described. The digits mimic natural fingers by having multiple articulating segments, for example three, that can rotate varying amounts. Actuation systems for the prosthetic digits may include a compact actuator that expands linearly to rotate the digit. Each digit may have its own actuator, which may be housed in the digit and/or the palm. A motor may rotate a leadscrew. The leadscrew may engage and move axially a housing or other member. Axial movement of the housing or member causes the proximal digit segment to pivot and thus the digit to articulate. In some embodiments, the leadscrew may rotate a wheel to actuate a tendon. An actuation tendon may cause a closing rotation of the digit segments, and a return tendon may cause an opening rotation.

A prosthetic appendage for attachment to an outer extremity of an amputated limb that is composed of modular elements fabricated by three-dimensional printing. In one embodiment the prosthetic appendage is a leg. The prosthetic leg includes a foot portion and a plurality of modular and three-dimensionally printed limb elements. One of the plurality of limb elements is pivotally coupled to the foot portion and another of the limb elements is configured at one end to receive the outer extremity of the amputated leg. In another embodiment of the present invention the prosthetic appendage is a hand. The prosthetic hand includes a wrist element with one end configured to receive the outer extremity of an amputated hand, a base portion attached to the wrist element and a plurality of modular and three-dimensionally printed finger elements selectively coupled to adjacent finger elements or the base to form prosthetic fingers.

A prosthetic wrist unit providing a connection between the arm and a hand mechanism, comprising a wrist base unit with at least one connection slot into which the hand mechanism is to be inserted and at least one connecting piece enabling the rotational movement of the prosthetic wrist unit; a joint including a joint seat and a joint body; a locking mechanism comprising a locking mechanism opening into which the joint body is inserted and enabling the prosthetic wrist unit to operate in two positions, i.e., fixed or movable; an arm coupling unit into which the joint and the locking mechanism are inserted and which restricts the movement of the joint and the locking mechanism; and at least one tendon ensuring the joint stiffness of the prosthetic wrist unit.

A system and method for operating a prosthesis is provided. The system includes a socket configured to engage a residual limb of a subject and a shaft having a first end connected to the socket and an opposing second end. The system also includes a foot piece connected to the second end of the shaft. The foot piece includes an ankle plate and a sole piece configured to contact a surface. The system also includes at least one computer configured to detect a state of the foot piece and to transmit an indication of the state of the foot. The system further includes a motor assembly configured to receive the indication of the state of the foot and to control a position and impedance of the ankle plate based on the state of the foot.

Prostheses include a terminal device, a back-lock mechanism, a wrist, a limb-socket, and a harness system. The terminal device can be a five-fingered mechanical hand that provides a releasable adaptive grasp, and has independently flexible fingers. The limb socket can be 3D printed using a molded model of a remnant limb. The harness strap can encircle an unaffected limb and is coupled to the terminal device with a cable so that a user can control the terminal device. The harness system can include a 3D printed harness ring that couples to the cable.

A method and apparatus for enhancing the operation of leg prothesis is provided. The apparatus includes a cable configured to be attached to the leg prosthesis worn by a subject to move through a plurality of gait phases. The apparatus also includes a module configured to be mounted to the leg prosthesis. The module includes a tension spring configured to engage the cable to maintain tension in the cable. The module also includes a locking mechanism configured to lock a position of the tension spring and maintain a length of the cable defined between the module and the leg prosthesis during at least one first gait phase of the plurality of gait phases. The locking mechanism is further configured to unlock the position of the tension spring to permit variation of the length of the cable during at least one second gait phase of the plurality of gait phases.

A body-powered articulated prosthetic hand where each of the segments of the digits, the palmer plate, the thumb pivot plate and the wrist are individually sizeable. This allows for both a proportionately scalable hand as well as individual customization of geometric configurations tailored to specific use patterns. The hand is crushable since it has flexible and pivotable connections between digits along the length and width of the hand. It has a hollow member construction that imparts a strong lightweight design. It is modular so individual parts can be replaced for quick repair. From an aesthetics point, it is visually pleasing and can be offered in different colors, and with custom digit sleeves for specific applications. Fingers can be operated individually or in groups via pairs of cables which allow operation in either voluntary open or voluntary closed modes of control. The flexible construction allows gripping of irregularly shaped objects and deforms before failing giving indication of overload prior to failure.