Technology is described to provide a foot and ankle prosthesis for individuals with lower limb loss. This technology is able to store and release energy and individuals or patients who are using the foot/ankle prosthesis may be able to expend less energy when walking. The system includes a hydraulic damper attached to dynamic energy storing spring elements. The axis of rotation of the system can be near to that of an intact human ankle, providing biomimetic function. The system can utilize spring elements based on the vertical displacement of the center of pressure of an intact normal foot. A hydraulic system can provide user adjustable heel height and adaptation to inclines. The dorsiflexion and plantar flexion resistances can be independently adjusted manually or electrically. In addition, the system can be automatically locked in dorsiflexion when loaded and unlock when unloaded.

One aspect of the invention provides a prosthetic foot including a heel member, a toe member, and an attachment member comprising a shear thickening material (STM). In one embodiment, the attachment member has a first end and a second end. The first end can be connected to the heel member, and the second end can be connected to the toe member. In another embodiment, the attachment member further comprises an elastic polymer. In one instance, the elastic polymer is impregnated with the STM. In yet another embodiment, the attachment member further comprises an elastic reservoir. The elastic reservoir can contain the STM. Alternatively, the attachment member further comprises a rigid reservoir. The rigid reservoir can contain the STM.

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.

A prosthetic foot includes a heel member and a forefoot member. An ankle member receives the heel member and forefoot member shaft so as to allow the heel member and forefoot member to translate independently of one another.

A split toe blade comprising a medial toe member, a lateral toe member that is disposed adjacent to the medial toe member, and a connecting web that is disposed between the medial toe member and the lateral toe member. The preferred connecting web controls the amount of traverse compliance in the event an off-axis load is applied to the blade. A method comprising providing a split toe blade and applying an off-axis force to the blade.

A prosthetic or orthotic device includes a body configured to support at least a portion of a human limb of a user wearing the prosthetic or orthotic device. The device can also include a shock absorption member coupled to the body. The shock absorption member includes one or more magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) springs disposed between a first portion of the body and a second portion of the body. The one or more MRE springs are selectively actuatable to vary a stiffness of the shock absorption member via the application of a magnetic flux, thereby adjusting a stiffness of the body of the prosthetic or orthotic device to a level corresponding to an activity level of the user.

A vacuum suspension system includes a foot cover having a heel portion and a pump system located in the heel portion. The pump system includes upper and lower sections arranged to move in an axial direction relative to one another and a pump mechanism operatively connected to and positioned between the upper and lower sections. When the heel portion is loaded in stance the pump mechanism moves from an original configuration in which the volume of a fluid chamber defined by the pump mechanism is zero or near-zero, to an expanded configuration in which the volume of the fluid chamber is increased.

An artificial foot having a longitudinal axis extending from a heel area to a toe area, a length, a width and a height is provided. The artificial foot includes a connection to a lower leg part, an upper supporting structure in the direction of height, an elastic sole structure extending from the heel area to the toe area, an elastic connecting element arranged between the upper supporting structure and the sole structure, and a coupling system. The upper supporting structure is connected to the sole structure approximately in a middle of the foot with respect to its length by means of the coupling system. The coupling system allows a relative tilting motion between the upper supporting structure and the sole structure while keeping a distance between the upper supporting structure and the sole structure in a middle of the coupling system constant, at least while a patient places weight on it when standing.

In some examples, a prosthesis system comprises a socket housing comprising a socket configured to receive a residual limb of a wearer. The socket housing further comprising a pylon extending distally of the socket. The socket housing further comprising a first interlock structure at a distal end of the pylon where the first interlock structure comprises a first one or more programmed magnets. The prosthesis system further comprising an extremity unit configured to be attached to and removed from the pylon where the extremity unit comprises a second interlock structure comprising a second one or more programmed magnets. The pylon and the extremity unit are configured such that, when the extremity unit is attached to the pylon, the first and second one or more programmed magnets are positioned and oriented to magnetically attract each other and secure the extremity unit to the pylon.

Provided herein is a convertible prosthetic running blade having an adjustable, shiftable heel that can be stowed when running and deployed when walking. The shifting can be performed manually and easily by the wearer without the use of tools. The prosthetic running blade generally comprises a foot body having a toe end and an opposing heel end, and a heel attachment adjacent the heel end, which is shiftable from a running position to a walking position. The foot body is generally in the form of an elongated running blade design, which may have similar shape and construction as traditional c-shape or j-shape running blades, although other shapes and constructions may also be used.