A prosthetic or orthotic device (POD) can include first and second limb members coupled at a joint, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator can be configured to actuate the first limb member relative to the second limb member. The controller can cause the actuator to exhibit a force rejection behavior during a portion of stance phase and cause the actuator to exhibit a force following behavior during a portion of swing phase. The controller can, based on a determination that a gait parameter satisfies a gait parameter threshold, cause the actuator to at least one of: apply a first torque at the joint to cause the POD to flex during a portion of stance phase, decelerate flexion of the POD during at least a first portion of the swing phase, or decelerate extension of the POD during at least a second portion of the swing phase.

The invention relates to an orthopaedic joint comprising an upper part and a lower part pivotably mounted thereon and a resistance device which is located between the upper part and the lower part and provides resistance against a pivoting movement about a pivot axis, and has a resistance adjusting device coupled to a control device which is coupled to at least one sensor such that the resistance can be adjusted by means of the control device on the basis of sensor data transmitted from the at least one sensor to the control device, a function is stored in the control device in which the joint is locked against pivoting in at least one direction in accordance with the sensor data, the function can be activated for locking and deactivated for unlocking on the basis of the sensor data.

The present disclosure provides for a device and method of control for an artificial prosthetic knee. A prosthetic knee according to the present disclosure relies on strictly passive means of providing support during weight bearing and supplements a resistive swing-phase mechanism with a small powered actuator. This actuator adds power to the knee, exclusively during swing phase, to improve swing-phase behavior. In particular, the knee still relies on the resistive swing-phase mechanism to provide nominal swing-phase knee motion, but supplements that motion as needed with the small powered actuator.

A system can be used to record real-time pressure and/or shear force data within a socket for a prosthetic device. The system includes a socket for a prosthetic device that can be designed to fit a patient's residual limb. The system also includes a sensor array that can be placed within the socket for the prosthetic device to detect pressure and/or shear force on the patient's residual limb. The sensor array includes a piezo-electric material and a uniform distribution of a plurality of metal pads on either side of the piezo-electric material. Each of the plurality of metal pads on either side of the piezo-electric material comprises at least one wire connected to a common port.

The invention relates to a prosthetic device for a lower extremity comprising a prosthetic food and a lower leg part secured to the prosthetic foot, as well as a device for manually adjusting an orientation of the lower leg part relative to the prosthetic foot, wherein an inertial angle sensor is arranged on the prosthetic device, which detects the orientation of the lower leg part in the space and which is coupled to an output device which in turn outputs the orientation of the lower leg part in the space or the reaching of a previously determined orientation with an output signal in a manner that can be perceived by a user.

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.

Systems and methods for controlling a passive prosthetic knee joint with adjustable damping in the direction of flexion such that a prosthetic unit attached to the knee joint can be adapted for climbing stairs.

The present disclosure relates to a system for repetitive loading of a prosthetic socket to test the durability of the prosthetic socket. The system includes a base and a load cell coupled to the base. The system further includes a first coupling mechanism positioned vertically above the load cell, and a second coupling mechanism positioned vertically above the first coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to a first end of the prosthetic socket, and the second coupling mechanism is configured to be removably coupled to a second end of the prosthetic socket. The system further includes a rod having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of the rod is coupled to the second coupling mechanism. The system further includes a motor coupled to the second end of the rod, a support structure extending vertically from the base, and an actuator coupled to the support structure such that the actuator is positioned vertically above the second coupling mechanism. The system further includes a curved rail coupled to the actuator and positioned between the actuator and the second coupling mechanism. The curved rail is configured to contact the second coupling mechanism along an arc defined by the curved rail such that the second coupling mechanism moves along the arc when the motor moves the rod.

A method for controlling an artificial knee joint comprising an upper part and a lower part pivotally connected to each other, a resistance unit arranged between the upper part and the lower part and having an adjusting device to adjust the damping resistance, a control unit, the adjustment taking place on the basis of sensor data from at least one sensor. During the swing phase at least one of the knee angle (KA), the knee angle velocity (KAV), the knee angle acceleration (KAA), the lower limb angle, the lower limb velocity, the lower limb acceleration, the ankle moment (AM) and the axial force (AF) is sensed, the curve of the parameter is determined and the damping resistance is changed when, after an extreme value of the parameter is reached, the monotonic behavior of the curve of the parameter changes within the swing phase.

A knee prosthesis or orthosis includes at least one moveable joint and a torque modulating unit. The torque modulating unit is configured to impose a controllable torque on the at least one moveable joint. The torque modulating unit includes at least one of a motor or brake. The at least one of the motor or brake is coupled to the at least one moveable joint via an electronically-controlled transmission. The electronically-controlled transmission is a two-speed transmission.