A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic liner adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is arranged for regulating fluid communication between an interface region defined between the prosthetic liner and the residual limb and a suspension chamber defined between the prosthetic liner and the prosthetic socket. A vacuum in the suspension chamber selectively moves the valve assembly between a closed position in which the valve assembly fluidly separates the suspension chamber from the interface region, and an open position in which a portion of the vacuum in the suspension chamber draws fluid from the interface region via the valve assembly into the suspension chamber.

Prosthesis including prosthetic links driven by actuators, first sensors that sense current state ZUS(t); second sensors that sense biosignals SIG.sub.BIO(t); third sensors that sense data D.sub.UMG(t); processing device; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, perform operations including: determining based on SIG.sub.BIO(t), ZUS(t), and D.sub.UMG(t), model M.sub.A(t) of an action A, and predicting motions B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)), dependent on M.sub.A(t) for a time period; determining a decision E to replace A with an action A(E) based on SIG.sub.BIO(t), ZUS(t), D.sub.UMG(t), and B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)) according to an evaluation scheme, wherein A(E) can define a reflexive and/or protective motion, and if A(E) does not define the reflexive and/or protective motion, then determining model M.sub.A(t) of A(E) and predicting motions B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)), dependent on M.sub.A(t), for the time period; deriving control signals Sig(t) based on B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)) or B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)), or based on the reflexive and/or protective motion, and controlling/regulating the actuators based on Sig(t).

The invention relates to a prosthesis to replace a missing extremity of a living being, which has: one or more prosthetic links driven by actuators, first sensors, which sense a current state ZUS(t) of the prosthesis; an interface to second sensors, which sense biosignals SIG.sub.BIO(t) of the living being to control the missing extremity; third sensors for sensing data D.sub.UMG(t), which describe a current environment of the prosthesis; a prediction unit, which determines, based on the biosignals SIG.sub.BIO(t) and on the state ZUS(t) of the prosthesis and of the data D.sub.UMG(t), a model MA(t) of an action A to be executed with the prosthesis and predicts motions Beweg(M.sub.A(t)), dependent on the model M.sub.A(t), of the prosthetic links for a period of time [t, t+t]; an evaluating unit, by which the discrete decision E to replace the action A with another action A(E) can be determined on the basis of an evaluation of the biosignals SIGBIO(t), of the state ZUS(t), of the data D.sub.UMG(t), and of the predicted motions B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)) in accordance with a specified evaluation scheme, wherein the action A(E) can define a reflexive motion and/or protective motion of the prosthesis that is autonomously controlled in an open-loop/closed-loop manner, and wherein, if the action A(E) does not define such a reflexive motion and/or protective motion of the prosthesis that is autonomously controlled in an open-loop/closed-loop manner, the prediction unit determines a model M.sub.A(t) of the action A to be performed by the prosthesis and predicts motions B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)), dependent on the model M.sub.A(t), of the prosthetic links for a time period [t, t+t]; and a control unit, which derives control signals Sig(t), based on the currently valid, predicted motions B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)) or B.sub.eweg(M.sub.A(t)) or based on the reflexive and/or protective motion autonomously controlled in an open-loop/closed-loop manner, for controlling the actuators and controls/regulates the actuators based on the control signals Sig(t).

A prosthetic system includes a prosthetic liner adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is arranged for regulating fluid communication between an interface region defined between the prosthetic liner and the residual limb and a suspension chamber defined between the prosthetic liner and the prosthetic socket. A vacuum in the suspension chamber selectively moves the valve assembly between a closed position in which the valve assembly fluidly separates the suspension chamber from the interface region, and an open position in which a portion of the vacuum in the suspension chamber draws fluid from the interface region via the valve assembly into the suspension chamber.

An additive manufacturing method and apparatus for interchangeable local interface support geometry and materials in lower limb prosthetic sockets. An interchangeable local interface prosthetic socket is configured to enable a user of the socket to configure variable support, pressure, and comfort characteristics of lower limb prosthetic sockets by selectively replacing an interface panel and/or distal cup with an alternative interface panel and/or distal cup being configured to have different physical characteristics.

A stretchable electronic device for artificial skin and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The stretchable electronic device for artificial skin includes a first encapsulation layer, a heater disposed on the first encapsulation layer, a second encapsulation layer disposed on the heater, a first sensor array layer disposed on the second encapsulation layer, and a third encapsulation layer disposed on the first sensor array layer.

An apparatus for achieving a best possible prosthetic fit in a prosthesis system for an amputee includes a sensor array embedded in a gel like substance slipped over a residual limb in a socket configuration with respect to a prosthesis system. Such an apparatus can also include data collection and transmission mechanism such as a microcontroller that communicates with the sensor array and which data from the sensor array to a computing device for processing and interpretation of the data in order to statically and dynamically assess a quality of fit of the prosthesis system for the amputee.