Patents Examined by Christie L Bahena
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Patent number: 10603190Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for assisting and locking joints, having a supporting structure in the joint, at least one tensioning system fixed to the supporting structure and at least one artificial tendon connected to the tensioning system. The tension system interacts with the locking system in order to assist the user's joints when needed.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2015Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: NUADA, LDAInventor: Filipe Nuno Mateus Dias Quinaz
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Patent number: 10596059Abstract: An exoskeleton includes an arm brace coupled to an arm of a wearer and a tensile member connected to the arm brace. An actuator exerts a pulling force on the tensile member. The pulling force reduces a length of the tensile member between the arm brace and the actuator and causes the arm of the wearer to bend at an elbow.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Ekso Bionics, Inc.Inventors: Russ Angold, Nicholas Fleming, Emily Rogers, Brett Jaeger, Chris Paretich
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Patent number: 10596012Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a device for providing mobility assistance to a user. In one embodiment, a mobility system includes a support component including at least a waist device that is configured to secure the mobility system to the user at a waist area of the user. The mobility system includes a limb attached to the support component and extendable from the support component to a floor when the user is in a standing position. The limb is configured to support the user by providing a rigid structure between the floor and the user. The limb is configured to assist the user in transitioning from a seated position to the standing position by applying a substantially upward force to the user through the support component when transitioning to the standing position.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventor: Jens Strabo Hummelshøj
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Patent number: 10588760Abstract: A prosthetic foot comprising a foot part, a proximal connecting member which is swiveled to the foot part and an adjustment device with which the foot part can be adjusted relative to the connecting member, and at least one position sensor associated with the adjustment device and being coupled to a signal generating element.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: OTTOBOCK SE & CO. KGAAInventors: Hermann Meyer, Sven Kaltenborn, Steffen Althaus
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Patent number: 10588761Abstract: An abutment system for operatively coupling an implant stem to an exo-prosthesis. The abutment system includes a plurality of interlocking sleeve elements that are operatively coupled to an implant stem positioned within a prepared site of a selected bone. The interlocking sleeve elements of the abutment system are selectively removable and replaceable.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: Brian Mueller Holt, Sujee Jeyapalina, Roy Drake Bloebaum, Kent Nelson Bachus
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Patent number: 10568749Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure characterize apparatuses and/or methods as may be implemented with a variety of prosthetic components and applications. As may be consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, respective manipulators are operable and/or operate to manipulate a prosthetic foot component about respective (e.g., separate) axes. A sensor circuit senses movement characteristics of the prosthetic foot component (e.g., movement, surroundings, and/or load applied due to movement). The manipulators operate with the sensor circuit to manipulate the prosthetic foot component about the axes in response to the sensed movement characteristics indicating that the prosthetic foot component is elevated over a surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Peter Gabriel Adamczyk, Ivan F. Ekman Simões
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Patent number: 10561506Abstract: An orthopedic joint system having an upper part and a lower part mounted thereon so as to pivot about a pivoting axis, and a pawl which prevents in a locking position any relative movement between the upper part and the lower part about the pivoting axis, and allows in a release position a relative movement about the pivoting axis. The pawl, in the locking position, interlockingly engages a locking element and can be shifted to the release position via a pull element, a first end of the pull element being attached to the upper part or to the lower part and moved along the outside of the pawl in a curved section, and a second end of the pull element being provided with an actuating device which causes the curved section to be shortened and the pawl to be moved to the release position when the actuating device is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: OTTOBOCK SE & CO. KGAAInventors: Herman Boiten, Clemens Kimmig, Elmar Dittrich
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Patent number: 10561515Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting an arm of a user using a harness configured to be worn on a body of a user; and an arm support coupled to the harness configured to support an arm of the user, the arm support configured to accommodate movement of the arm while following the movement without substantially interfering with the movement of the user's arm. One or more compensation elements may be coupled to the arm support to apply an offset force to at least partially offset a gravitational force acting on the arm as the user moves and the arm support follows the movement of the user's arm, the one or more compensation elements providing a force profile that varies the offset force based on an orientation of the arm support.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ENHANCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Mark C. Doyle
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Patent number: 10543112Abstract: An adjustable socket system includes a socket frame having a proximal area, a distal area opposite the proximal area, a first component arranged along a first side of the socket system, and a second component arranged along a second side of the socket system. The first component is connected to the second component. A tubular insert is arranged on an interior of at least the proximal area of the socket frame. The tubular insert forms an interior surface of the socket system. At least one tensioning element operatively connects the tubular insert to the first and/or second components. At least one tensioner is attached to the at least one tensioning element that selectively tensions the tensioning element to adjust a circumference of at least one area of the socket system.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: OSSUR HFInventors: Andrew Bache, Michael Patrick Tuttle
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Patent number: 10537449Abstract: In a communication system for controlling a powered human augmentation device, a parameter of the powered device is adjusted within a gait cycle by wirelessly transmitting a control signal thereto, whereby the adjusted parameter falls within a target range corresponding to that parameter. The target range is selected and the device parameters are controlled such that the powered device can normalize or augment human biomechanical function, responsive to a wearer's activity, regardless of speed and terrain and, in effect, provides at least a biomimetic response to the wearer of the powered device.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Bionx Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zhixiu Han, Christopher Eric Barnhart, David Adams Garlow, Adrienne Bolger, Hugh Miller Herr, Gary Girzon, Richard J. Casler, Jennifer T. McCarthy
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Patent number: 10517746Abstract: A system for joining a limb liner to a prosthesis. The prosthesis has a socket that is joined to the remainder of the prosthesis using a hub assembly. The hub assembly includes a first hub and a second hub. The first hub is disposed within the interior of the socket. The second hub is disposed outside the interior of the socket. An air conduit extends through the hub assembly that enables air to be drawn into the socket and/or vented from the socket. An inflatable interface is disposed within the socket. The inflatable interface receives air through the air conduit in the hub assembly. The inflatable interface is capable of filling any gaps that may exist between a limb liner being worn by an amputee and the socket.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Comfort Products, Inc.Inventors: Frederick S. Bernhardt, Peter V. Panuncialman
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Patent number: 10500070Abstract: A prosthetic device includes a phalanges portion, a metatarsals portion that is movably coupled to the phalanges portion, an ankle portion that is movably coupled to the metatarsals portion, and a calcaneus portion that is movably coupled to the ankle portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: University of South FloridaInventors: Millicent Kay Schlafly, Tyagi Ramakrishnan, Kyle B. Reed
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Patent number: 10485680Abstract: An attachment system for use with a prosthetic device includes a first component including a first surface, and further including one of a channel and a projection disposed on an opposite side of the first component than the first surface. A second component including a second surface, and including the other of the channel and the projection disposed on an opposite side of the second component than the second surface, the other slidably engaging the channel or the projection to selectively couple the first component and the second component together. One of the first surface and the second surface is operable to be attached to the prosthetic device, and the other is operable to be attached to a sole structure having a ground-engaging surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jessica Green, Michelle Haines, Monica Judge, Gerry Plasker, Richard S. Ramsay, Nicola J. Reynolds, Patrick D. Boyd
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Patent number: 10448857Abstract: A method of operating a multi-functional limb movement auxiliary device comprising a plurality of actuators configured to move, upon activation, limb movement auxiliary device members in at least two independent degrees of freedom, a bio-signal sensing unit that is configured to acquire bio-signals indicative of motor activity, a control unit configured to receive and evaluate the acquired bio-signals, the method comprising steps of acquiring bio-signals from the user of the limb movement auxiliary device, applying a novelty detection method (ND) for comparing digitally converted, acquired bio-signals with calibration bio-signals, and, based on a result of the comparison, for assigning a similarity measure to the acquired, digitally converted bio-signals, applying at least one sequential estimator (SEQ-E) to the acquired, digitally converted bio-signals, if the assigned similarity measure is equal to or larger than a pre-determined threshold value, applying at least one simultaneous estimator (SIM-E) to thType: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignees: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Stiftung Öffentlichen Rechts, Ottobock SE & Co. KgaA.Inventors: Bernhard Graimann, Sebastian Amsüss, Dario Farina
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Patent number: 10449063Abstract: A wrist device for a prosthetic limb is provided. The device (1) comprises a base member (3) connectable to the wearer of the device, and a support member (13) connectable to the limb. The support member (13) is pivotably connected to the base member (3) such that the support member can pivot about a pivot axis (A) relative to the base member. A damping mechanism is located between the base (3) member and the support member (5). The damping mechanism comprises a pinion (47) connected to the support member (5) and rotatable about the pivot axis (A) relative to the base member (3). A rack (35) is engaged with the pinion (47) such that rotational motion of the pinion causes a linear motion of the rack, and at least one biasing member (41) extends between the base member (3) and the rack. The biasing member (41) biases the rack (35) and support member (13) into a neutral position. A prosthetic limb incorporating the wrist device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Touch Bionics LimitedInventor: Hugh Gill
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Patent number: 10441439Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a lower limb device having at least a powered joint are provided. A method includes configuring the device to a first state in a finite state model for a current activity mode including a stair ascent mode or a stair descent mode. The method also includes, based on real-time sensor information, transitioning the device between different states in the finite state model when pre-defined criteria for transitioning among the different states are met. In the method, the finite state model for stair ascent includes lifting and swing phases, where the lifting phase includes a powered knee extension and a powered ankle push-off. The finite state model for stair descent includes yielding and swing states, where the swing states include providing a powered plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint and the yielding states include providing a resistive and passive plantarflexion of the powered ankle joint.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYInventors: Michael Goldfarb, Brian Lawson, Atakan Huseyin Varol
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Patent number: 10433986Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TAI LORE MADE, LLCInventors: Leslie D. Kramer, William Stanley Patterson
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Patent number: 10420663Abstract: A handheld tool includes a handle; an implement mount configured to detachably accept and to rigidly hold a user-assistive implement; an actuator assembly mounted to the handle to physically manipulate the implement mount relative to the handle; a first sensor disposed to sense an orientation of the handle; a second sensor disposed to sense an orientation of the user-assistive implement; a controller disposed in or on the handle and coupled to the actuator assembly and the first and second sensors; and memory coupled to the controller. The memory stores instructions for identifying a type of the user-assistive implement attached to the implement mount, selecting a behavior routine based upon the type of the user-assistive implement identified, and manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle according to the behavior routine to aid performance of a task with the handheld tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLCInventors: Anupam J. Pathak, Dylan Owens
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Patent number: 10420656Abstract: A prosthetic adapter including a lower connector, an upper connector rotatably coupled to the lower connector, and a locking mechanism for preventing the upper connector from rotating relative to the lower connector. The locking mechanism is arranged to generally automatically retain a locked position when the lower connector is rotated to an original, predetermined alignment. An activation member is connected to and arranged for operating the locking mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: OSSUR HFInventors: Sigurdur Olafsson, Gudni Ingimarsson, David Landry
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Patent number: 10420666Abstract: Apparatus, system, and method are disclosed herein for controlling movement of an artificial orthopedic joint prosthesis in a mammalian subject. The apparatus, system, or method includes an orthopedic brace configured to control movement of an orthopedic joint prosthesis. The apparatus, system, or method includes one or more sensors and one or more controllers in communication with the one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to detect a change in an orientation of a subject's position in an environment and configured to detect one or more alignment orientations of the orthopedic joint prosthesis.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: Michael H. Baym, Roderick A. Hyde, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.