Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment is a vacuum pump including a compressible elastomeric member with an internal reservoir enclosing a volume of fluid, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink, and an inlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source. The pump further includes first and second pressure elements coupled to the elastomeric member on opposing sides. At least one of the first and second pressure elements is adapted to apply a longitudinal force along, and a rotational force about, an axis extending through the compressible elastomeric member. Upon the application of a longitudinal compression force to the compressible elastomeric member, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon the application of a longitudinal expansion force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic foot with a base spring (23) with a forefoot area (231) and a heel area (232), a connecting means (9, 10) arranged above the base spring (23) and used to fasten the prosthetic foot to a prosthesis, and a frontal support (25, 26, 27), at the upper end (140) of which the connecting means (9, 10) is arranged and which, at its lower end (250), is secured on a torsion element (28) that can twist about the longitudinal axis (230) of the prosthetic foot, wherein the torsion element (28) is designed as a leaf spring arrangement secured to the base spring (23) at one end in the heel area (232) or in the forefoot area (231).

Abstract: A connector for fluidly connecting the sealed interior of an artificial limb socket with a pressure source when the connector is mounted to the socket at a hole and an artificial limb including same. The connector includes a flexible elongated tubular section having a lumen, a flange coupled to one end of the elongated tubular section, the flange having a seal surface for sealingly abutting one of the socket wall surfaces around the hole, and a tubular portion adjacent to the flange and extending the lumen from the seal surface of the flange. Tubular portion has at least one section oversized relative to hole which provides a reasonable air-tight seal between the at least one section and an inner surface of the hole or the other of said socket wall surfaces around the hole and distant from the flange, when the tubular portion is received within the hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, one of the coupling elements extending into a heel area of the foot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump comprising a wall, which forms an enclosed fluid volumetric space and which can be moved by a first force in a direction resulting in a decrease in volume and, after a preceding decrease in volumetric space, can be moved by a second force in a direction resulting in an increase in volume. The pump also comprises an inlet valve, which communicates with an inlet valve, and comprises an outlet valve in an outlet line of the fluid volumetric space. The inventive pump has a compact design due to the fact that it is provided in the form of a vacuum pump whose volumetric space can be decreased by the external first force acting against an elastically deformable material whose restoring force, after the external force ceases, generates the second force acting counter to the generated vacuum.

Abstract: A valve arrangement with a base part (1), which has securing means (11) for securing the valve arrangement to a place of use and has an axially continuous bore (6) with an inner wall (7), with a valve insert part (15), which can be inserted with a stub (16) into the bore (6), sealed by a seal (18) with respect to the inner wall (6), and has at least one latching element (29) with which the valve insert part (15) can be latched in the inserted and sealed position, by elastic engagement over a locking projection (8) in the base part (1), and on which an actuating element (28) is located for releasing and removing the valve insert part (15) from the base part (1), and with an adjustable valve element (31), which is mounted in a chamber (21) of the valve insert part (31) having a valve seat (24, 38) and with which a fluid connection all the way through the valve arrangement can be established or shut off, is easy to produce and assemble and is also convenient to operate, by virtue of the fact that, on the stub

Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment is a vacuum pump including a compressible elastomeric member with an internal reservoir enclosing a volume of fluid, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink, and an inlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source. The pump further includes first and second pressure elements coupled to the elastomeric member on opposing sides. At least one of the first and second pressure elements is adapted to apply a longitudinal force along, and a rotational force about, an axis extending through the compressible elastomeric member. Upon the application of a longitudinal compression force to the compressible elastomeric member, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon the application of a longitudinal expansion force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir.

Abstract: A vacuum pump having shock absorption and controlled rotation for use in an artificial limb. The pump includes a housing having a first chamber, and a shaft configured to be received by and to reciprocate within the first chamber, the housing and shaft forming a pump chamber. A piston may be coupled to the shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, and intake and exhaust ports are fluidly coupled to the pump chamber. Rotational structure is mounted with respect to the pump to provide controlled rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, and shock absorption structure is included within the pump to provide shock absorption for the shaft. Both a pneumatic spring and a mechanical spring element may be provided for the shock absorption structure. An optional adapter couples the shaft to the pylon of an integral pylon prosthetic foot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive orthopedic aid in the form of a foot prosthesis or foot orthosis, with a first part which is connected to a second part in a rotatable manner via a swivel joint, with a sensor arrangement for measuring parameters that provide indications of instantaneous operation requirements of the aid, with a control means which is connected to the control arrangement and is used to determine operation requirements and to generate corresponding control signals, with a controllable hydraulic damping arrangement with which a movement resistance acting on the rotation movement between the first part and the second part can be modified, and with a control means which converts the control signals of the processor arrangement and is used to control the damping arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic appliance which is designed to support the weight of a patient and comprises a power supply device for an electrical consumer. the aim of the invention is to be able to convert the kinetic energy introduced into the appliance into electrical energy. to this end, the power supply device comprises a stack (7) of piezoelectric ceramic elements, and the force of the weight is introduced into the stack (7) by means of a force transmission system.

Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment is a vacuum pump including a compressible elastomeric member with an internal reservoir enclosing a volume of fluid, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink, and an inlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source. The pump further includes first and second pressure elements coupled to the elastomeric member on opposing sides. At least one of the first and second pressure elements is adapted to apply a longitudinal force along, and a rotational force about, an axis extending through the compressible elastomeric member. Upon the application of a longitudinal compression force to the compressible elastomeric member, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon the application of a longitudinal expansion force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, one of the coupling elements extending into a heel area of the foot.

Abstract: A connector for fluidly connecting the sealed interior of an artificial limb socket with a pressure source when the connector is mounted to the socket at a hole and an artificial limb including same. The connector includes a flexible elongated tubular section having a lumen, a flange coupled to one end of the elongated tubular section, the flange having a seal surface for sealingly abutting one of the socket wall surfaces around the hole, and a tubular portion adjacent to the flange and extending the lumen from the seal surface of the flange. Tubular portion has at least one section oversized relative to hole which provides a reasonable air-tight seal between the at least one section and an inner surface of the hole or the other of said socket wall surfaces around the hole and distant from the flange, when the tubular portion is received within the hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump comprising a wall (3; 21, 22; 31, 32, 33), which forms an enclosed fluid volumetric space (1) and which can be moved by a first force (F) in a direction resulting in a decrease in volume and, after a preceding decrease in volumetric space, can be moved by a second force in a direction resulting in an increase in volume. The pump also comprises an inlet valve (8), which communicates with an inlet valve (6), and comprises an outlet valve (9) in an outlet line (7) of the fluid volumetric space (1). The inventive pump has a compact design due to the fact that it is provided in the form of a vacuum pump whose volumetric space can be decreased by the external first force acting against an elastically deformable material (2; 21, 22; 33) whose restoring force, after the external force ceases, generates the second force acting counter to the generated vacuum.

Abstract: A vacuum pump having shock absorption and controlled rotation for use in an artificial limb. The pump includes a housing having a first chamber, and a shaft configured to be received by and to reciprocate within the first chamber, the housing and shaft forming a pump chamber. A piston may be coupled to the shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, and intake and exhaust ports are fluidly coupled to the pump chamber. Rotational structure is mounted with respect to the pump to provide controlled rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, and shock absorption structure is included within the pump to provide shock absorption for the shaft. Both a pneumatic spring and a mechanical spring element may be provided for the shock absorption structure. An optional adapter couples the shaft to the pylon of an integral pylon prosthetic foot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a knee-joint prosthesis with a hydraulic damping cylinder (1) for regulating the swing phase control and stance phase stabilization, and with an electronic control for a force field acting on the hydraulic fluid of the damping cylinder (1), the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid being able to be changed by the force field. The object of the present invention is to make available a knee-joint prosthesis whose electronic control has a high degree of safety and a minimal power consumption. According to the invention, the object is achieved by the fact that an actuating member (6, 7, 9, 12) is provided which generates a permanent force field and acts on the hydraulic fluid with an existing force field which is weakened or strengthened by the electronically controlled force field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resilient foot insert for an artificial foot. According to the invention, this foot insert consists of at least two springs (1, 2) which are connected to one another and which together-in side view, in the unloaded state, enclose an approximately triangular spring deflection space (3), the upper, approximately roof-shaped spring (1) having, in the roof top area, an adapter attachment (4) and, starting from the latter, a heel branch (hereinafter “heel spring 6”) which extends downward in a concave curve into the heel area (5), and a forefoot branch (hereinafter “forefoot spring 8”) which extends downward in a concave curve into the forefoot area (7), the free branch ends (6a, 8a) being connected to a separate base spring (2) which delimits the bottom of the spring deflection space (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a knee-joint prosthesis with a hydraulic damping cylinder (1) for regulating the swing phase control and stance phase stabilization, and with an electronic control for a force field acting on the hydraulic fluid of the damping cylinder (1), the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid being able to be changed by the force field. The object of the present invention is to make available a knee-joint prosthesis whose electronic control has a high degree of safety and a minimal power consumption. According to the invention, the object is achieved by the fact that an actuating member (6, 7, 9, 12) is provided which generates a permanent force field and acts on the hydraulic fluid with an existing force field which is weakened or strengthened by the electronically controlled force field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a resilient foot insert for an artificial foot. According to the invention, this foot insert consists of at least two springs (1, 2) which are connected to one another and which together-in side view, in the unloaded state, enclose an approximately triangular spring deflection space (3), the upper, approximately roof-shaped spring (1) having, in the roof top area, an adapter attachment (4) and, starting from the latter, a heel branch (hereinafter “heel spring 6”) which extends downward in a concave curve into the heel area (5), and a forefoot branch (hereinafter “forefoot spring 8”) which extends downward in a concave curve into the forefoot area (7), the free branch ends (6a, 8a) being connected to a separate base spring (2) which delimits the bottom of the spring deflection space (3).