Abstract: The invention relates to assembly of an accessory and a shoe for providing support to a foot-drop affected foot relative to a lower leg belonging to the foot such that the foot is prevented from dropping downwards relative to the lower leg when the foot is raised by the lower from a supporting surface, the accessory being provided with a first attachment member for attachment of the accessory to the lower leg, a second attachment member for attachment of the accessory to an upper side of the shoe and a connecting body joining together the first attachment member and the second attachment member, wherein the second attachment member is provided with an attachment plate which, in use, is positioned under an upper part of the shoe. The invention also relates to the accessory of the assembly.

Abstract: A device and method to aid in the donning and doffing of prosthetic liners. A vacuum is created between the device and the prosthetic liner in order to expand the prosthetic liner. The device and the liner can then be placed in position on a residual limb and the vacuum released to aid in donning the liner. To doff a liner, the device is placed in position over a residual limb carrying a prosthetic liner. A vacuum is created between the device and the liner to expand the liner in order to aid doffing.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a foot member, a heel member operatively coupled to the foot member. At least one of the heel member and foot member define an arch portion that faces a support surface that the prosthetic foot contacts during use. An insole member contacts said arch portion, the insole member configured to facilitate a rollover of the prosthetic foot in at least one of a lateral-medial and a medial-lateral direction during ambulation.

Abstract: A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, sensing module data may include information relating to the gait of a user and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural, healthy ankle. The system may further accommodate, for example, level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs, traveling up/down sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input or display output signals through an external interface. For example, the processing module may receive a heel height input from the user.

Abstract: System and method for adjusting the angle of a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects the surface angle and actively adjusts the members of the ankle to a preferred angle according to the respective slope of the incline/decline.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber socket system having a shell which defines a receiving portion for receiving a residuum. The receiving portion is connected via a vacuum transfer port to a vacuum reservoir chamber. A one-way or non-return valve is provided within the vacuum transfer port for allowing air to pass from the receiving portion into the chamber, but not from the chamber to the receiving portion. The chamber also includes an evacuation port for creating a partial vacuum within both the chamber and the receiving portion. A removable evacuation device may be connected to the evacuation port in order to create the partial vacuum.

Abstract: The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element.

Abstract: The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element.

Abstract: An energy returning prosthetic joint arranged for use as a knee joint in prosthetic limbs includes a biasing or spring member connected to upper and lower attachment members. The spring member includes a composite material having an energy returning property. A cushion may be provided within the range of curvature of the spring member, or be connected to frame members in order to limit motion of the spring member.

Abstract: A knee brace divided into anterior and posterior sides by a frontal plane, and having first and second sides divided by a median plane. The knee brace having a frame, and at least one cross strap that is connected to the frame and extends across over at least a portion of the first and second brace sides. The at least one cross strap is arranged obliquely relative to the median plane. The brace also includes a tightening mechanism that is connected to the frame and is configured to incrementally tension the at least one cross strap at predefined settings and to release tension on the at least one cross strap. A first end of the at least one cross strap engages the tightening mechanism. A dosage meter is connected to the frame, and includes an indication feature representing tension settings of the at least one cross strap.

Abstract: An orthopedic walker for mounting on the lower leg of a patient includes a walker base having a central area for receiving the foot of a patient and a spaced lower surface including an outer sole, and a pair of struts connected to the walker base. Each of the struts has a frame member of high strength material secured to the first end of the walker base and a supporting component integrally secured and adjacent to the frame member. The supporting component defines laterally extending side wings generally corresponding to the second end of the frame member, and is constructed from a material less rigid than the high strength material of the frame member. The supporting component has a main body and a border portion that are integrally secured and contiguous with one another. The border portion is formed from a material having a lower hardness than the material forming the main body.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention relate to increasing the functionality of a transfemoral prosthetic device. In one embodiment, the transfemoral prosthetic device is configured such that the prosthetic knee maintains a load consistent with a healthy knee walking on level ground, while the prosthetic ankle adjusts for the incline or decline. In certain embodiments, adjustments, such as a toe lift function, are automatically performed after about three strides of the transfemoral prosthetic device user and/or when each of the strides has a stride speed of at least about 0.55 meters/second.

Abstract: A method of measuring the performance of a prosthetic foot includes obtaining a pressure distribution of the prosthetic foot during a motion of the prosthetic foot and determining whether the pressure distribution falls within a preselected range of performance values for the prosthetic foot. The pressure distribution comprises a trajectory illustrating the progression of a center of pressure of the prosthetic foot during motion. A prosthetic foot can also be designed to approximate a pressure distribution corresponding to a preselected range of performance values.

Abstract: An orthotic frame has proximal and distal frame members joined by a knee joint, and a foot support joined by an ankle joint to a distal end of the distal frame. A knee actuator connected between the proximal and distal frame members has a selective stiffness allowing selection of a relatively rigid stiffness during stance and a relatively flexible stiffness during swing. The stiffness of the knee actuator is selected according to the gait cycle, either mechanically according to dorsal flexion of the ankle joint or electronically according to gait cycle phases recognized based on read sensor data. An ambulatory unit gathers data from sensors located on the orthotic frame. Sensor data may be provided to a base unit for diagnostic and biomechanical evaluation, or evaluated by the ambulatory unit to control active components of the orthotic frame according to the recognized gait cycle phases for functional compensation.

Abstract: A cervical brace having a cervical collar. The collar has a front collar portion and a rear collar potion wherein the rear collar portion comprises an occipital support. A vest comprising a front vest portion and a back vest portion is attached to the front collar portion to limit movement of the front vest portion with respect to the cervical collar while the back vest portion is free to move with respect to the cervical collar rear portion.

Abstract: An artificial multi-axis knee joint comprising an upper leg portion and a lower leg portion pivotally connected to each other by a front link for pivoting the front link and the upper leg portion relative to each other around a first geometrical pivot axis, and for pivoting the front link and the lower leg portion relative to each other around a second geometrical pivot axis. A rear link is pivotally connected to the upper leg portion for pivoting the rear link and the upper leg portion relative to each other around a third geometrical pivot axis, and pivotally connected at the other end thereof to the lower leg portion for pivoting the rear link and the lower leg portion relative to each other around a fourth geometrical pivot axis. The knee joint further comprises a further means which is integrated in the front link and the rear link.

Abstract: A knee brace is provided with push button actuatable stops, wherein the stops are biased outward into angular locking positions and inwardly directed pressure on the push buttons releases the stops and permits angular adjustment of the stops. A pair of catch plates with locking recesses facing inward, are provided, and outwardly biased locking pins engage the recesses in both catch plates. Each of the stop assemblies has an outwardly directed plate extending over the outer cover plate, and this plate is coupled to the physical stop member around the outer edge of the outer cover plate. The cover plate has angular indicia thereon, which may be viewed through windows in the outwardly extending plate portions of the stop assemblies.