Abstract: A momentum free bearing assembly for use in orthotic and prosthetic devices and a prosthetic knee incorporating the same are disclosed. The bearing assembly includes an engaging ring having a swivel portion received within the engaging ring. The engaging ring is received within a bore in a mount. Retainer rings may be placed on either side of the engaging ring within the bore to retain the engaging ring within the mount. Seals having sealing members may be provided on either side of the engaging ring to seal the engaging ring within the mount. A cylindrical rod engages the swivel portion and the seal through bores provided in each of the seal and the swivel portion. The ends of the cylindrical rod can be press-fit within bores on a mount and a frame of a prosthetic knee.

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. The actuator preferably selectively locks during a desired phase in a gait cycle and minimizes friction against a rotor of the actuator. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, data may include information relating to a user's gait and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural ankle. The system may accommodate level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs or sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input, such as a heel height, or display output signals through an external interface.

Abstract: A momentum free bearing assembly for use in orthotic and prosthetic devices and a prosthetic knee incorporating the same are disclosed. The bearing assembly includes an engaging ring having a swivel portion received within the engaging ring. The engaging ring is received within a bore in a mount. Retainer rings may be placed on either side of the engaging ring within the bore to retain the engaging ring within the mount. Seals having sealing members may be provided on either side of the engaging ring to seal the engaging ring within the mount. A cylindrical rod engages the swivel portion and the seal through bores provided in each of the seal and the swivel portion. The ends of the cylindrical rod can be press-fit within bores on a mount and a frame of a prosthetic knee.

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. The actuator preferably selectively locks during a desired phase in a gait cycle of the limb and minimizes friction against a rotor of the actuator. 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.

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 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: An adapter assembly allows mechanical coupling of prosthetic components such that a distal end of a socket adapter (160) extends below a top surface of a prosthetic (100). The adapter assembly may include sets of external threads (314, 324) to operatively engage internally threaded surfaces (170, 110) of the prosthetic and the socket adapter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the angle between the members of the ankle to a relaxed state. The system may further detect when the user has moved to exit the relaxed position, and may actively adjust the angle between the members of the ankle to an exit state.

Abstract: Control systems and methods are disclosed for processing a time series of signals associated with the movement of a device associated with a limb. The time series of motion signals is filtered, such as thorough an autoregressive filter, and compared to stored data sets representing a limb-motion event and/or phase. In certain examples, a plurality of accelerometers generate the time series of motion signals based at least on acceleration measurements in three orthogonal directions and/or planes. The acceleration measurements may relate to the movement of an artificial limb, such as a prosthetic or orthotic device. Upon determining an event and/or phase of limb motion, the control system may trigger an actuator to appropriately adjust one or more prosthetic or orthotic joints.

Abstract: Control systems and methods are disclosed for processing a time series of signals associated with the movement of a device associated with a limb. The time series of motion signals is filtered, such as thorough an autoregressive filter, and compared to stored data sets representing a limb-motion event and/or phase. In certain examples, a plurality of accelerometers generate the time series of motion signals based at least on acceleration measurements in three orthogonal directions and/or planes. The acceleration measurements may relate to the movement of an artificial limb, such as a prosthetic or orthotic device. Upon determining an event and/or phase of limb motion, the control system may trigger an actuator to appropriately adjust one or more prosthetic or orthotic joints.

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 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: 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: 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 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: 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: A momentum free bearing assembly for use in orthotic and prosthetic devices and a prosthetic knee incorporating the same are disclosed. The bearing assembly includes an engaging ring having a swivel portion received within the engaging ring. The engaging ring is received within a bore in a mount. Retainer rings may be placed on either side of the engaging ring within the bore to retain the engaging ring within the mount. Seals having sealing members may be provided on either side of the engaging ring to seal the engaging ring within the mount. A cylindrical rod engages the swivel portion and the seal through bores provided in each of the seal and the swivel portion. The ends of the cylindrical rod can be press-fit within bores on a mount and a frame of a prosthetic knee.