Abstract: An articulating joint includes a base member, a suspended member and at least one tension member. The base member includes at least two base member peripheral anchors and a base member intermediate anchor located between the base member peripheral anchors. The suspended member includes at least two suspended member peripheral anchors and a suspended member intermediate anchor located between the suspended member peripheral anchors. The at least one tension member couples the base member peripheral anchors to the suspended member peripheral anchors and couples the base member intermediate anchor to the suspended member intermediate anchor so that the base member and the suspended member are configured for constrained relative articulation with the suspended member partially received within the base member.

Abstract: In a total ankle replacement joint, tibial and talar components are coupled by first and second tension members threaded through the tibial component and the talar component to support the tibial component relative to the talar component. The total ankle replacement joint is configured such that the tibial component rocks relative to the talar component on fixed-length web member segments of the first and second tension members and fixed-length loop member segments of the first and second tension members constrain motion of the tibial component relative to the talar component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a prosthetic, orthotic, or robotic foot having at least two joints. One joint is located in a position analogous to the human MTP joint, and the other is located in a position analogous to the human subtalar joint. Motions of these two joints are mechanically couples. Furthermore, these joints are created using “tensegrity” design principals, where connections between the compression members are made by a network of tension members. These tension members create axes of motion, and limitations on those axes of motion. Actuators or linear elastic “springs” are use to alter the torque/angular deflection response curve of these joints, so that the rollover profile of the human foot can be duplicated by this invention.

Abstract: Embodments of the invention relate to a prosthetic, orthotic, or robotic foot having at least two joints. One joint is located in a position analogous to the human MTP joint, and the other is located in a position analogous to the human subtalar joint. Motions of these two joints are mechanically couples. Furthermore, these joints are created using “tensegrity” design principals, where connections between the compression members are made by a network of tension members. These tension members create axes of motion, and limitations on those axes of motion. Actuators or linear elastic “springs” are use to alter the torque/angular deflection response curve of these joints, so that the rollover profile of the human foot can be duplicated by this invention.