Abstract: A modular exoskeleton structure provides force assistance to a user. The structure includes a base module including a lumbar belt capable of surrounding the waist of the user, a battery and a control unit attached to the lumber belt, a first attachment part attached to the belt and capable of cooperating with a second complementary attachment part of a hip module to attach the hip module to the base module by snapping the second attachment part into the first attachment part, and a third attachment part attached to the belt and capable of cooperating with a complementary fourth attachment part of a back module for attaching the back module to the base module.

Abstract: A modular exoskeleton structure provides force assistance to a user. The structure includes a base module including a lumbar belt capable of surrounding the waist of the user, a battery and a control unit attached to the lumber belt, a first attachment part attached to the belt and capable of cooperating with a second complementary attachment part of a hip module to attach the hip module to the base module by snapping the second attachment part into the first attachment part, and a third attachment part attached to the belt and capable of cooperating with a complementary fourth attachment part of a back module for attaching the back module to the base module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular exoskeleton structure that provides force assistance to a user comprising a base module (1), the base module (1) comprising a lumbar belt (11) capable of surrounding the waist of the user, a battery (12) and a control unit (13) attached to the lumber belt (11), a first attachment part attached to the belt (11) and capable of cooperating with a second complementary attachment part of a hip module (5) to attach the hip module (5) to the base module (1) by snapping the second attachment part into the first attachment part, and a third attachment part attached to the belt (11) and capable of cooperating with a complementary fourth attachment part of a back module for attaching the back module to the base module (1).

Abstract: The actuated leg prosthesis comprises a knee member, a socket connector provided over the knee member, an elongated trans-tibial member having a bottom end under which is connected an artificial foot, and a linear actuator. A first pivot assembly allows to operatively connect the trans-tibial member to the knee member. A second pivot assembly allows to operatively connect an upper end of the actuator to the knee member. A third pivot assembly allows to operatively connect a bottom end of the actuator to the bottom end of the trans-tibial member. The prosthesis can be provided as either a front actuator configuration or a rear actuator configuration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The braking device is provided a set of shape memory alloy activators positioned, in an agonistic-antagonistic configuration on each side of a brake lever. Braking and releasing phases are dictated by the austenitic transformation of the shape memory alloy activators. During brake activation, shrinking of the braking activator brings the friction pad in contact with a rotating drum creating a braking friction torque. Once the brake has been activated, deformation of a flexible fiberglass component prevents brake releasing by applying sufficient normal force between the drum and the friction pad. Conversely, upon heating of the releasing activator, the pad looses its grip and the drum is free to rotate.

Abstract: The present invention is dedicated to a calf exerciser including a foot unit having foot-palm and heel support surfaces. The foot unit provides efficient resistance training of calf muscles by permitting both eversion or inversion movements of the foot-palm in synchronization with the plantar flexion dorsiflexion muscular contraction. This is achieved by inclining the foot-palm support surface either towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, by anteo-posteriolly curving the heel support surface from the foot-palm surface to the bottom of the foot unit and by including a gradual inclination of the heel support surface towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, thus forming a variable angulation foot sole gradient area. This variable angulation foot sole gradient area accentuates the eversion and inversion movements at the foot-palm and reduces the biomechanical stress by eliminating coronal rotation at the heel.

Abstract: An instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: A power supply charger for charging battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups, each battery cell group having an associated protector circuit module. The power supply charger comprises, for each battery cell group, a power converter, a constant-current and constant-voltage device connected to the power converter for selectively applying a voltage from the power converter across the battery cell group and a current sensing circuit. The power supply charger further comprises, for each battery cell of a battery cell group, a voltage sensing circuit and a balancer circuit. Finally, the power supply charger comprises a micro-controller operatively connected to the various components and is so configured as to, for each battery cell group, selectively apply a voltage across the battery cell group or decrease the voltage of individual battery cells in the battery cell group in response to sensed battery cell voltage and battery cell group current.

Abstract: The actuated leg prosthesis comprises a knee member, a socket connector provided over the knee member, an elongated trans-tibial member having a bottom end under which is connected an artificial foot, and a linear actuator. A first pivot assembly allows to operatively connect the trans-tibial member to the knee member. A second pivot assembly allows to operatively connect an upper end of the actuator to the knee member. A third pivot assembly allows to operatively connect a bottom end of the actuator to the bottom end of the trans-tibial member. The prosthesis can be provided as either a front actuator configuration or a rear actuator configuration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses locomotion simulator comprising a base having a surface movable along a base axis, a post mounted to the base a pelvic structure and a hip-thigh mechanism wherein coordinated displacement of the pelvic structure and pivoting of the thigh segment assembly simulates patterns of locomotion. The pelvic structure includes a first support movably mounted to the post, the first support allowing a displacement of the pelvic structure along a first pelvic axis generally perpendicular to the base axis and a second support movably mounted to the first support, the second support allowing a displacement of the pelvic structure along a second pelvic axis generally parallel to the base axis.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses locomotion simulator comprising a base having a surface movable along a base axis, a post mounted to the base a pelvic structure and a hip-thigh mechanism wherein coordinated displacement of the pelvic structure and pivoting of the thigh segment assembly simulates patterns of locomotion. The pelvic structure includes a first support movably mounted to the post, the first support allowing a displacement of the pelvic structure along a first pelvic axis generally perpendicular to the base axis and a second support movably mounted to the first support, the second support allowing a displacement of the pelvic structure along a second pelvic axis generally parallel to the base axis.

Abstract: The braking device is provided a set of shape memory alloy activators positioned, in an agonistic-antagonistic configuration on each side of a brake lever. Braking and releasing phases are dictated by the austenitic transformation of the shape memory alloy activators. During brake activation, shrinking of the braking activator brings the friction pad in contact with a rotating drum creating a braking friction torque. Once the brake has been activated, deformation of a flexible fiberglass component prevents brake releasing by applying sufficient normal force between the drum and the friction pad. Conversely, upon heating of the releasing activator, the pad looses its grip and the drum is free to rotate.

Abstract: A power supply charging method and device for charging a power supply having a predetermined number of battery cells divided into at least two battery cell groups. The method comprises the steps of, for each battery cell group, applying a voltage across the battery cell group until one condition selected from the group consisting of the voltage of a battery cell exceeding a first threshold and the current of the cell group dropping below a second threshold, is met and verifying that each of the predetermined number of battery cells has a similar voltage. When the verification of the battery cells voltage determines that at least one battery cell has a voltage departing from the voltage of the other battery cells by more than a predetermine value, the voltage of the other cells is decreased and the previous steps are repeated.