Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
623025000 | Bioelectrical (e.g., myoelectric, etc.) | 72 |
20090030529 | TOTALLY IMPLANTABLE HEARING PROSTHESIS - The invention comprises a totally implantable hearing prosthesis for hearing impaired persons. An inertial vibrational element is hermetically sealed and implanted in bone between the lateral and superior semicircular canals without breaching the integrity of the canals. The vibrational element is adapted to vibrate the walls of the canals and the fluids contained therein, thereby vibrating contiguous fluids within the cochlea thus stimulating hair cells and creating a hearing percept. The invention can also be adapted to be a tinnitus masking system, and/or used in combination with a cochlear implant hearing system. | 01-29-2009 |
20090216339 | Through-Liner Electrode System for Prosthetics and the Like - A system for passing myoelectric signals through a suspension liner of a prosthetic device, the suspension liner having an inner surface that is in contact with a user's skin and an outer surface that is adjacent to an outer socket of the prosthetic device. The system in one embodiment includes a flexible conductive electrode insert defining a first portion located on or adjacent the inner surface of the suspension liner such that it touches the user's skin, a second portion passing through the suspension liner, and a third portion on the outer surface of the suspension liner, and an adhesive that adheres at least the second and third portions of the insert to the suspension liner. | 08-27-2009 |
20090319054 | WEARABLE ACTION-ASSIST DEVICE, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING WEARABLE ACTION-ASSIST DEVICE - A wearable action-assist device which assists or executes an action of a wearer by substituting for the wearer is provided with an action-assist tool | 12-24-2009 |
20100030341 | SYSTEM LINER AND MYOELECTRONIC ELECTRODE UNIT SYSTEM - The invention relates to a myoelectrical electrode unit for a prosthetic device, which includes a liner positioned between an amputation stump and the prosthetic device and a myoelectrical electrode unit for detecting and transmitting myoelectrical signals to control the prosthetic device. | 02-04-2010 |
20100063601 | Motion assistive device and maintenance management system for motion assistive device - An operating status of a motor in a drive unit is analyzed to extend the life of the motor. A wearable motion assistive device | 03-11-2010 |
20100106259 | Conducting polymer nanowire brain-machine interface systems and methods - The present invention relates to conducting polymer nanowires and their use in a brain-machine interface which is secure, robust and minimally invasive. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a vascular-based brain-machine interface comprising conducting polymer nanowires is disclosed. | 04-29-2010 |
20100280628 | WEARABLE ACTION-ASSIST DEVICE, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR CONTROLLING WEARABLE ACTION-ASSIST DEVICE - A wearable action-assist device which assists or executes an action of a wearer by substituting for the wearer is provided with an action-assist tool | 11-04-2010 |
20110004322 | WEARABLE ACTION-ASSIST DEVICE AND CONTROL PROGRAM - A wearable action-assist device includes a biosignal detection unit detecting a biosignal from a wearer, an action-assist wearing tool having a drive source supplying a torque acting on the wearer around each joint of the wearer as an axis of rotation, a control unit controlling the drive source to generate the torque according to the detected biosignal, a drive torque estimation unit estimating a drive torque generated by the drive source, a joint-angle detecting unit detecting an angular displacement of the joint, and a parameter identification unit identifying kinetics parameters concerned by substituting the estimated drive torque and the detected angular displacement into an equation of motion of an entire system including kinetics parameters intrinsic to the wearer. The control unit is configured to control the drive source according to a predetermined control method based on the equation of motion into which the identified parameters are substituted. | 01-06-2011 |
20120004736 | SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR VOLITIONAL CONTROL OF JOINTED MECHANICAL DEVICES BASED ON SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for controlling a weight bearing member having at least one powered joint are provided. A system includes a velocity reference module for receiving myoelectric control signals from a user during a non-weight bearing mode for the powered joint and generating a velocity reference for the powered joint based on the myoelectric control signals. The system further includes a volitional impedance module for generating a torque control signal for actuating the powered joint based at least on the velocity reference. | 01-05-2012 |
20120078381 | HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE BASED ON TASK-SPECIFIC TEMPORAL POSTURAL SYNERGIES - A synergy-based human-machine interface that uses low-dimensional command signals to control a high dimensional virtual, robotic or paralyzed human hand is provided. Temporal postural synergies are extracted from angular velocities of finger joints of five healthy subjects when they perform hand movements that are similar to activities of daily living. Extracted Synergies are used in real-time brain control, where a virtual, robotic or paralyzed human hand is controlled to manipulate virtual or real world objects. | 03-29-2012 |
20120101595 | COMMUNICATION INTERFACE FOR SENSORY STIMULATION - Techniques, apparatuses, and systems for interfacing multiple sensors with a biological system can include amplifying signals from respective sensors associated with an external device; modulating the amplified signals based on respective different frequency values; and summing the modulated signals to produce an output signal to stimulate a biological system. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101596 | METHOD FOR SETTING UP A CONTROL AND TECHNICAL ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE - The invention relates to a method for setting up a control, and to a control for a technical orthopedic device, and a technical orthopedic device as such. Actuations of the technical orthopedic device ( | 04-26-2012 |
20120116537 | OUTER EAR MUSCULATURE DETECTION MEANS - The invention relates to an auxiliary device for a living being having a) a means for detecting outer ear musculature ( | 05-10-2012 |
20120232675 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING AND PROCESSING MYOELECTRIC SIGNALS IN ORDER TO CONTROL A PROSTHETIC ARM - The invention relates to a system for acquiring and processing myoelectric signals in order to control a prosthetic arm, comprising: a pair of electrodes positioned in a muscle in the residual limb of an arm that has been amputated in order to detect myoelectric signals; an electrode positioned at a distance from said pair of electrodes, which acts as an earth system; a myoelectric signal conditioning means; and a prosthesis controlling and processing means which receives conditioned signals from the conditioning means. According to the invention, the prosthesis controlling and processing means includes: a comparison means for comparing a muscle contraction time and a muscle contraction voltage with a threshold time and a threshold voltage, respectively; and an activation means for activating at least one motor which produces a pre-determined movement of the prosthesis in response to an activation signal transmitted from the aforementioned comparison means. The electrodes provide the myoelectric signal for activating different movements of the prosthesis, without the electrodes having to be changed to another muscle. | 09-13-2012 |
20120296444 | Cortical Interface for Motor Signal Recording and Sensory Signal Stimulation - The present invention consists of an implantable device with at least one package that houses electronics that sends and receives data or signals, and optionally power, from an external system through at least one coil attached to the at least one package and processes the data, including recordings of neural activity, and delivers electrical pulses to neural tissue through at least one array of multiple electrodes that is/are attached to the at least one package. The device is adapted to electrocorticographic (ECoG) and local field potential (LFP) signals. The output signals provide control for a motor prosthesis and the inputs signals provide sensory feedback for the motor prosthesis. The invention, or components thereof, is/are intended to be installed in the head, or on or in the cranium or on the dura, or on or in the brain. | 11-22-2012 |
20120296445 | LINER HAVING AN INTEGRATED ELECTRODE - The invention relates to a liner that is intended to be pulled over an amputation stump, is made of an electrically non-conducting material, has a form that is adapted or that adapts to the amputation stump, has an inner wall ( | 11-22-2012 |
20120310370 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A NEURAL-MACHINE INTERFACE FOR ARTIFICIAL LEGS - A neural-machine interface system is disclosed for providing control of a leg prosthesis. The system includes a plurality of input channels for receiving electromyographic signals from a subject, a feature vector formation unit for processing the electromyographic signals, and a pattern classification unit for identifying the intended movement of the subject's leg prosthesis. | 12-06-2012 |
20130046394 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MYOELECTRIC PROSTHESIS CONTROL - Embodiments of the invention provides myoelectric prosthesis control system that include a gel liner that has a plurality of layers and a plurality of leads at least partially positioned between the plurality of layers. In addition, a plurality of electrodes can be coupled to the leads and portions of the electrodes can also be positioned between the plurality of layers. At least some of the electrodes can include an electrode pole that is configured to contract the residual limb to detect electromyographic signals. | 02-21-2013 |
20130053979 | PROSTHETIC SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods are disclosed for sensing forces, moments, temperature, inclination, acceleration and other parameters associated with prosthetic limbs. The system is capable of measuring forces in three designated axes, and moments about the same designated axes, for a total of six possible degrees of freedom. The system can be readily fitted onto a conventional prosthetic limb with no, or relatively minor, modification thereto. A plurality of sensor arrays are disposed on a support member, each array including a plurality of strain gauge sensors, each sensor outputting an electrical signal responsive to loading imposed on the support member through the prosthetic limb. Electronic circuitry in communication with the gauges is operative to receive the electrical signals from the strain gauges and provide a signal useful in the form, fit or function of the prosthetic limb. | 02-28-2013 |
20130197669 | MYOELECTRIC ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - A myoelectric electrode assembly for a prosthesis comprising a retention ring adapted to be inserted into a correspondingly shaped aperture in the wall of the prosthesis. The assembly also has a myoelectric electrode unit held within the retention ring by means of a gasket which surrounds the electrode unit and is in sealing engagement therewith. A portion of the gasket is received in and sealingly engages with an annular recess around the inside of the retention ring. | 08-01-2013 |
20130218295 | CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAIT DEVICES - Methods for controlling gait devices include measuring kinematic and/or loading states of limb or robotic segments; conditioning the resulting state measurement by any combination or order of integration, differentiation, filtering, and amplification; transforming conditioned state measurements by coordinate transformation; optionally conditioning the transformed state measurements a second time in a manner similar to the first conditioning step; and using the transformed or conditioned transformed state measurements as independent variables in a predetermined reference function to calculate a desired reference command for any number of actuators. | 08-22-2013 |
20140018938 | PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - The invention relates to a prosthesis system with a liner ( | 01-16-2014 |
20140031952 | MULTI-MODAL NEURAL INTERFACING FOR PROSTHETIC DEVICES - Methods and systems to interface between physiological devices and a prosthetic device, including to receive a plurality of types of physiological activity signals from a user, decode a user movement intent from each of the plurality of signals types, and fuse the movement intents into a joint decision to control moveable elements of the prosthetic device. | 01-30-2014 |
20140058528 | Time Domain-Based Methods for Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interfaces - A noninvasive brain computer interface (BCI) system includes an electroencephalography (EEG) electrode array configured to acquire EEG signals generated by a subject. The subject observes movement of a stimulus. A computer is coupled to the EEG electrode array and configured to collected and process the acquired EEG signals. A decoding algorithm is used that analyzes low-frequency (delta band) brain waves in the time domain to continuously decode neural activity associated with the observed movement. | 02-27-2014 |
20140081420 | IMPLEMENTING A STAND-UP SEQUENCE USING A LOWER-EXTREMITY PROSTHESIS OR ORTHOSIS - Knee orthoses or prostheses can be used to automatically when it is appropriate to initiate a stand-up sequence based on the position of the person's knee with respect to the person's ankle while the person is in a seated position. When the knee is moved to position that is forward of the ankle, at least one actuator of the orthosis or prosthesis is actuated to help raise the person from the seated position to a standing position. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081421 | HYBRID TERRAIN-ADAPTIVE LOWER-EXTREMITY SYSTEMS - Hybrid terrain-adaptive lower-extremity apparatus and methods that perform in a variety of different situations by detecting the terrain that is being traversed, and adapting to the detected terrain. In some embodiments, the ability to control the apparatus for each of these situations builds upon five basic capabilities: (1) determining the activity being performed; (2) dynamically controlling the characteristics of the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (3) dynamically driving the apparatus based on the activity that is being performed; (4) determining terrain texture irregularities (e.g., how sticky is the terrain, how slippery is the terrain, is the terrain coarse or smooth, does the terrain have any obstructions, such as rocks) and (5) a mechanical design of the apparatus that can respond to the dynamic control and dynamic drive. | 03-20-2014 |
20140100667 | SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR VOLITIONAL CONTROL OF JOINTED MECHANICAL DEVICE BASED ON SURFACE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for controlling a weight bearing member having at least one powered joint are provided. A system includes a velocity reference module for receiving myoelectric control signals from a user during a non-weight bearing mode for the powered joint and generating a velocity reference for the powered joint based on the myoelectric control signals. The system further includes a volitional impedance module for generating a torque control signal for actuating the powered joint based at least on the velocity reference. | 04-10-2014 |
20140114438 | POWERED LEG PROSTHESIS AND CONTROL METHODOLOGIES FOR OBTAINING NEAR NORMAL GAIT - A powered leg prosthesis includes powered knee joint comprising a knee joint and a knee motor unit for delivering power to the knee joint. The prosthesis also includes a prosthetic lower leg having a socket interface coupled to the knee joint and a powered ankle joint coupled to the lower leg opposite the knee joint comprising an ankle joint and an ankle motor unit to deliver power to the ankle joint. The prosthesis further includes a prosthetic foot coupled to the ankle joint, at least one sensor for measuring a real-time input, and at least one controller for controlling movement of the prosthesis based on the real-time input. | 04-24-2014 |
20140128992 | BIOMIMETIC CONTROLLER FOR INCREASED DEXTERITY PROSTHESIS - A sliding mode biomimetic (BSM) controller for a prosthetic device, such as a prosthetic hand, includes an input classification component that receives electromyogram (EGM) signals from two or more electromyogram (EGM) sensors that are positioned on an amputee's body. The input classification component compares the EGM input signals based on predetermined activation threshold values and identifies an input class to determine the amputee's intended movement of the prosthetic device. A finite state machine utilizes the current position of the prosthetic hand and the identified input class to identify the coordinates of a lookup table to determine the next state or position of the prosthetic device. As a result, the biomimetic controller is able to simultaneously control two or more degrees of freedom (DOFs) or functions of the prosthetic hand using only two EGM input signals. | 05-08-2014 |
20140200681 | Neurotrophic Electrode Neural Interface Employing Quantum Dots - A neural sensor includes a substrate defining an array of vias passing therethrough, a plurality of conductive surfaces, a light source, a plurality of groups of quantum dot-based luminescence units and a charge-coupled device (CCD) array. Each via allows a neurite to grow therethrough. Each conductive surface is adjacent to a different via and is electrically coupled thereto. The light source directs light toward the substrate. Each group of quantum dot-based luminescence units extends upwardly from a different one of the conductive surfaces generates light at a different predetermined wavelength when excited with light from the light source. Each luminescence unit changes its luminescence when electrically stimulated by a neural potential generated by a neurite. The CCD detects luminescence from each of the plurality of groups of quantum dot-based luminescence units and generates a signal representative of intensity of each wavelength of light detected. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207252 | NEURAL PROSTHETIC WITH TOUCH-LIKE SENSING - An apparatus and method is related to providing sensing functions that are similar to “human touch” when located in a prosthetic device such as a BION microstimulator that is implanted in a patient. The apparatus includes a power circuit, a communication circuit and a sensor circuit. The power circuit provides power to the communication circuit and the sensor circuit. The sensor cooperates with the communication circuit, which communicates to the brain. The sensor uses various techniques to detect changes in the environment for the surrounding tissue using criteria such as reflectivity, impedance, conductivity, return signal spectrum, return signal rate and return signal phase to name a few. For example, the impedance observed by the sensor changes when: the skin tissue is deformed around the sensor, or when the skin is surrounded by water. The sensory information is interpreted by the brain as an analog of touch or feel. | 07-24-2014 |
20140249645 | HYBRID BIOELECTRICAL INTERFACE DEVICE - A hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) device can be an implantable device comprising an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions; a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, the biological component being sourced from biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized material; and a conjugated polymer component that together provide a means to chronically interface living neural tissue with electronic devices for extended durations (e.g. greater than 10 years). In some embodiments, conjugated polymers provide a functional electrical interface for charge transfer and signal transduction between the nervous system and an electronic device (e.g. robotic prosthetic limb, retinal implant, microchip). | 09-04-2014 |
20140249646 | SYSTEM FOR RECORDING ELECTRONEUROGRAPHIC ACTIVITY - A system for recording electroneurographic activity comprising at least three electrodes capable of sensing a nerve signal from a peripheral nerve and means for receiving and processing the sensed nerve signal to identify a signal indicative of a specific action being a movement of a body part performed by the patient and for producing a control signal in response thereto featuring means for rejection of signals originating from biological interference sources without adversely affecting the electroneurographic activity being measured. | 09-04-2014 |
20140249647 | SYSTEM FOR RECORDING AND PROCESSING NEURAL ACTIVITY - A system for recording electroneurographic activity comprising at least three electrodes capable of sensing a nerve signal from a peripheral nerve and having means for receiving and processing the sensed nerve signal to identify a signal indicative of a specific action being a movement of a body part performed by the patient and for producing a control signal in response thereto featuring means for amplifying or attenuating signals in a specific direction of propagation without adversely affecting the electroneurographic activity being measured. | 09-04-2014 |
20140257520 | Brain Machine Interfaces incorporating Neural Population Dynamics - A brain-machine interface is provided that incorporates a neural dynamical structure in the control of a prosthetic device to restore motor function and is able to significantly enhance the control performance compared to existing technologies. In one example, a neural dynamical state is inferred from neural observations, which are obtained from a neural implant. In another example, the neural dynamical state can be inferred from both the obtained neural observations and from the kinematics. A controller interfaced with the prosthetic device uses the inferred neural dynamical state as input to the controller to control kinematic variables of the prosthetic device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257521 | JOINT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING MUSCLE ACTIVATION SENSING - A system and method for controlling a prosthetic limb are provided. A sensor component receives input from a wearer's muscle and provides a signal to a control component. The sensor component may be a force sensing resistor placed inside a socket of a prosthetic limb between a residual limb and the hard side of the socket. The control component processes the signal and provides instructions to an actuation component. In this manner, an actuation component may move a joint, or may change the velocity of a joint, or may change other characteristics of the prosthetic limb. | 09-11-2014 |
20140277582 | BRAIN-CONTROLLED BODY MOVEMENT ASSISTANCE DEVICES AND METHODS - Methods, devices, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for brain-controlled body movement assistance devices. In one aspect, a device includes a brain-controlled body movement assistance device with a brain-computer interface (BCI) component adapted to be mounted to a user, a body movement assistance component operably connected to the BCI component and adapted to be worn by the user, and a feedback mechanism provided in connection with at least one of the BCI component and the body movement assistance component, the feedback mechanism being configured to output information relating to a usage session of the brain-controlled body movement assistance device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277583 | FITTING SYSTEM FOR A NEURAL ENABLED LIMB PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - Fitting systems and fitting methods for prostheses are provided. An instrumented prosthesis (IP), such as an instrumented prosthetic hand (IPH), can include sensors and can be connected to a neural stimulation system (NSS) or neural recording system (NRS), which includes an implanted system having electrodes. The NSS/NRS can also be connected to a software module, which can assist in calibrating the electrodes and mapping sensor values to stimulation parameters and/or mapping motor intent from recorded neural activity to control of prostheses. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288666 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHETIC DEVICE - A prosthetic device control apparatus and method of controlling the same. The prosthetic device control apparatus ( | 09-25-2014 |
20140288667 | Sensing or Stimulating Activity of Tissue - An intravascular device for placement within an animal vessel, the intravascular device being adapted to at least one of sense and stimulate activity of neural tissue located outside the vessel proximate the intravascular device. | 09-25-2014 |
20140330394 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING BODY PARTS AND DEVICES USING IPSILATERAL MOTOR CORTEX AND MOTOR RELATED CORTEX - A system for controlling a body part includes a number of sensing devices that sense signals from a hemisphere of a brain. A signal translating unit translates the signals into a command signal for controlling the body part, which is on a same side of the body as the hemisphere of the brain. A prosthetic device receives the command signal from the signal translating unit and manipulates the body part in response to the command signal. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336781 | HYBRID AUGMENTED REALITY MULTIMODAL OPERATION NEURAL INTEGRATION ENVIRONMENT - A method of controlling a device relative to one or more objects in an environment of a user employing the device may include receiving a volitional input from the user indicative of a task to be performed relative to an object with the device, receiving object targeting information associated with interaction between the device and the object where the object targeting information is presented in an augmented reality context, integrating the volitional input with the object targeting information to determine a control command to direct the device to interact with the object, and providing the control command to the device. | 11-13-2014 |
20140336782 | Passive Orthopedic Aid in the Form of a Foot Prosthesis or Foot Orthosis - 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. The foot prosthesis is characterized in that the damping arrangement is a dual-action hydraulic cylinder with two hydraulic chambers separated from each other by a piston, and in that the hydraulic chambers are connected via two connection lines which permit a flow of the hydraulic fluid only in mutually opposite directions and whose flow resistances can be adjusted by the control separately and via their own adjustment means each, in that the processor arrangement is configured to determine a current neutral point position from the measured parameters of the sensor arrangement, and in that the control signals for the flow resistances in the two connection lines are generated with respect to the neutral point position. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343691 | Systems and Methods for a Wireless Myoelectric Implant - This disclosure relates to a systems and methods for control of external devices, such as a prosthesis, using biopotential signals from electrodes in communication with existing muscles or nerves of a patient. More specifically, but not exclusively, this disclosure relates to systems that include wireless transmission of biopotential signals and a multichannel bioamplifier configured to receive biopoential signals. The system may also be configured to stimulate excitable tissue within the body. | 11-20-2014 |
20140379096 | LOWER LIMB PROSTHESIS - A lower limb prosthesis comprises an attachment section ( | 12-25-2014 |
20150012111 | METHODS FOR CLOSED-LOOP NEURAL-MACHINE INTERFACE SYSTEMS FOR THE CONTROL OF WEARABLE EXOSKELETONS AND PROSTHETIC DEVICES - Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) systems or movement-assist systems may be utilized to aid users with paraplegia or tetraplegia in ambulation or other movement or in rehabilitation of motor function after brain injury or neurological disease, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy. The BMI may translate one or more neural signals into a movement type, a discrete movement or gesture or a series of movements, performed by an actuator. System and methods of decoding a locomotion-impaired and/or an upper-arm impaired subject's intent with the BMI may utilize non-invasive methods to provide the subject the ability to make the desired motion using an actuator or command a virtual avatar. | 01-08-2015 |
20150018972 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL ORTHOTIC OR PROSTHETIC KNEE JOINT - The invention relates to a method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower leg component is arranged and which is assigned a resistance device having at least one actuator, by means of which the bending resistance is modified depending on sensor data that is determined during use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint by means of a sensor, wherein the absolute angle of the lower leg component is determined exclusively by means of at least one inertial sensor, the angle determined is compared with at least one threshold value, and the bending resistance is modified when the threshold value is reached. | 01-15-2015 |
20150025653 | NEUROMORPHIC CONTROLLED POWERED ORTHOTIC AND PROSTHETIC SYSTEM - A neuromorphic controlled powered orthotic and prosthetic system and device including a custom or universal fit fixed-ankle orthosis, to stabilize or immobilize an injured lower limb or act as an ankle prosthesis, and an actuated or powered articulated false-foot connected to the fixed-ankle orthosis or the prosthesis to form an actuated articulated false-foot orthosis. Associated with or mounted on the actuated articulated false-foot, or in or on the body, are sensors for sensing the intent of the subject to move, and the movement range of the articulating false-foot or AAFO and an environmental perturbation. An actuator is used to drive the articulated false-foot orthosis. The system and device further include a controller having an electronic circuit with a biomimetic design based on knowledge of connectivity of neurons within the spinal cord of a primitive vertebrate. The system and device include an electronic circuit made from analog very large scale integrated components and discrete electronic components capable of autonomously generating cyclic voltage output. An integral power supply serves the portable controller and AAFO. | 01-22-2015 |
20150039098 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF A PROSTHETIC DEVICE - A system for control of a prosthetic device includes at least one Inertial Measurement Unit detecting orientation of a user's foot. The at least one Inertial Measurement Unit is in communication with a device module configured to command at least one actuator of a prosthetic device. The at least one Inertial Measurement unit sends output signals related to orientation of the user's foot to the device module and the device module controls the at least one actuator of the prosthetic device based on the signals from the at least one Inertial Measurement Unit. | 02-05-2015 |
20150073566 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TERRAIN TRANSITIONS - A prosthetic or orthotic system including a sensor module and a processing module usable to determine a terrain variable, such as a terrain transition. In certain examples, the system is capable of anticipating a terrain transition prior to the user experiencing the terrain transition, which may include, for instance, a transition from level ground walking to walking on stairs or may include a change in a slope of the ground surface. In certain embodiments, the system advantageously monitors a posture and/or movement of the patient to anticipate the terrain transition. Furthermore, the system may control an actuator to appropriately adjust the prosthetic or orthotic device to encounter the anticipated terrain transition. | 03-12-2015 |
20150088269 | WEARABLE ROBOTS AND CONTROL METHODS THEREOF - A wearable robot may comprise: a robot unit including machinery configured to assist a wearer's muscular strength; at least one first sensor provided on the wearer's knees and configured to detect the wearer's motion of pressing the wearer's knees; and/or a controller configured to judge whether or not the wearer intends to stand up based on information detected using the at least one first sensor, and configured to transmit a control signal to assist corresponding muscular strength to the robot unit upon judging that the wearer intends to stand up. | 03-26-2015 |
20150100135 | UTILITY GEAR INCLUDING CONFORMAL SENSORS - A system includes a plurality of conformal sensors and a central controller. Each conformal sensor includes a processing portion and an electrode portion. The electrode portion is configured to substantially conform to a portion of an outer skin surface of a subject and to sense electrical pulses generated by muscle tissue of the subject. The sensed electrical pulses are transmitted from the electrode portion to the processing portion as raw analog signals for onboard processing thereof by the processing portion of the conformal sensor. The processing portion is configured to create digital signals representative of the raw analog signals. The central controller is coupled to each of the plurality of conformal sensors and is configured to receive the digital signals from each of the plurality of conformal sensors. | 04-09-2015 |
20150112448 | Hybrid Prosthetic Hand - A hybrid prosthetic hand is detailed which is controlled via input from both sEMG signals, as well as mechanical control from the elbow and shoulder of an amputee. The device is equipped with mechanical fingers, which are driven by electrical motors, and controlled via microcontrollers. The mechanical fingers are designed to form a variety of shapes and provide variable force in accordance with the contextual desires of the amputee, which are conveyed to the device primarily through the movement of the shoulder and/or elbow of the amputee. The instructions sent to the mechanical fingers of the device by the shoulder or elbow is augmented by instructions provided via sEMG signals. | 04-23-2015 |
20150127119 | Impedance Parameter Power Control for Lower Limb Assistive Device - Systems and methods are described that relate to the control of a powered lower limb assistive device with one or more joints, where a controller of the assistive device is configured to receive one or more user-generated signals, determine control information using information in the one or more user-generated signals, select one or more joint impedance parameters of the assistive device for adjustment, and, for a mode and state of the assistive device, adjust the selected joint impedance parameters as a function of the control information. Additionally, systems and methods are described that relate to the control of such an assistive device, where a controller of the assistive device is configured to receive one or more user-generated signals containing information about the ankle angle of the assistive device, and adjust the stiffness of the ankle joint of the assistive device as a function of the ankle angle. | 05-07-2015 |
20150142129 | Adaptive Stimulation Apparatus and Technique - In that stimulating muscle within a socket may create additional pressure within the socket that is disrelated to external forces operative on the socket, corruption of pressure measurements within the socket may occur from stimulation, even though negative pressure differential on the side opposing, or furthest from the stimulation area, is explicitly used so as to avoid this corruption. An embodiment of the invention provides removal from the total pressure measurement that portion which is known to be resultant of muscle contraction. This stabilizes overall system control through improving input signal quality. Other embodiments are described herein. | 05-21-2015 |
20150142130 | MOVEMENT ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Methods for the control of an exoskeleton comprising at least one powered joint associated with lower limbs of a user and control systems therefrom are provided. A method includes estimating a configuration of a body of the user associated with the exoskeleton with respect to a gravity vector and computing a first control torque for the at least one powered joint that at least partially compensates gravitational dynamics of the user based on the configuration. The method further includes calculating a gravitational energy gradient for the at least one powered joint, attenuating the first control torque based at least on the gravitational energy gradient to yield a second control torque, and applying a final control torque at the at least one powered joint, the final control torque based, at least in part, on the second control torque. | 05-21-2015 |
20150313728 | AUTOMATIC PROSTHESIS FOR ABOVE-KNEE AMPUTEES - A above knee prosthesis (P) applied to femoral connection ( | 11-05-2015 |
20150320575 | INTUITIVE PROSTHETIC INTERFACE - A prosthetic device is controlled based on measured electrical signals corresponding to muscle activity in a lower-extremity anatomical analog to a dysfunctional or absent portion of an upper extremity of an individual. In particular, an activity monitoring device measures electrical signals corresponding to muscle activity in the lower-extremity anatomical analog. Then, a communication device communicates information specifying the electrical signals to a pattern-recognition device. The pattern-recognition device identifies a natural mode of movement of the lower-extremity anatomical analog based on the information. For example, the natural mode of movement may be identified using a pattern-recognition technique. Next, the pattern-recognition device provides a control signal to a prosthetic device associated with the dysfunctional or absent portion of the upper extremity, where the control signal specifies a natural mode of movement of the prosthetic device that is an analog to the natural mode of movement of the lower-extremity anatomical analog. | 11-12-2015 |
20150328020 | PROSTHETIC FOOT WITH REMOVABLE FLEXIBLE MEMBERS - A prosthetic foot can include an attachment member, at least one first brace, at least one first flexible member, an unpowered actuator, at least one second brace, and at least one second flexible member. The attachment member can include a connector configured to connect the attachment member to a user or another prosthetic device. The at least one first brace can mount to the attachment member and the at least one first flexible member can connect to the attachment member by the at least one first brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one first flexible member. The unpowered actuator can mount to the attachment member and the at least one second brace can mounted to the actuator. The at least one second flexible member can connect to the attachment member by the at least one second brace such that a force between the ground and the attachment member can be supported by the at least one second flexible member. | 11-19-2015 |
20150351935 | PROSTHETIC HAND SYSTEM - A prosthetic hand structure including at least one mechanical finger having a metacarpal support and a proximal stiff link connected to the metacarpal support by a proximal cylindrical joint. The mechanical finger includes a transmission member connected to the proximal stiff link. The transmission member includes a worm screw integral to the proximal stiff link. The transmission member includes a flexible rack having a first end portion, pivotally connected to the metacarpal support, and a second end portion arranged to engage with the threaded profile of the worm screw at an engagement zone of the flexible rack. The structure also includes an actuator mounted to the mechanical finger and to actuate the worm screw, causing it to rotate about its rotation axis, in such a way that, when the actuator moves the worm screw, the mechanical finger extends or flexes. | 12-10-2015 |
20150374515 | Prosthetics - Methods of operating a prosthesis ( | 12-31-2015 |
20160051383 | COORDINATED CONTROL FOR AN ARM PROSTHESIS - A control method for an arm prosthesis having at least one powered joint and at least one inertial measurement sensor (IMS) includes determining a motion and an orientation of the arm prosthesis relative to the inertial reference frame based at least on an output of the IMS and generating control signals for the at least one powered joint based on the motion and the orientation of the prosthetic arm. | 02-25-2016 |
20160051824 | MEDICAL IMPLANT - A medical implant including an implant body for insertion into a human and/or animal body. The implant body includes at least one first and at least one second contact portion, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second contact portions contact two tissue regions performing a relative movement with respect to one another. The at least one first and the at least one second contact portions are movable relative to one another, wherein a relative movement of the contact portions may be converted into an electrical signal. | 02-25-2016 |
20160067137 | SELF CONTAINED POWERED EXOSKELETON WALKER FOR A DISABLED USER - A walker for use by a mobility impaired disabled user. The walker supports the user while moving them through a set of movements correlating to a walking motion. The walker includes an exoskeleton, a power source in the form of a battery pack or other similar onboard power pack together with its associated power supply cables, and a control system | 03-10-2016 |
20160074181 | Systems And Methods For Postural Control Of A Multi-Function Prosthesis - Systems and methods for postural control of a multi-function prosthesis are provided. Various embodiments provide for a postural controller that use EMG signals to drive a point in a posture space and outputs continuously varying joint angles for a powered prosthetic hand. The postural controller can include an EMG signal processing unit to receive signals from electrodes for processing (e.g., band pass filtering, rectification, root mean square averaging, dynamic tuning, etc.). The processed EMG signals can then be combined or converted to produce a point in the postural control domain. The PC domain map defines the posture that corresponds to each PC cursor coordinate. This map can have limitless possible postures and limitless possible positions of the postures. The Joint Angle Transform converts the PC cursor coordinate into the joint angle array which is sent to the prosthetic hand thereby creating more natural movements. | 03-17-2016 |
20160106616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOGNIZING USER MOTION - A method and apparatus for recognizing a motion of a user are provided. The apparatus may map each of right leg angle information and left leg angle information to context information by comparing each of the right leg angle information and left leg angle information to a comparison value and/or preset threshold, may generate a motion event corresponding to the context information based on a criterion, and may recognize the motion of the user based on the motion event and a previous motion of the user. | 04-21-2016 |
20160143751 | METHOD FOR AMPLIFYING SIGNALS FROM INDIVIDUAL NERVE FASCICLES - The present disclosure provides methods and systems for receiving, with processing circuitry of an implant device, an electrical signal from a free tissue graft attached to a portion of a nerve (e.g., a nerve branch or fascicle) through an electrical conductor in electrical communication with the free tissue graft (e.g., muscle graft), the nerve having reinnervated the free tissue graft. The electrical signal from the free tissue graft has a voltage amplitude of greater than or equal to about 150 microvolts. The processing circuitry stores signal data corresponding to the electrical signal from the free tissue graft in a memory accessible to the processing circuitry. | 05-26-2016 |
20160158033 | Powered prosthetic devices using EMG-based locomotion state classifier - Real-time control of a prosthetic device using EMG-based locomotion state classification computes a histogram [ | 06-09-2016 |
20160166409 | JOINTED MECHANICAL DEVICES | 06-16-2016 |
20160199203 | DETERMINATION SYSTEM, CONTROL SIGNAL OUTPUT SYSTEM, REHABILITATION SYSTEM, DETERMINATION METHOD, CONTROL SIGNAL OUTPUT METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM SIGNAL ACQUISITION SYSTEM | 07-14-2016 |
20190142613 | HYBRID AUGMENTED REALITY MULTIMODAL OPERATION NEURAL INTEGRATION ENVIRONMENT | 05-16-2019 |
20220133510 | SENSOR FOR PROSTHETIC CONTROL - A sensor assembly for a prosthetic or orthotic device (POD) may include a housing and a support. The housing may be attached with the POD. The support may be moveably connected with the housing such that the support may move relative to the housing. The support may form an enclosure with the housing. Within the enclosure, the sensor assembly may include one or more sensors and a circuit board. The one or more sensors may include one or more of an inertial measurement unit, an electromyography sensor, or a distance sensor such as a magnetic sensor and a magnet. The circuit board may be attached with the support and in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors. Movement of the support may cause the sensors to move which may be detected for control of the POD. The sensor assembly may be attached to an arm or other prosthetic socket for detection of natural limb movements. | 05-05-2022 |