| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 623026000 | HAVING FLUID ACTUATOR | 33 |
| 20080269911 | PNEUMATIC CONNECTIONS FOR PROSTHETIC SOCKET - A connector for fluidly connecting the sealed interior of an artificial limb socket with a pressure source when the connector is mounted to the socket at a hole and an artificial limb including same. The connector includes a flexible elongated tubular section having a lumen, a flange coupled to one end of the elongated tubular section, the flange having a seal surface for sealingly abutting one of the socket wall surfaces around the hole, and a tubular portion adjacent to the flange and extending the lumen from the seal surface of the flange. Tubular portion has at least one section oversized relative to hole which provides a reasonable air-tight seal between the at least one section and an inner surface of the hole or the other of said socket wall surfaces around the hole and distant from the flange, when the tubular portion is received within the hole. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090171469 | INTELLIGENT ORTHOSIS - 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. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090204229 | 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. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090204230 | Orthopedic Foot Part and Method for Controlling an Artificial Foot - The invention relates to an orthopedic foot device with a connection part for the lower leg, a swivel joint ( | 08-13-2009 |
| 20100010641 | EXTERNAL WALKING ASSIST DEVICE FOR THOSE WITH LOWER LEG INJURIES - A walking assist device, which is to be worn on a person's leg, includes a shank link, a thigh member, and a knee mechanism. The thigh member is in contact with the person's thigh when the device is worn on the person's leg. The knee mechanism rotatably connects the shank link to the thigh member. When the shank link is in contact with the ground, the knee mechanism is configured to resist the rotation of the shank link relative to the thigh member to prevent the person's foot from contacting the ground and reduces ground reaction forces entering the person's foot. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100138000 | NOVEL ENHANCED METHODS FOR MIMICKING HUMAN GAIT WITH PROSTHETIC KNEE DEVICES - A prosthetic knee provides a single axis of rotation and includes a hydraulic damping cylinder, a microprocessor, and sensors. Based on input from the sensors, the microprocessor selects a flow path within the hydraulic cylinder in order to provide the proper amount of knee resistance to bending for a given situation. The resistance of each flow path within the hydraulic cylinder is manually preset. Changes in gait speed are accommodated by employing a hydraulic damper with intelligently designed position sensitive damping. Moreover, the knee need not be un-weighted to transition from the stance phase to the swing phase of gait. As a result, the knee safely provides a natural, energy efficient gait over a range of terrains and gait speeds and is simpler, less costly, and lighter weight than the prior art. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100249948 | WRIST ASSISTING APPARATUS - A wrist assisting apparatus can smoothly bend and stretch a joint even if a turning shaft of a joint and a rotation shaft of a wearing tool are deviated from each other. Also, an excessive load is not applied to a user. The wrist assisting apparatus of the present invention includes a palm support member for supporting a hand, angle changing members connected to sides of the palm support member, a front arm wearing tool disposed along the front arm, and joint members for forming a rotation shaft of the angle changing member with respect to the front arm wearing tool, wherein the angle changing members are provided on both sides of the palm support member, the joint members are provided on the angle changing members, respectively, and the joint members are located on both sides of a wrist. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100268352 | Artificial muscles - An artificial muscle ( | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110160871 | SELF-ALIGNING PROSTHESIS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATORS - A hydraulic device includes a first plate that pivots in a first direction, a second plate that pivots in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first hydraulic system comprising a first cylinder and piston, a second cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the first cylinder to the second cylinder, the first hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the first cylinder and second cylinder pivots the first plate, and a second hydraulic system comprising a third cylinder and piston, a fourth cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the third cylinder to the fourth cylinder, the second hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the third cylinder and fourth cylinder pivots the second plate. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110196509 | HYDRAULIC APPARATUS WITH DIRECT TORQUE CONTROL - A hydraulic apparatus has a cam body rotatable about an axis and with at least two mirror image involute cam surfaces on opposing sides of the axis. Hydraulic actuators on opposing sides of the axis have a linearly extendable ram and a hydraulic cylinder. A fluid supply line is provided for delivering a pressurized fluid equally to each of the cylinders. A pressure relief or flow control valve is associated with each of the hydraulic cylinders and is operable to selectively assume a closed position to retain fluid or assume an open position to release fluid from the hydraulic cylinders. A control can operate the pressure relief valves between at least the closed and open positions, to move the rams out of and in to the cylinders to rotate the cam body about the axis with controlled torque. A robotic, prosthetic or orthotic and a method for applying torque to a body are also disclosed. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110307078 | HYDRAULIC PROSTHETIC JOINT - The present invention relates to artificial limbs generally and to joints for the same. In particular, the present invention provides hydraulic functional units ( | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120203358 | MESOFLUIDIC CONTROLLED ROBOTIC OR PROSTHETIC FINGER - A mesofluidic powered robotic and/or prosthetic finger joint includes a first finger section having at least one mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a first actuator, a second mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a second actuator and a second prosthetic finger section pivotally connected to the first finger section by a joint pivot, wherein the first actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger to provide a first mechanical advantage relative to the joint point and wherein the second actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger section to provide a second mechanical advantage relative to the joint point. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20130013085 | MODELING AND DESIRED CONTROL OF AN ENERGY-STORING PROSTHETIC KNEE - An energy-storing prosthetic knee includes an upper leg structure and a lower leg structure hingedly connected to the upper leg structure. The lower and upper leg structures move pivotally relative to one another. A fluid actuator is operatively connected to the upper and lower leg structures such that relative pivotal movement of the upper and lower leg structures causes a fluid to flow in a predetermined manner within the fluid actuator. At least two controllable variable fluid flow resisting devices, an accumulator, and a control system are also provided. The control system is actuable to cause storage of the fluid energy for a predetermined length of time and release of the fluid energy at a predetermined time during the gait cycle. Both the storage and release of the fluid energy are variable by action of the control system without physical modification of other components of the prosthetic knee. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130053980 | DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING ENERGY TO HYDRAULICALLY OR PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED ACTIVE IMPLANTS - A device for supplying energy to hydraulically or pneumatically actuated active implants. The device can take the form of pumping systems, metering systems, and/or occlusion systems. The device comprises a receiving coil for generating an electric voltage due to a changing magnetic flux that is generated by an extracorporeal transmitting coil. The receiving coil is designed such that said coil can be implanted into subcutaneous tissue. Furthermore, an electric line is provided for transmitting the electric current that is generated by the receiving coil from the receiving coil to the active implant. The device further comprises a compensation container for temporarily receiving a transmitter fluid, by means of which the active implant is activated. The compensating container is mounted on the receiving coil and/or on the electric line such that the compensating container together with the receiving coil and/or the electric line can be implanted into a common tissue or muscle pocket in the body of a patient. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130073056 | DORSI-PLANTAR PROSTHETIC ANKLE MODULE - An ankle module for a prosthetic foot can have an adapter portion pivotally coupled to a base portion. The base portion can be coupled to the prosthetic foot. The adapter portion can have a coupling member that removably couples the prosthetic foot to a prosthetic pylon or socket. The adapter portion can also have cylinders housing pistons slidably displaceable within the cylinders. An actuator is selectively actuatable to place the cylinders in fluid communication, allowing a fluid to flow between the cylinders as an angular position of the adapter portion is adjusted relative to the base portion, thereby adjusting the dorsi-plantar position between the adapter portion and the base portion of the ankle module. The actuator can be selectively actuatable to fluidly isolate the cylinders from each other so that the angular position of the adapter portion relative to the base portion remains substantially fixed. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130204395 | COMBINED ACTIVE AND PASSIVE LEG PROSTHESIS SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR PERFORMING A MOVEMENT WITH SUCH A SYSTEM - A lower limb prosthesis system and a method of controlling the prosthesis system to replace a missing lower extremity of an individual and perform a gait cycle are disclosed. The prosthesis system has a controller, one or more sensors, a prosthetic foot, and a movable ankle joint member coupled to the prosthetic foot. The movable ankle joint member comprises a hydraulic damping system that provides the ankle joint member damping resistance. The controller varies the damping resistance by providing volumetric flow control to the hydraulic damping system based on sensor data. In one embodiment, the hydraulic damping system comprises a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly, hydraulic fluid, and a valve to regulate the fluid. In one embodiment, the controller alters the damping resistance by modulating the valve to vary the hydraulic fluid flow within the hydraulic piston cylinder assembly of the movable ankle joint member based on sensor data. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130268091 | ADJUSTMENT-FREE MULTI-STAGE PROSTHESIS AIR CYLINDER AND MULTI-STAGE AIR PRESSURE VALVE THEREOF - An adjustment-free multi-stage prosthesis air cylinder comprises an air cylinder body, a piston, a first check valve and a multi-stage air pressure valve. The inner of the air cylinder body forms an air chamber and a lower air way. One end of the piston is slidably disposed in the air chamber and divides the air chamber into an upper air chamber and a lower air chamber, the other end of the piston extends to the outside; the inner of the piston forms an upper air way which is communicated with the outside and the upper air chamber, while the lower air way is communicated with the lower air chamber. The piston makes a reciprocating movement in the air chamber, and the first check valve is disposed in the piston to optionally connect the upper air way with the lower air way. The multi-stage air pressure valve is disposed in the lower air way. With the arrangement of the multi-stage air pressure valve, the users can easily obtain different walking speeds without changing the air cylinder or setting the operational mode. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130317627 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM PROSTHETIC LIMBS - An apparatus for harvesting energy from motion of a prosthetic limb, wherein the prosthetic limb has motion in at least one degree of freedom, may include a hydraulic amplifier mechanically coupled with a generator. The hydraulic amplifier may include an input member configured to receive an input motion when a first motion in a degree of freedom of the prosthetic limb causes pressure and motion of hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic amplifier is configured to amplify the input motion of the input member to a greater output motion. The generator is configured to convert mechanical energy of the output motion into corresponding electrical energy delivered to one of an electrical load and an electrical storage reservoir. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130317628 | SELF-ALIGNING PROSTHESIS WITH HYDRAULIC ACTUATORS - A hydraulic device includes a first plate that pivots in a first direction, a second plate that pivots in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a first hydraulic system comprising a first cylinder and piston, a second cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the first cylinder to the second cylinder, the first hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the first cylinder and second cylinder pivots the first plate, and a second hydraulic system comprising a third cylinder and piston, a fourth cylinder and piston and, channels connecting the third cylinder to the fourth cylinder, the second hydraulic system filled with hydraulic fluid, wherein the transfer of fluid between the third cylinder and fourth cylinder pivots the second plate. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130331949 | FREEFORM FLUIDICS - A robotic, prosthetic or orthotic member includes a body formed of a solidified metallic powder. At least one working fluid cylinder is formed in the body. A piston is provided in the working fluid cylinder for pressurizing a fluid in the cylinder. At least one working fluid conduit receives the pressurized fluid from the cylinder. The body, working fluid cylinder and working fluid conduit have a unitary construction. A method of making a robotic member is also disclosed. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20150305895 | ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE - The invention relates to an orthopaedic device for the orthotic or prosthetic provision of a patient with •a knee joint ( | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150305896 | Prosthetic System - A prosthetic device having a housing, an axle, at least three housing vanes, a flow medium and a valve. The axle is disposed within the housing and moveable independently of the housing. The axle has an axle reservoir and at least three axle vanes extending from the axle to contact the chamber wall. The three housing vanes extend from a chamber wall and contact the axle. A first opening and a second opening are formed in each axle vane. The flow medium is contained entirely within the chamber and the axle reservoir. The valve is disposed in the axle and operable in response to movement of the axle in a first direction relative to the housing to allow the flow medium to enter the axle reservoir from the chamber for storage under pressure. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150320573 | COMBINED ACTIVE AND PASSIVE LEG PROSTHESIS SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR PERFORMING A MOVEMENT WITH SUCH A SYSTEM - A lower limb prosthesis system and a method of controlling the prosthesis system to replace a missing lower extremity of an individual and perform a gait cycle are disclosed. The prosthesis system has a controller, one or more sensors, a prosthetic foot, and a movable ankle joint member coupled to the prosthetic foot. The movable ankle joint member comprises a hydraulic damping system that provides the ankle joint member damping resistance. The controller varies the damping resistance by providing volumetric flow control to the hydraulic damping system based on sensor data. In one embodiment, the hydraulic damping system comprises a hydraulic piston cylinder assembly, hydraulic fluid, and a valve to regulate the fluid. In one embodiment, the controller alters the damping resistance by modulating the valve to vary the hydraulic fluid flow within the hydraulic piston cylinder assembly of the movable ankle joint member based on sensor data. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150320574 | PROSTHETIC WITH VOICE COIL VALVE - A prosthetic includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150351936 | PORTABLE PROSTHETIC HAND WITH SOFT PNEUMATIC FINGERS - A finger actuator, includes a plurality of fluidically interconnected inflatable chambers, wherein each chamber comprises outer walls having an embedded extensible layer selected to constrain radial expansion and freestanding inner walls; and an inextensible layer connected to the chambers at a base of the chambers, the inextensible layer comprising a flexible polymer and having an embedded inextensible layer that extends along the length of the finger actuator. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150351938 | PROSTHETIC ANKLE AND FOOT COMBINATION - A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping resistances in the plantar-flexion and dorsi-flexion directions. An electronic control system coupled to the ankle joint mechanism includes at least one sensor for generating signals indicative of a kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion, the mechanism and the control system being arranged such that the damping resistances effective over the range of motion of the ankle are adapted automatically in response to such signals. Single and dual piston hydraulic damping arrangements are disclosed, including arrangements allowing independent heel-height adjustment. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150359698 | Actuators and Methods of Use - Actuators and methods of use are provided. An actuator may comprise an inner member made from an elastic material and defining a compartment for receiving an actuating fluid, the inner member being moveable in a longitudinal direction from a relaxed state to an expanded state by introducing an actuating fluid into the inner member; and an outer member made from an inelastic material and being disposed around the elastic inner member to control expansion of the elastic inner member in a radial direction, the outer member being moveable from a folded relaxed configuration to an unfolded extended configuration as the inner member moves from the relaxed state to the expanded state, wherein the movement of the actuator between the relaxed state and the expanded state causes a movement of a structure to which the actuator is attached. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20160000583 | ADAPTIVE COMPRESSION PROSTHETIC SOCKET SYSTEM AND METHOD - An incompressible fluid is used to adjust fit for a prosthetic device, the use of a closed loop control system and force, motion, and position measurement to aid with algorithms controlling the fit of the prosthetic device to a residual limb. Embodiments include automatic actuation, based on triggering of threshold values from sensors, a powered full release feature, use of hydraulic transducers to transfer fluid pressure to force on a limb, and customizable pressure distribution pads and embedded valves in transducers to prevent backflow and allow stabilization of the residual limb. A retrofit system may be used for existing prosthetic sockets. A triggering algorithm utilizes measured force exceeding a threshold or thresholds with a characteristic pulse signature and a triggering of release based on a combination of total motion and measured force below a threshold or thresholds. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160051381 | DORSI-PLANTAR PROSTHETIC ANKLE MODULE - An ankle module for a prosthetic foot can have an adapter portion pivotally coupled to a base portion. The base portion can be coupled to the prosthetic foot. The adapter portion can have a coupling member that removably couples the prosthetic foot to a prosthetic pylon or socket. The adapter portion can also have cylinders housing pistons slidably displaceable within the cylinders. An actuator is selectively actuatable to place the cylinders in fluid communication, allowing a fluid to flow between the cylinders as an angular position of the adapter portion is adjusted relative to the base portion, thereby adjusting the dorsi-plantar position between the adapter portion and the base portion of the ankle module. The actuator can be selectively actuatable to fluidly isolate the cylinders from each other so that the angular position of the adapter portion relative to the base portion remains substantially fixed. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160058647 | PNEUMATIC ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC EXOSKELETON - The invention relates to a pneumatic, electromyographic exoskeleton. The exoskeleton includes a rigid frame designed to be secured to at least a portion of a user's body, a number of pneumatic actuators, each fixed to opposite sides of a hinge on the rigid frame; a storage tank designed to store compressed air to power the pneumatic actuators; valves coupled to the pneumatic actuators to control activation of the pneumatic actuators; electromyographic (EMG) sensors for sensing EMG signals in skeletal muscles of the user; differential amplifiers for amplifying each EMG signal to generate an amplified EMG signal; and a microprocessor programmed to receive the amplified EMG signals and to output activation signals for the pneumatic actuators. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160199202 | PUMP MECHANISM | 07-14-2016 |
| 20170231787 | ACTUATOR DEVICE, POWER ASSIST ROBOT AND HUMANOID ROBOT | 08-17-2017 |
| 20190142611 | A PROSTHETIC ANKLE AND FOOT COMBINATION | 05-16-2019 |
