733 results about "Artificial limbs" patented technology

A prosthetic screw system that includes a prosthetic screw for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage. The prosthetic screw includes a head and a lower portion connected to the head. The prosthetic screw system also includes a set of head-pieces that can be connected to the head of the prosthetic screw. The head-pieces have differing configurations that are designed to be connected to different types of components of a prosthetic system. The universal connection arrangement between the prosthetic screw and the set of head-pieces enables the prosthetic screw to be customized for connection with a variety of components of a prosthetic system. The head-pieces can alternatively or additionally include a mechanical and/or electrical mechanism that provides one or more substances (e.g., medicine and/or other biological agent, etc.) and/or electrostimulation to a surgical site.

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.

Disclosed are methods and systems for a virtual reality simulation and display of limb movement that facilitate the development and fitting of prosthetic control of a paralyzed or artificial limb. The user generates command signals that are then processed by the control system. The output of the control system drives a physics-based simulation of the limb that simulates the limb to be controlled. The computed movements of the model limb are displayed to the user as a 3D animation from the perspective of the user so as to give the impression that the user is watching the actual movements of his/her own limb. The user learns to adjust his/her command signals to perform tasks successfully with the virtual limb. Alternatively or additionally, the errors produced by the virtual limb and/or the responses of the user during the training process can provide information for adapting the properties of the control system itself.

A prosthetic knee for replacing the knee of a patient including: (a) a femoral component being coupable to a resected distal end of a femur of patient; (b) a tibial component being couplable to a resected proximal end of a tibia of the patient; and (c) an insert, wherein the femoral component and the tibial component articulate by way of the insert arrangable therebetween, and a curved articular surface of the insert is adapted to pivot with respect to a corresponding curved articular surface of the tibial component.

A 3D virtual model of an intra oral cavity in which at least a part of a finish line of a preparation is obscured is manipulated in virtual space by means of a computer or the like to create, recreate or reconstruct finish line data and other geometrical corresponding to the obscured part. Trimmed virtual models, and trimmed physical models, can then be created utilizing data thus created. The virtual models and/or the physical models may be used in the design and manufacture of copings or of prostheses.

There are provided an artificial joint device that can realize an artificial limb enabling twisting motion without a drive source, and when with the drive source, reduce the size and costs of the device, and a parallel linkage that can realize the device. The linkage connects a foot portion and a mounting plate spaced from each other. A fixed link has one end fixed to the plate, and the other end connected to the foot portion via a ball joint, making the angle of the fixed link relative to the foot portion changeable in any direction. Expansible links extend between the foot portion and the plate in an expansible/contractible manner and each have opposite ends connected to the plate and the foot portion via respective upper and lower ball joints, making respective angles thereof relative to the foot portion and the plate changeable in any direction.

A positioning and buffering device of a knee joint for artificial limb is disclosed. The device comprises a knee cap head, an interlinking device including two arch plates, a buffering device including an interlinking rod, an interlinking support and a hydraulic cylinder; a spring device having a spring and a spring support; and a knee cap body module. The knee cap body is used to connect to the thigh and the lower edge of the knee cap body is for connection to the shank and the leg bottom portion. By means of the interlinking rod and the linking support, when the leg is stretched or is standing, a pressure exerted changes the angle between the interlinking rod and the interlinking support such that the knee joint is at a fixed position, the shank will not bent or knee down and the buffering device will produce a buffering and shock absorbing effect.

A wrist prosthesis has first, second, and third components that in one form are a radial component, a metacarpal component, and a bearing component. The bearing component is non-fixed or non-stationary relative to one of the radial component and the metacarpal component when the wrist prosthesis is assembled such as when implanted into a patient. As such, in one form a rotational joint or union is provided on the radial component and the bearing component. The bearing component is thus free to rotationally ride on the radial component, preferably 360° thereabout. Distal the radial component, the bearing component includes an articulation surface. The metacarpal component includes an articulation surface that is complementary to the articulation surface of the bearing component. In this manner, the metacarpal component correspondingly moves relative to the bearing component. The bearing component is preferably made of a polymer such as polyethylene.

A new method, system and apparatus is provided that enables muscle signals that correspond to muscle contractions to be mapped to one or more functions of an electronic device such as a prosthetic device or gaming apparatus. Muscle signals are classified in real-time from self-selected intentional movements. A self-training protocol allows users to select and label their own muscle contractions, and is operable to automatically determine the discernible and repeatable muscle signals generated by the user. A visual display means is used to provide visual feedback to users illustrating the responsiveness of the system to muscle signals generated by the user.

An improved prosthesis and method for stimulating vision nerves to obtain a vision sensation that is useful for the patient that has lost vision due to AMD, RP, and other diseases. The invention utilizes infrared light to cause action potentials in the retinal nerves similar to those which result from rods and cones stimulated by visible light in healthy retinas. In some embodiments, the invention provides a prosthesis that generates a stimulation pattern of infrared light from an external stimulator array through the eye and focusing the stimulation pattern of infrared light on the retina, especially the fovea. Some embodiments the invention provides improved resolution down to a group of nerves, or even the individual nerve level, with sufficient energy density so as to cause a desired action potential.

An apparatus and process for empowering those in wheelchairs and others with loss of limb control to walk, climb stairs, sit in ordinary chairs, use normal bathroom facilities and stand at normal height with their peers. It also provides a means to speed rehabilitation of the injured and a means to deliver more comfortable and effective prostheses while providing superior physical therapy without draining professional resources which includes new simulation and training means. Most of the apparatus is worn under normal clothing allowing them to enjoy a normal appearance. Additional advancements include improved actuator design, user interface, visual means and advanced responsive virtual reality.

A vacuum pump having shock absorption and controlled rotation for use in an artificial limb. The pump includes a housing having a first chamber, and a shaft configured to be received by and to reciprocate within the first chamber, the housing and shaft forming a pump chamber. A piston may be coupled to the shaft and positioned within the pump chamber, and intake and exhaust ports are fluidly coupled to the pump chamber. Rotational structure is mounted with respect to the pump to provide controlled rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, and shock absorption structure is included within the pump to provide shock absorption for the shaft. Both a pneumatic spring and a mechanical spring element may be provided for the shock absorption structure. An optional adapter couples the shaft to the pylon of an integral pylon prosthetic foot.

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.

The invention concerns an intervertebral prosthesis comprised of a first prosthetic end plate (20) and a second prosthetic end plate (30) as wall as a prosthetic core (10) located between the first prosthetic end plate (20) and the second prosthetic end plate (30), wherein the first prosthetic end plate (20) has a hemispherical shaped recess (21) with a radius (R3), in which a hemispherical segment (11) of the prosthetic core (10) engages, and wherein the second prosthetic end plate (30) has an essentially planar recess (31), in which an essentially flat segment (15) of the prosthetic core (10), connected to the hemispherical segment (11), engages, wherein the essentially flat segment (15) of the prosthetic core (10) is slideably moveable in the essentially planar recess (31).

The present invention comprises an apparatus, system and method utilizing a passive electro-magnetically damped joint for prosthetics or orthotics. Such as system may be controlled through changing the resistive nature of the circuit in which a braking or damping mechanism can sufficiently replicate and augment biomechanical movement. This may be accomplished through electronic circuitry means only, or through the use of intelligent control through a microprocessor and dynamic ambulation replication algorithms.

A vacuum-assist artificial limb assembly (10) is provided having a socket (22) for receiving a residual limb (20). The assembly (10) includes an on-board vacuum pump and control assembly (18) with a selectively operable vacuum pump (72) controlled by a microprocessor (44). The microprocessor (44) is also connected with an on-off switch (48), pressure adjust buttons (68), a pressure read-out (66), and an alarm (70). In use, a pressure transducer (74) in communication with the interior of socket (22) and coupled with microprocessor (44) monitors negative pressure conditions within the socket, and the microprocessor (44) operates pump (72) in response to transducer pressure signals. In this manner, the vacuum-assist operation of assembly (10) is essentially automatic.

The invention discloses a man-machine interactive manipulator control system and method based on binocular vision. The man-machine interactive manipulator control system is composed of a real-time image collecting device, a laser guiding device, a programmable controller and a driving device. The programmable controller is composed of a binocular three-dimensional vision module, a three-dimensional coordinate system transformation module, an inverse manipulator joint angle module and a control module. Color characteristics in a binocular image are extracted through the real-time image collecting device to be used as a signal source for controlling a manipulator, and three-dimensional information of red characteristic laser points in a view real-time image is obtained through transformation and calculation of the binocular three-dimensional vision system and a three-dimensional coordinate system and used for controlling the manipulator to conduct man-machine interactive object tracking operation. The control system and method can effectively conduct real-time tracking and extracting of a moving target object and is wide in application fields such as intelligent artificial limb installing, explosive-handling robots, manipulators helping the old and the disabled and the like.