Method for controlling an orthopedic joint

A method for controlling a knee joint in a prosthesis, the prosthesis comprising:

• an upper attachment component configured to be coupled to a thigh stump;
• a lower attachment component coupled to a prosthetic foot;
• the knee joint coupled to and positioned between the upper attachment component and the lower attachment component, the knee joint being a passive knee joint;
• a passive actuator configured to adjust flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint;
• a plurality of sensors configured to detect parameters associated with the prosthesis and/or the thigh stump;
• and
• a computer unit communicatively linked to the passive actuator and the plurality of sensors, the computer unit storing criteria associating the detected parameters with a plurality of walking situations;
• wherein the walking situations include at least walking on a planar surface and climbing stairs;
• the method comprising:
• detecting the parameters associated with the prosthesis and/or the thigh stump;
• determining that the criterion for climbing stairs is most suitable based on the detected parameters;
• and
• adjusting the flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint in accordance with the criterion for climbing stairs, wherein adjusting the flexion damping and/or extension damping includes increased flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint in a set-down phase to a level above such damping in a swing phase while walking on a planar surface when an axial force drops below a fixed level.

A prosthesis comprising:

• an upper attachment component configured to be coupled to a thigh stump;
• a lower attachment component coupled to a prosthetic foot;
• a knee joint coupled to and positioned between the upper attachment component and the lower attachment component, the knee joint being a passive knee joint;
• a passive actuator configured to adjust flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint;
• a plurality of sensors configured to detect parameters associated with the prosthesis and/or the thigh stump;
• and
• a computer unit communicatively linked to the passive actuator and the plurality of sensors,
• the computer unit storing criteria associating the detected parameters with a plurality of walking situations;
• wherein the walking situations include at least walking on a planar surface and climbing stairs;
• and
• wherein the computer unit is configured to:
• detect the parameters associated with the prosthesis and/or the thigh stump;
• determine that the criterion for climbing stairs is most suitable based on the detected parameters;
• and
• adjust the flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint in accordance with the criterion for climbing stairs, wherein the computer unit is configured to increase the flexion damping and/or extension damping of the knee joint in a set-down phase in accordance with the criterion for climbing stairs to a level above such damping in a swing phase while walking on a planar surface when an axial force drops below a fixed level.