High Torque Active Mechanism for Orthotic and/or Prosthetic Devices

A prosthetic device for replacing the limb of a user, said prosthetic device comprising:

• at least one prosthetic portion;
• a prosthetic joint portion for being interposed between said prosthetic portion and another adjacent prosthetic portion or an adjacent limb segment of the user, said prosthetic joint portion providing said at least one prosthetic portion to pivot between flexion and extension movements relative to said another adjacent prosthetic portion or the adjacent limb segment of the user;
• a primary brake in operational communication with said prosthetic joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements;
• and
• an additional frictional brake in operational communication with said primary brake and with said prosthetic joint portion,
• wherein during flexion said primary brake causes said additional frictional brake to generate an additional frictional braking force on said prosthetic joint portion.

An orthotic/prosthetic device comprising:

• at least one device portion;
• a joint portion for providing for said at least one device portion to pivot between flexion and extension movements relative to another adjacent device portion or an adjacent limb segment of the user;
• a primary brake in operational communication with said joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements;
• and
• an additional frictional brake in operational communication with said primary brake and with said joint portion,
• wherein during flexion said primary brake causes said additional frictional brake to generate an additional frictional braking force on said joint portion.

A frictional braking assembly for a prosthetic/orthotic device comprising a joint portion thereof comprising a rotating member for providing flexion and extension movement of the device and a primary brake in operational communication with the joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements;

• said assembly comprising;
• a frictional member for being mounted to the rotating member, said frictional member having a free end and another opposite end fixedly mountable to the joint portion;
• and
• a brake pad assembly for being placed in operational communication with the primary brake and said frictional member,
• wherein during flexion the primary brake acts on said brake pad assembly which in turn causes said frictional member to engage the rotating member and to provide an additional frictional braking force thereon.

An orthotic/prosthetic device comprising:

• at least one device portion;
• a joint portion for providing for said at least one device portion to pivot between flexion and extension movements relative to another adjacent device portion or an adjacent limb segment of the user;
• a brake in operational communication with said joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements;
• and
• a torque sensor comprising a deformable portion mounted to said joint portion and being in operational communication with said brake and a strain-sensor in operational communication with said deformable portion,
• wherein during braking said brake provides a braking torque which is transmitted to said deformable portion causing deformation thereof, said strain-sensor providing for measuring the deformation of said deformable portion thereby allowing for determining the torque.

A torque sensor for an orthotic/prosthetic device comprising a joint portion thereof for providing flexion and extension movement of the device and a brake in operational communication with the joint portion for generating a braking force thereon during flexion and/or extension movements, said torque sensor comprising:

• a deformable portion for being mounted to the joint portion and being in put in operational communication with the brake;
• and
• a strain-sensor in operational communication with said deformable portion,
• wherein during braking the brake provides a braking torque which is transmitted to said deformable portion causing deformation thereof, said strain-sensor providing for measuring the deformation of said deformable portion thereby allowing for determining the torque.

A brake pad lever for an orthotic/prosthetic joint device comprising a joint portion thereof for providing flexion and extension movement of the device, a primary brake for generating a braking force on the joint portion during flexion and/or extension movements and a pressure pad for applying pressure to the joint portion thereby generating an additional braking force thereon, said brake pad lever comprising:

• a deformable flexure portion for being put into contact with the joint portion;
• and
• a pad engaging portion for engaging the pressure pad and being mounted to said deformable flexure portion,
• wherein when the joint portion provides a flexion movement against the braking force of the primary brake, the joint portion so acts upon said deformable flexure as to cause the deformation thereof thereby causing said pad engaging portion to act on the pressure pad so as to apply pressure on the joint portion thereby generating an additional braking force thereon.