Electronically controlled prosthetic system

Abstract

A prosthetic joint system for users comprising a housing having an interior cavity, a center axis in said interior cavity, and an attachment means for fixedly connecting said housing to said user; an inner cylinder disposed in said housing interior cavity wherein said inner cylinder rotates around said center axis of said housing; an appendage attached to said inner cylinder; a sensor system attached to said appendage; and a dampening system, having a power source, in communication with said sensor system, said inner cylinder, and said housing for controlling dampening of the rotation of said inner cylinder around said center axis of said housing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A prosthetic ankle comprising:
 a frame;   a computer in communication with said frame;   a damping device in communication with said computer and said frame;   a joint connected to said frame;   a sensor for sensing plantarflexion moment information and dorsiflexion moment information in communication with said computer;   wherein said joint provides at least one axis of rotation about said prosthetic ankle and wherein said damping device facilitates resistance to said at least one axis of rotation; and   wherein said computer determines said resistance to said at least one axis of rotation with said plantarflexion moment information and said dorsiflexion moment information.