Device at a hand prosthesis

• US 20050021155A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bergomed AB
• Original Assignee: Bergomed AB
• Inventors: Brimalm, Stellan
• Application Number:
  US10/488,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021155A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/583 Hands; Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors

Abstract

Arrangement (1) for a hand prosthesis (2), which hand prosthesis (2) is adapted to replace a lost human hand on a human or artificial lower arm (3). The arrangement (1) is mounted between a wrist part (2a) and a lower arm (3). In addition the arrangement (1) has means for effecting tilting or turning of the hand part (2) relative to the lower arm (3).

Claims

1. An arrangement for a hand prosthesis, which hand prosthesis is adapted to replace a lost human hand on a human or artificial lower arm and comprises on the one hand a wrist part and on the other hand an arm part, the arrangement being situated between the wrist part and the lower arm, wherein the arrangement has means to permit tilting and turning of the wrist part relative to the lower arm.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means comprise two substantially orthogonal shafts, around which the parts are capable of tilting or turning.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means permit simultaneous tilting and turning movements.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means comprise a drive unit.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the drive unit comprises two electric motors.

6. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the means comprise a transmission adapted to convert the energy of the drive unit for tilting and/or turning movements of the hand prosthesis relative to the arm part.

7. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the motors are capable of executing jointly at least some of the turning and tilting movements.

8. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the drive device is connected to the wrist part and is adapted to drive via a transmission means two coaxial shafts accommodated on the wrist part, which shafts are in turn capable of actuating, via outer gears, an arm cavity connected to the arm shaft, around which the arm part is able to turn, and that the wrist part is capable of tilting around the two coaxial shafts.

9. A method of effecting a movement between a wrist part and an arm part, comprising:

arranging on the wrist part two controllable motors adapted to drive two coaxial shafts aligned therewith,

arranging on each shaft a gear in a gear-type engagement with an arm cavity connected to an arm shaft,

mounting the arm shaft in the arm part, and

controlling the motors such that the gears can rotate relative to the wrist part in the same direction in order to tilt the wrist part and/or so that the gears can rotate relative to the wrist part in different directions so as to turn the wrist part relative to the arm part.