System and method for improving the functionality of prostheses
First Claim
1. A method for providing sensory feedback from an external prosthesis to an amputee by performing the steps of:
- reinnervating a portion of the skin of the amputee with nerves that formerly provided sensory feedback from a lost limb replaced by the prosthesis;
providing a sensory indication from the prosthesis; and
using the sensory indication to produce a corresponding sensory condition adjacent the surface of the reinnervated skin to provide the sensory feedback to the amputee.
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Abstract
A system and method for improving the functionality of a prosthesis used by an amputee in which a portion of the user'"'"'s skin is reinnervated with nerves that formerly provided sensory feedback from the lost limb, providing a haptic indication from the prosthesis, and providing a corresponding haptic effect at the surface of the reinnervated skin. The reinnvervated skin provides transfer sensation that supplies the user with the psychological reassurance of sensing touch in the prosthesis while helping to meet the practical needs of enabling goal confirmation and the application and sensing of graded pressure in the prosthesis.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for providing sensory feedback from an external prosthesis to an amputee by performing the steps of:
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reinnervating a portion of the skin of the amputee with nerves that formerly provided sensory feedback from a lost limb replaced by the prosthesis;
providing a sensory indication from the prosthesis; and
using the sensory indication to produce a corresponding sensory condition adjacent the surface of the reinnervated skin to provide the sensory feedback to the amputee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for providing sensory feedback to an amputee using an external prosthesis to enhance the functionality thereof comprising:
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a portion of the skin of the amputee reinnervated with nerves that formerly provided sensory feedback from a lost limb replaced by the prosthesis;
a temperature or pressure sensor located on the prosthesis;
an actuator positioned adjacent the reinnervated skin to apply pressure, vibration, heating or cooling thereto; and
means coupling the sensor and actuator to produce a sensory condition at the actuator corresponding to the pressure, vibration or temperature sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification