ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED PROSTHETIC SYSTEM

• US 20090030530A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James J. Martin
• Original Assignee: James J. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, James J.
• Application Number:
  US12/185,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4851 Prosthesis assessment or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/581 Shoulder joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/582 Elbow joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/605 Hip joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/64 Knee joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/6607 Ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/72 Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5004 operated by electro- or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5033 for adjusting damping damping means A61F2002/5003
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5035 for adjusting volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5049 Computer aided shaping, e.g. rapid prototyping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6621 Toes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6642 Heels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6685 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6827 : Feedback system for providing user sensation, e.g. by force, contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 : operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 : computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 : Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7625 : for measuring angular position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/764 : for measuring acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7645 : for measuring torque, e.g. hinge or turning moment, moment of force
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7665 : for measuring temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/769 : Displaying measured values

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.

Claims

1. A prosthetic limb system including:

a sensor for detecting or quantifying an operational characteristic of said limb, said sensor including a nanoscale material therein.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said nanoscale material includes carbon nanotubes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is operable to control an operational characteristic of said prosthetic limb.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is operable to generate data corresponding to the motion of said limb.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is disposed on or in said prosthetic limb.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is disposed on a portion of the user'"'"'s body separate from said prosthetic limb.

7. A prosthetic foot wherein a user can selectively control the foot dorsiflexion angle.

8. The foot of claim 7, wherein said user may control said dorsiflexion angle via a graphic interface.

9. The prosthetic foot of claim 7, wherein the user may control said dorsiflexion angle via a software program.

10. A prosthetic limb which includes one or more of:

a compliant hydraulic element;

an augmentable power system which provides a portion of the motive force required for a user to use said limb;

a microprocessor which includes a learning algorithm therein for controlling the operation of said limb;

a dynamic balancing system for sensing one or more of torque, balance, and inclination of said limb, said system being further operable to activate a controller in response thereto.