ARM PROSTHETIC DEVICE

• US 20110257765A1
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Coulter, Stewart M., Violette, Keith D., Evans, Christopher O., Doyon, Thomas A., van der Merwe, Dirk A., Blumberg, David JR., Perry, N. Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,979,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/54 Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/581 Shoulder joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/582 Elbow joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/585 Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/586 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/68 Operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/78 Means for protecting prostheses or for attaching them to the body, e.g. bandages, harnesses, straps, or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5001 Cosmetic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5061 the sense of touch
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5083 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/587 Thumbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6836 Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6845 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6881 optical
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7862 : Harnesses or straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0074 : Torque-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/008 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0009 : comprising multi-articulated fingers, e.g. resembling a human hand
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 18/00 : Arms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/105 : the intermediate members being of circular cross-section, of only one size and wedging by rolling movement not having an axial component between inner and outer races, one of which is cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/12 : with hinged pawl co-operating with teeth, cogs, or the like F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence

Abstract

A prosthetic arm apparatus including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a prosthetic support apparatus that may be adorned by the user. Some segments may provide movement about more than one axis using a single actuator. The prosthetic arm apparatus may include a user interface incorporated therein and may include one or more communication systems for communicating with external devices.

Claims

1. A compound motion assembly comprising:

an input member; and

an output member moveably coupled to the input member;

wherein actuation of the compound motion assembly generates movement of the output member relative to the input member along a compound motion path having motion about at least two axes.

2. The compound motion assembly according to claim 1, additionally comprising a drive arrangement for controlling movement of the output member relative to the input member.

3. The compound motion assembly according to claim 2, wherein the rate of motion about each axis varies as the drive arrangement is actuated at a constant rate.

4. A compound motion assembly providing a two-axis compound motion through a pre-determined path, the compound motion assembly comprising:

an input member;

an output member moveably coupled to the input member through at least a first joint having a first axis and a second joint having a second axis, the first and second joints being connected in series;

a path member having a fixed path profile formed therein, the path member fixedly coupled to the input member; and

a follower member coupled to the output member and engaging the fixed path profile of the path member;

wherein actuation of the compound motion assembly generates pivotal movement of the output member relative to the input member about both the first axis and the second axis along the pre-determined path.

5. The compound motion assembly according to claim 4, additionally comprising a drive arrangement driving the compound motion assembly through one of the first or second joints to cause movement of the output member.

6. A prosthetic limb segment comprising:

a housing having an input interface and an output interface, the output interface and input interface being moveable with respect to one another;

a motorized drive disposed within the housing, the motorized drive effecting movement of at least one of the output interface or the input interface; and

a controller disposed within the housing for controlling actuation of the motorized drive;

wherein the controller is in communication with at least a second motorized drive of at least a second prosthetic limb segment to control actuation thereof.

7. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 6, additionally comprising a user interface integrally formed in the housing and in communication with the controller.

8. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having at least one LED for displaying information from the controller.

9. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 8, wherein the LED displays a current mode of operation.

10. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 8, wherein the LED provides a low power alert.

11. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 8, wherein the LED provides a system failure alert.

12. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having a plurality of LEDs for displaying information from the controller.

13. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array for displaying operational mode information from the controller.

14. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 7, wherein the user interface includes at least one input member for providing a signal to the controller.

15. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 14, wherein the signal causes the controller to alter information being displayed on a status indicator.

16. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 7, wherein the user interface includes a protective cover.

17. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is flexible to allow actuation of an input member disposed beneath the protective cover.

18. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is translucent to allow light from an LED disposed beneath the protective cover therethrough.

19. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 6, additionally comprising at least one antenna in connection with the controller for transmitting and receiving signals.

20. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 19, wherein the at least one antenna includes the housing of the prosthetic limb segment as a radiating element.

21. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 20, wherein the housing is electrically isolated from the controller.

22. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 19, wherein the at least one antenna includes a first chip antenna and a second chip antenna that are offset relative to one another.

23. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 22, wherein the first chip antenna and the second chip antenna are offset approximately 90 degrees relative to one another.

24. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 22, wherein the at least one antenna additionally includes a combiner combing signals received from the first chip antenna and the second chip antenna.

25. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 22, wherein the at least one antenna is provided on a printed circuitboard.

26. A safety mechanism for a prosthetic device having at least one motorized drive and a controller for controlling actuation of the motorized drive, the safety mechanism comprising;

an actuator electrically coupled in parallel with the controller between the motorized drive and a power source;

wherein actuation of the actuator supplies power to the motorized drive bypassing the controller and actuates the motorized drive until it reaches a safe position.

27. The safety mechanism according to claim 26, wherein the actuator includes at least two switches that are coupled to actuate simultaneously and electrically coupled in parallel;

and

wherein actuation of only one switch of the at least two switches is sufficient to actuate the motorize drive, thereby providing redundancy.

28. The safety mechanism according to claim 26, the actuator is electrically coupled in parallel with the controller between the power source and a plurality of motorized drives.