METHOD TO MOVE AND HOLD A PHALANX

• US 20130041476A1
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stefan Schulz
• Original Assignee: Stefan Schulz
• Inventors: SCHULZ, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,072,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/586 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5038 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5079 Leaf springs A61F2002/6657 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/6818 for braking
• 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 2002/762 for measuring dimensions, e.g. a distance
• 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

Abstract

A method for movement of at least a finger limb whereby, in order to maintain a position of the finger limb, the electric motor is supplied with a current. In order to maintain a position of the finger limb, the electric motor is supplied the with less energy than the current which is supplied to the electric motor for moving the finger limb.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method for movement of at least a finger limb for maintaining a finger position, in which the finger limb comprises an electric motor, the method comprising the step of:

supplying the electric motor with a current, whereby the current supplies the electric motor with lesser energy than the current which is supplied to the electric motor for the moving the finger limb.

13. The method for movement of at least the finger limb according to claim 12, further comprising the step of positioning the electric motor within the finger limb.

14. The method for movement of at least the finger limb according to claim 12, further comprising the step of transferring rotation movement of the shaft of the electric motor to a first bevel gear.

15. The method for movement of at least the finger limb according to claim 13, further comprising the step of meshing the first bevel gear with a second bevel gear and fixedly connecting the second bevel gear fixed via a pivoting axle.

16. The method for movement of at least the finger limb according to claim 14, further comprising the step of connecting the second bevel gear with at least one of a basic element and a second finger limb.

17. The method for movement of at least the finger limb according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of capturing movement of the finger limb via a motion sensor and increasing the current if the finger limb unintentionally moves.

18. A finger limb comprising:

an electric motor for moving a finger limb

a control and/or regulating element for controlling and regulating, by a current characteristic, a current which is supplied to the electric motor,

the control and/or regulating element supplying the electric motor with a current for moving and for position holding of the finger limb, but that the controlled and/or regulated current characteristic for the holding of the finger element is supplied in such a way that the electric motor receives a small supplied current.

19. The finger limb according to claim 18, wherein the current characteristic comprises at least one of a current intensity, a voltage and a frequency.

20. The finger limb according to claim 18, wherein the electric motor is functionally connected with a bevel gear and the bevel gear meshes with a second bevel gear, whereby the second bevel gear is fixedly positioned, relative to the finger limb, with a pivotable element and the rotation axis of the second bevel gear is the pivoting axis of the finger limb.

21. The finger limb according to claim 18, wherein the rotation axis of the second bevel gear is vertically positioned with reference to the rotation axis of the first bevel gear.

22. The finger limb according to claim 18, wherein the rotation axis of the second bevel gear has an offset in a plane with reference to the rotation axis of the first bevel gear so that the rotation axes do not intersect.

23. A prosthesis with at least a finger limb and an electric motor, positioned within the finger limb, for driving the finger limb, and

a prosthesis base element around which the finger limb pivots,

wherein a non-locking transmission is located between the finger limb and the base element.