Prosthetic joint lock and cable mechanism
First Claim
1. In an artificial limb unit, a support adapted to be attached to the wearer'"'"'s body, a limb assemblage connected to said support and including a drive motor and at least one pivoted limb member, means to energize said drive motor, cable and pulley means operatively interconnecting said limb assemblage, support and pivoted limb member for rotating said limb member responsive to energization of said drive motor, and means to lock said pivoted limb member in a rotated position at the end of a predetermined timed period following energization of said motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A joint lock and cable arrangement for an externally powered prosthesis, the arrangement allowing shoulder and/or elbow joint movement of a prosthesis through the use of a single driving motor. The joint lock system includes a release solenoid and an electronic circuit which couples the solenoid and the driving motor, the release solenoid being activated to cause locking at a timed period after the motor is energized, so as to permit the desired operation of the associated joint for such timed period. The arrangement enables the use of a single motor to drive the shoulder joint and elbow joint of a prosthesis, and provides operation of a terminal device when both joints are in locked condition.
41 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. In an artificial limb unit, a support adapted to be attached to the wearer'"'"'s body, a limb assemblage connected to said support and including a drive motor and at least one pivoted limb member, means to energize said drive motor, cable and pulley means operatively interconnecting said limb assemblage, support and pivoted limb member for rotating said limb member responsive to energization of said drive motor, and means to lock said pivoted limb member in a rotated position at the end of a predetermined timed period following energization of said motor.
Specification