Hand control system
First Claim
1. Hand control apparatus for a quadriplegic person comprising:
- a control sensor for sensing movement of a non-paralyzed part of the body of said person and generating a corresponding hand control signal,indicating means for indicating a reference value of said hand control signal,microprocessor means connected to said control sensor and programmed for generating hand closing commands and hand opening commends in accordance with the value of said hand control signal relative to said reference value,first stimulation means responsive to said hand closing commands for stimulating contraction of muscles connected for closing a hand of said person,second stimulation means responsive to said hand opening signals for stimulating contraction of muscles connected for opening said hand, andfeedback means for sensing movement of said hand and transmitted a feedback signal to said microprocessor in correspondence thereto;
said microprocessor being further programmed for generating said hand closing commands in correspondence with the difference between said hand control signal and said feedback signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for stimulating a grasping action by a paralyzed hand. The system includes a sensor arrangement for detecting movement of a shoulder by the paralyzed person. The sensor transmits shoulder movement signals to a computerized controller which generates stimulation signals for stimulation electrodes mounted within a cuff worn about the forearm which supports the hand to be stimulated. Closed loop control is accomplished by use of a glove to which are attached a length sensor and a pressure sensor connected for alternative selection. Stimulation of deeply buried muscles is accomplished by arranging the stimulation electrodes into side-by-side electrode sets which are so positioned as to produce focusing of stimulation energy at the location of the subject muscle.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. Hand control apparatus for a quadriplegic person comprising:
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a control sensor for sensing movement of a non-paralyzed part of the body of said person and generating a corresponding hand control signal, indicating means for indicating a reference value of said hand control signal, microprocessor means connected to said control sensor and programmed for generating hand closing commands and hand opening commends in accordance with the value of said hand control signal relative to said reference value, first stimulation means responsive to said hand closing commands for stimulating contraction of muscles connected for closing a hand of said person, second stimulation means responsive to said hand opening signals for stimulating contraction of muscles connected for opening said hand, and feedback means for sensing movement of said hand and transmitted a feedback signal to said microprocessor in correspondence thereto; said microprocessor being further programmed for generating said hand closing commands in correspondence with the difference between said hand control signal and said feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Hand control apparatus for a quadriplegic person comprising:
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a control sensor for sensing movement of a non-paralyzed part of the body of said person and generating a corresponding hand control signal, feedback means for sensing movement of a hand of said person and generating a corresponding feedback signal, microprocessor means for generating hand closing commands in response to said hand control signal and said feedback signal, and stimulation means responsive to said hand closing commands for stimulating contraction of muscles connected for closing said hand. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Method of controlling closure of a paralyzed human hand comprising the steps of:
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sensing movement of a non-paralyzed part of the body of the person whose hand is paralyzed, communicating to a microprocessor an indication of the movement which is so sensed, sensing closure of said hand, communicating to said microprocessor an indication of the closure which is so sensed, causing said microprocessor to generate closure commands in response to both of said indications, stimulating contraction of muscles connected for producing closure of said hand in response to said closure commands, and terminating said stimulating step when a predetermined closure of said hand has been sensed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification