Articulated prosthetic wrist
First Claim
1. An articulated artificial wrist for use with a hand prosthesis, comprising:
- contractible ball means, said ball means comprising two semispherical ball members and bias means positioned between the semispherical ball members so as to bias the two semispherical ball members apart to a normally expanded configuration;
connecting means having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end being secured to the ball means and said distal end being secured to the hand prosthesis;
socket means for receiving the ball means, said socket means adapted to secure the ball means in a desired orientation when the ball means is in the normally expanded configuration;
means for contracting the ball means such that, when contracted, said two semispherical ball members are both released from engagement with said socket means and the ball means is capable of being positioned within the socket means; and
means for securing said socket means to a limb prosthesis for attachment to the remaining portion of an amputated limb.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an articulated artificial wrist capable of simple repositioning of an artificial hand attached thereto. A presently preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a contractible spherical ball assembly that is normally expanded so as to tightly fit within a socket assembly. An actuating lever is provided such that, upon actuation, the lever causes contraction of the ball assembly, which allows for repositioning of the artificial hand. Release of the actuating lever secures the artificial hand in its new orientation by permitting the ball assembly to reexpand within the socket assembly. A second embodiment further provides for motorized rotation of the artificial hand independent of use of the actuating lever.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An articulated artificial wrist for use with a hand prosthesis, comprising:
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contractible ball means, said ball means comprising two semispherical ball members and bias means positioned between the semispherical ball members so as to bias the two semispherical ball members apart to a normally expanded configuration; connecting means having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end being secured to the ball means and said distal end being secured to the hand prosthesis; socket means for receiving the ball means, said socket means adapted to secure the ball means in a desired orientation when the ball means is in the normally expanded configuration; means for contracting the ball means such that, when contracted, said two semispherical ball members are both released from engagement with said socket means and the ball means is capable of being positioned within the socket means; and means for securing said socket means to a limb prosthesis for attachment to the remaining portion of an amputated limb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An articulated artificial wrist, comprising:
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ball means, said ball means including a distal semispherical ball member and a proximal semispherical ball member, and means for biasing the semispherical ball members apart to a normally expanded configuration; socket means for receiving the ball means, said socket means being adapted to secure the ball means in a desired orientation when the ball means is in a partially expanded configuration; shaft means having a proximal end secured to the proximal semispherical ball member, the shaft means being secured on its distal end to an artificial hand; means for contracting the ball means such that, when contracted, both semispherical ball members are released from engagement with said socket means and the ball means is capable of being repositioned within the socket means; and support means for supporting the socket means on a forearm prosthesis adapted to be secured to the remaining portion of an amputated limb. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A prosthetic arm having an articulated artificial wrist, comprising:
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ball means secured to the proximal end of an artificial hand means, said ball means including a distal semispherical ball member and a proximal semispherical ball member, and means for biasing the semispherical ball members apart to a normally expanded configuration; socket means for receiving the ball means, said socket means being secured to an artificial forearm, said artificial forearm adapted to be secured to the remaining portion of an amputated arm, said socket means being adapted to secure the ball means in a desired orientation when said ball means is in the normally expanded configuration; and means for contracting the ball means such that, when contracted, both said semispherical ball members are released from engagement with the socket means and said ball means is capable of being repositioned within the socket means.
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27. A method for positioning an artificial hand at a desired orientation with respect to an artificial forearm, comprising the steps of:
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providing a prosthetic arm including artificial hand means secured to contractible ball means and socket means adapted to receive the ball means secured to artificial forearm means, said ball means being biased to a normally expanded configuration within the socket means so as to be secured in a desired orientation with the socket means; contracting the ball means so that the ball means is released from engagement with the socket means and is capable of being repositioned within the socket means together with repositioning of the artificial hand means attached thereto; positioning the artificial hand means to a desired orientation; and causing the ball means to re-expand within the socket means so as to secure the ball means at its new orientation within the socket means. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification