Voluntary opening prehension device
First Claim
1. A voluntary opening prehension device comprising:
- a pivot member;
a pair of finger members extending distally from said pivot member, at least one of said finger members being pivotally mounted thereon for selective separation and convergence of said finger members at their respective distal ends;
electric motor means for effecting said selective separation of said finger members;
closing means for biasing at least a portion of said finger members in contact with each other;
a battery member for supplying electrical power to said electric motor means;
field effect transistor driver means for actuating said electric motor means when supplied with a myopulse signal of a specified threshold strength or greater, so as to reduce the electric power necessary to operate said prehension device;
control means for supplying a myopulse to said field effect transistor driver in response to a myoelectric signal generated by the user;
said control means comprising a signal detector for detecting a myoelectric signal generated by the user;
a processor for processing said myoelectric signal into a myopulse which is directed to said field effect transistor driver for actuating said driver; and
a threshold detector for restricting actuating of said motor to those instances in which said myoelectric signal is of a specified minimum voltage strength or greater.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A voluntary opening prehension device is constructed with a pivot member having a pair of fingers mounted thereon and extending distally from the pivot member. The fingers may be pivoted individually or simultaneously so as to selectively separate or converge at their distal ends. An electric motor is used to separate the fingers. A closing mechanism biases the fingers into contact with each other when the motor is not in operation. A battery supplies electrical power to the motor. A field effect transistor driver serves as a switch for actuating the electric motor when it is supplied with a myopulse of a specified threshold strength or greater. This reduces the amount of electrical power utilized to operate the device since the motor is actuated only when a clear signal is sent from the user. A control mechanism supplies the myopulse to the field effect transistor driver in response to a myoelectric signal generated by the user.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A voluntary opening prehension device comprising:
-
a pivot member; a pair of finger members extending distally from said pivot member, at least one of said finger members being pivotally mounted thereon for selective separation and convergence of said finger members at their respective distal ends; electric motor means for effecting said selective separation of said finger members; closing means for biasing at least a portion of said finger members in contact with each other; a battery member for supplying electrical power to said electric motor means; field effect transistor driver means for actuating said electric motor means when supplied with a myopulse signal of a specified threshold strength or greater, so as to reduce the electric power necessary to operate said prehension device; control means for supplying a myopulse to said field effect transistor driver in response to a myoelectric signal generated by the user; said control means comprising a signal detector for detecting a myoelectric signal generated by the user; a processor for processing said myoelectric signal into a myopulse which is directed to said field effect transistor driver for actuating said driver; and a threshold detector for restricting actuating of said motor to those instances in which said myoelectric signal is of a specified minimum voltage strength or greater. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An artificial hand comprising:
-
an artificial forearm member attachable to the arm of the patient; a pivot member attached to the distal end of said forearm member; a pair of finger members extending distally from said pivot member and pivotally mounted thereon, so as to permit selective contact of said finger members to each other proximate their respective distal tips; electric motor means for selectively separating said finger members; field effect transistor driver means for actuating said electric motor means when supplied with electrical current; a battery member for supplying electrical current to said electric motor means; closing means for urging at least a portion of each of said finger members into contact with each other; and control means for selectively actuating said electric motor means, said control means including; an electrode member affixed proximate to a voluntary muscle of the patient for detecting electrical activity generated by actuation of the voluntary muscle of the patient; a bandpass amplifier electrically connected to said electrode member for amplifying an electrical signal as a result of said electrical activity; an amplifier electrically connected to said signal detector for rectifying said electrical signal and fur supplying a myopulse to said field effect transistor driver; and
,threshold detection means for comparing the myopulse to a predetermined threshold value and for inhibiting actuation of said electric motor means whenever the myopulse signal has a value less than the predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24)
-
-
21. A myoelectrically controller prosthetic device comprising:
-
a housing member; means for attaching said housing member to the natural limb of the patient; an artificial limb member extending distally from said housing member and movably attached thereto; electric motor means for selective movement of said artificial limb member, relative to said housing member; a battery member for supplying electrical power to said electric motor means; control means for selectively actuating said electric motor means, in response to movement of one or more selected voluntary muscles of the patient; a field effect transistor driver for actuating said electric motor means when a specified threshold signal has been detected from the patient; said control means including a signal detector for detecting myoelectric signals generated by the user; a processor for processing said myoelectric signal into a myopulse directed to said field effect transistor driver for actuation thereof; and threshold detection means for comparing the myopulse signal to a predetermined threshold value and for inhibiting actuation of the field effect transistor whenever the myopulse has a value less than the predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 26)
-
Specification