Sensate vibratory prosthesis

• US 4,770,662 A
• Filed: 07/13/1987
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent C. Giampapa
• Original Assignee: Vincent C. Giampapa
• Inventors: Giampapa, Vincent C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US07/072,950
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 623/24-26, 623/27, 623/53, 623/57, 623/64
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5058 having means for restoring the perception of senses

Abstract

A sensory input discrimination system for use with a prosthetic limb such as a prosthetic hand having five digits. The discrimination system includes pairs of sonic frequency generators in electrical communication with pressure transducers which are disposed proximally to each other and within the extremity of corresponding digits of the prosthetic hand, the frequency generators having discrete sonic frequencies. The electrical communication between each frequency generator and the pressure sensor is open in the absence of contact pressure, and closed in the presence of contact pressure. Such closure generates a discrete sonic frequency output from the digit to which the contact pressure has been applied. In the prosthesis, a power unit amplifies the frequency outputs and provides power for the operation of the frequency generators and pressure transducers. The power unit exhibits an output including a voltage and a sonic frequency. The sonic output signal of the power unit is placed into sonic proximity of a sonic contact in, and vibratory receptors on, a bone stump, both at the amputation site corresponding to the connection of the prosthetic limb. Such receptors will generate neutral impulses having a signal pattern correlative to the sonic output signlas of the power unit, thus producing impulses which will travel from the stump to the posterior columns of the spinal cord and, therefrom, to the brain where discrimination of the impulses generated by the sonic signals will be accomplished to recognize the digit-location of the pressure-related stimuli.

Claims

1. A sensory input location discrimination system for use with a prosthetic limb, such as a prosthetic hand having five digits, the discrimination system comprising:

(a) a plurality of pairs of (i) sonic frequency generators and, in electrical communication with said frequency generators, (ii) pressure transducers, said generators and transducers disposed proximally to each other within the extremity of a corresponding plurality of digits of said prosthesis, said frequency generators having respective and discreet sonic frequencies, said electrical communication between each of said frequency generators and its corresponding pressure sensor being open in the absence of contact pressure and closed in the presence of contact pressure, wherein closure of said electrical communication will generate a discreate sonic frequency output from that digit to which contact pressure has been applied;

(b) a power unit in electrical communication with the outputs of said frequency generators and pressure transducers, said power unit amplyfing said outputs to provide power for the operation of said frequency generators and transducers, said power unit positioned within said prosthesis, said power unit having an output including voltage and sonic frequency outputs; and

(c) means adapted for surgical connection of said sonic output signal of said power unit into sonic proximity of the vibratory receptors of a bone stump at an amputation site corresponding to the area of connection of the prosthetic limb,

whereby said receptors will generate a neural impulse having a signal pattern correlative to said sonic output signal to said power unit, which neural impulses will travel from said bone stump to the posterior columns of the spinal cord and, therefrom, to the brain wherein discrimination of neural impulses generated by said correlative sonic signals can be readily accomplished by the brain to thereby recognize the digit location of the pressure or pressure-related stimulus to the prosthetic device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 in which said discreet frequencies of said sonic frequency generators of said plurality of pairs of sonic frequency generators and pressure transducers comprise a sequence of increasing frequencies.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 in which the number of said increasing sonic frequencies comprises three.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 in which said sequence of three frequencies comprises the frequencies of 100, 400, and 700 cycles per second.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 in which:

(a) said 100 cycles sonic frequency generator is disposed within the thumb of said prostetic hand;

(b) said 400 cycle sonic frequncy generator is disposed within the index finger of the prosthetic hand; and

(c) said 700 cycle sonic frequency generator is disposed within each of the other three digits of the prosthetic hand.

6. The method of providing sensory input location discrimination to the user of a prosthetic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of pairs of sonic frequency generators and pressure transducers to areas of the prosthetic device where occasional input sensory discrimination is desired;

(b) assigning a discreet and different sonic frequency to each of said generators of each of said pairs;

(c) providing power and amplification means to the outputs of said pairs; and

(d) surgically connecting amplified outputs of said pairs to the sonic proximity of the vibratory receptors of a bone stump associated with an amputation site related to said prosthetic device, whereby said receptors will generate neural impulses, having a signal patterns correlative to said amplified outputs of said pairs, causing said neural impulses to travel from said bone stump to the posterior columns of the spinal cord and, therefrom, to the brain, in which discrimination of neural impulses generated by such correlative sonic signals can be readily achieved by the brain to thereby relate the digit or other location of a pressure contact,or pressure contact related parameter, to particular surfaces of the prosthetic device.