Tactile stimulus receptor for a hand prosthesis
First Claim
1. A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising:
- pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure transducer means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic impulses proportional to pressure experienced;
pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the tactile pressure means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff member which substantially encircles and abuts the user'"'"'s truncated limb, the cuff member being variably pressurized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A means and method for tactile stimulus reception for use with a myoelectric prosthesis includes a pressure transducer positioned on the prosthesis. The pressure transducer senses the level of pressure experienced by the gripping portion of the prosthesis and converts the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal. A pressure stimulus member is positionable upon the user and creates a pressure stimulus proportionally corresponding to the sensed pressure of the pressure transducer by utilizing the signal from the pressure transducer. The pressure stimulus is tactile so that the user can be given direct tactile pressure stimulation corresponding directly with the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising:
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pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure transducer means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic impulses proportional to pressure experienced; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the tactile pressure means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff member which substantially encircles and abuts the user'"'"'s truncated limb, the cuff member being variably pressurized. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising:
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pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for providing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the variable pressure generating means comprising a motor which operates a hydraulic cylinder to produce variable hydraulic pressure according to the operation of the motor. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising:
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pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means including an electrical control circuitry means which in turn includes a noise reduction electrical circuitry means for reducing common mode pick-up noise. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising:
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pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means; the pressure stimulus means further including an electrical control circuitry means which includes a signal control means which automatically reduces the signal to the pressure stimulus means when no pressure changes are detected so that no pressure stimulus are affected.
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11. The prosthesis device including a tactile stimulus receptor to allow, precise and accurate control of the prosthesis device comprising:
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a myoelectrically controlled artificial hand means; pressure transducer means for position on the myoelectrically controlled artificial hand for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the artificial hand; and
converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic pulses proportional to pressure experienced;pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means the pressure stimulus means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff means adaptable to be positioned around the user'"'"'s truncated limb and a hydraulic cylinder for producing variable hydraulic pressure in response to operation of a motor, which in turn operates in response to the electronic impulses from the piezoelectric means to produce constriction proportional to the release of pressure sensed at the pressure transducer means.
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12. A method for tactile stimulus reception for use with a myoelectric prosthesis, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a pressure transducer means comprising a piezoelectric film means on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping an object by the prosthesis and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding electrical signal proportional to pressure experienced; and positioning a hydraulically pressurizable cuff means on the truncated limb of a user; utilizing the electrical signals from the pressure transducer means to operate a hydraulic cylinder means to create hydraulic pressure in the cuff means proportional to the pressure experienced at the pressure transducer means, causing the cuff means to constrict the truncated limb, reduce constriction onthe truncated limb, or remain at a certain constriction level according to the pressures experienced at the pressure transducer means, the cuff means producing a precise, accurate sensory stimulus to allow precise and accurate control of the artificial hand. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification