Device for monitoring the configuration of a distal physiological unit for use, in particular, as an advanced interface for machine and computers
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring the position of a physiological unit comprising a limb and an extremity (M) connected to the limb, the extremity comprising at least one digit (E) made up of phalanges (F), the device comprising:
- first position sensor means (6, 7, 7a) for at least detecting quantities relating to the relative positions of the phalanges (F) of the at least one digit, wherein the first sensor means comprise one or more flexible plates (9,
16) which are connected to the at least one digit and can bend resiliently as a result of the flexion of the fingers (E); and
second position sensor means (30,
35) for detecting quantities relating to;
the pronation-supination position of a distal portion (D) of the limb which is connected, by means of a wrist (P), to the extremity (M) of the limb;
the flexion-extension position of the wrist (P); and
the adduction-abduction position of the wrist (P);
wherein said device comprises a glove structure (2) bearing the first sensor means (6, 7, 7a) and an exoskeleton structure (3) bearing the second sensor means (30,
35), the extremity and the distal portion of the limb being a hand (M) and a forearm (D), respectively; and
wherein the exoskeleton structure (3) comprises;
an elongate shell-like element (26) which extends along substantially the entire length of the forearm (D),a first bracket (27) pivotally mounted on the shell-like element (26), anda second bracket (28) pivotally mounted on the first bracket (27) and connected to the glove structure (2).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for monitoring the configuration of a distal physiological unit prises first position sensors for detecting quantities relating to the relative positions of a digit of an extremity of a limb and to the adduction-abduction of the digit. The device also comprises second position sensors for detecting quantities relating to the pronation-supination position of a distal portion of the limb, to the flexion-extension position of the wrist and to the adduction-abduction position of the wrist. The device comprises a glove structure bearing the fist sensors and an exoskeleton structure bearing the second sensors.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring the position of a physiological unit comprising a limb and an extremity (M) connected to the limb, the extremity comprising at least one digit (E) made up of phalanges (F), the device comprising:
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first position sensor means (6, 7, 7a) for at least detecting quantities relating to the relative positions of the phalanges (F) of the at least one digit, wherein the first sensor means comprise one or more flexible plates (9,
16) which are connected to the at least one digit and can bend resiliently as a result of the flexion of the fingers (E); andsecond position sensor means (30,
35) for detecting quantities relating to;the pronation-supination position of a distal portion (D) of the limb which is connected, by means of a wrist (P), to the extremity (M) of the limb; the flexion-extension position of the wrist (P); and the adduction-abduction position of the wrist (P); wherein said device comprises a glove structure (2) bearing the first sensor means (6, 7, 7a) and an exoskeleton structure (3) bearing the second sensor means (30,
35), the extremity and the distal portion of the limb being a hand (M) and a forearm (D), respectively; andwherein the exoskeleton structure (3) comprises; an elongate shell-like element (26) which extends along substantially the entire length of the forearm (D), a first bracket (27) pivotally mounted on the shell-like element (26), and a second bracket (28) pivotally mounted on the first bracket (27) and connected to the glove structure (2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor-bearing glove structure (2), particularly for virtual-reality applications and the like, comprising:
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a substrate structure (5) disposed in said glove for fitting onto a hand (M) comprising fingers (E) made up of phalanges (F), first position sensor means (6,7) for detecting quantities relating to the relative positions of the phalanges (F), and second position sensor means (7a) for detecting quantities relating to the adduction-abduction positions of the fingers (E), wherein the first sensor means (6,7) comprise one or more flexible plates (9,16) which are connected to the fingers and can bend resiliently as a result of the flexion of the fingers (E), wherein the second position sensor means (7a) comprise at least one Hall-effect sensor (24), and wherein the second sensor means further comprises at least one drum-like element (19) which can oscillate about the adduction-abduction axis (Z--Z) of a finger (E), and magnetic means (23) which are associated with the drum-like element (19) and can rotate eccentrically relative to the axis (Z--Z) as a result of an oscillation of the drum-like element (19), the Hall-effect sensor (24) being able to detect the magnetic-field variations produced by oscillations of the magnetic means (23). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification