Motor drive system and linkage for hand prosthesis
First Claim
1. A prosthesis having at least one mechanically operable finger member, the finger member extending generally tangentially with respect to a fixed worm gear wheel on a support body of the prosthesis and mounted for rotation about a worm gear wheel spindle, the finger member having a drive motor with a worm extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the finger member and in engagement with gear teeth on the worm gear wheel so that when the drive motor is operated, in use of the prosthesis, the finger member moves around the worm gear wheel towards or away from another finger member and/or a natural finger for closing and opening of a hand grip.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor drive system and linkage arrangement for a hand prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis has at least one finger member extending generally tangentially with respect to a worm gear wheel secured to the prosthesis and driven by a drive motor and a worm gear located longitudinally within the finger to engage the teeth of the tangential worm gear wheel. When the drive motor runs the worm gear, the finger moves around the worm gear wheel toward or away from another finger member and/or a natural finger to open and close the prosthesis hand'"'"'s grip. In an alternate embodiment, the drive motor and worm gear arrangement contained in one finger is connected by a linkage to the root portion of at least one other motorless finger mounted for pivotal movement on the prosthetic hand.
144 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A prosthesis having at least one mechanically operable finger member, the finger member extending generally tangentially with respect to a fixed worm gear wheel on a support body of the prosthesis and mounted for rotation about a worm gear wheel spindle, the finger member having a drive motor with a worm extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the finger member and in engagement with gear teeth on the worm gear wheel so that when the drive motor is operated, in use of the prosthesis, the finger member moves around the worm gear wheel towards or away from another finger member and/or a natural finger for closing and opening of a hand grip.
Specification