Prosthetic, orthotic, and other rehabilitative robotic assistive devices actuated by smart materials
First Claim
1. A kinetic prosthesis actuated by artificial muscles providing increased dexterity and agility of an artificial limb, said prosthesis comprising:
- an articulated support member releasably mounted to a patient in signal communication with said patient'"'"'s residual muscle and having a free end responsive to electromyographic signals communicated thereby, said support member having a plurality of artificial muscles attached thereto, said artificial muscles comprising smart materials; and
command circuitry in electrical communication with said residual muscles for communicating said electromyographic signals to said artificial muscles so as to effect anthropometrical movement of said articulated support member;
said artificial muscles being in electrical communication with said command circuitry such that when signals are transmitted to said command circuitry, said artificial muscles respond thereto for effecting movement of said articulated support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to state-of-the-art medical devices using smart materials and related emerging technologies under development for robotics. In particular, the present invention is directed to the development of rehabilitative (i.e. prosthetic, orthotic, surgical) devices actuated by smart material artificial muscles to increase the dexterity and agility of an artificial limb or a dysfunctional body part, so that movement of the limb more accurately simulates movement of a human appendage. A kinetic assistive device is provided is provided which is constructed of a lightweight material (such as aluminum) and has a plurality of smart material actuators attached thereto. A system for detecting environmental stimulation of the device is provided in electrical communication with such actuators to effect movement of said device in response to detection signals produced thereby. The system includes a plurality of sensors, such as proximity detectors, accelerometers, tactile sensors and the like which are mounted on the assistive device and which provide data to computer-controlled command circuitry. This data can be encoded and used to control the movement of the assistive device via the actuators to more accurately predict the performance of the device in relation to that of an actual human limb.
277 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A kinetic prosthesis actuated by artificial muscles providing increased dexterity and agility of an artificial limb, said prosthesis comprising:
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an articulated support member releasably mounted to a patient in signal communication with said patient'"'"'s residual muscle and having a free end responsive to electromyographic signals communicated thereby, said support member having a plurality of artificial muscles attached thereto, said artificial muscles comprising smart materials; and
command circuitry in electrical communication with said residual muscles for communicating said electromyographic signals to said artificial muscles so as to effect anthropometrical movement of said articulated support member;
said artificial muscles being in electrical communication with said command circuitry such that when signals are transmitted to said command circuitry, said artificial muscles respond thereto for effecting movement of said articulated support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of effecting movement in an artificial limb wherein said limb is in signal communication with electromyographic signals obtained from a patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an articulated support member releasably mounted to said patient in signal communication with said patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said member having at least one joint with a joint axis defined therethrough and further having a free end responsive to electromyographic signals communicated thereby;
attaching a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials to said articulated support member so as to effect movement of said member corresponding to contraction or expansion of said artificial muscles; and
providing command circuitry in electrical communication with said residual muscles for communicating said electromyographic signals to said artificial muscles so as to effect said member movement;
said artificial muscles being in electrical communication with said command circuitry such that transmission of signals to said command circuitry effects movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An assistive device actuated by artificial muscles which provides increased dexterity and agility of an artificial or dysfunctional limb, comprising:
an articulated member having at least one joint pivotable about a corresponding joint axis and having a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials affixed thereto wherein said artificial muscles are in signal communication with a system of sensors mounted on said member, said sensors detecting environmental stimulation of said member and producing detection signals corresponding to said stimulation, said sensors further transmitting said detection signals to command circuitry in electrical communication with said artificial muscles so as to effect anthropometrical movement of said member in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of effecting movement in an artificial limb wherein said limb is in signal communication with electromyographic signals obtained from a patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an articulated support member releasably mounted to said patient in signal communication with said patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said member having at least one joint with a joint axis defined therethrough and further having a free end responsive to electromyographic signals communicated thereby;
attaching a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials to said articulated support member at a location proximate said joint axis so as to enable large angular movements of said member corresponding to contraction or expansion of said artificial muscles; and
providing command circuitry in electrical communication with said residual muscles for communicating said electromyographic signals to said artificial muscles so as to effect said member movement;
said artificial muscles being in electrical communication with said command circuitry such that transmission of signals to said command circuitry effects movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A method of effecting movement in an artificial limb wherein said limb is in signal communication with electromyographic signals obtained from a patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an articulated support member releasably mounted to said patient in signal communication with said patient'"'"'s residual muscles, said member having at least one joint with a joint axis defined therethrough and further having a free end responsive to electromyogrpahic signals communicated thereby;
attaching a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials to said articulated support member so as to effect movement of said member corresponding to contraction or expansion of said artificial muscles;
folding at least one of said artificial members in an overlapping configuration along a length of said articulated support member; and
providing command circuitry in electrical communication with said residual muscles for communicating said electromyographic signals to said artificial muscles so as to effect said member movement;
said artificial muscles being in electrical communication with said command circuitry such that transmission of signals to said command circuitry effect movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An assistive device actuated by artificial muscles which provides increased dexterity and agility of an artificial or dysfunctional limb, comprising:
an articulated member having at least one joint pivotable about a corresponding joint axis and having a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials affixed thereto wherein said artificial muscles are in signal communication with a system of sensors mounted on said member, said sensors detecting environmental stimulation of said member and producing detection signals corresponding to said stimulation, said sensors farther transmitting said detection signals to command circuitry in electrical communication with said artificial muscles so as to effect anthropometrical movement of said member in response thereto, said artificial muscles being arranged electrically in a combination of series and parallel current paths such that upon application of voltage to said artificial muscles a change in dimension of said artificial muscles is effected, to thereby cause movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57)
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58. An assistive device actuated by artificial muscles which provides increased dexterity and agility of an artificial or dysfunctional limb, comprising:
an articulated member having at least one joint pivotable about a corresponding joint axis and having a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials affixed thereto wherein said artificial muscles are in signal communication with a system of sensors mounted on said member, said sensors detecting environmental stimulation of said member and producing detection signals to command circuitry in electrical communication with said artificial muscles so as to effect anthropometrical movement of said member in response thereto, said artificial muscles comprising a bundle of elongate elements that are adapted to change dimension in response to said detection signals resulting in expansion or contraction of such elements and movement of said member. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61)
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62. A method of effecting movement of an artificial limb comprising of steps of:
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providing an artificial limb having an articulated support member releasably mounted to a patient;
attaching a plurality of artificial muscles comprising smart materials to said articulated support member for movement of said member corresponding to contraction or expansion of said artificial muscles; and
subjecting selected artificial muscles to a physical condition to cause a change in dimension of said selected artificial muscles, resulting in contraction or expansion of such artificial muscles and thereby effecting movement of said articulated member. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification