Mechanism arrangement for orthopedic simulator
First Claim
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1. An orthopedic simulator comprising:
- a support structure;
a first holder configured to hold a first portion of a test specimen wherein the first holder is coupled to the support structure through a crosshead and the crosshead is movably coupled to the support structure to pivot the first holder relative to a lateral bending axis to impart a lateral bending load Mx to the test specimen through the first holder and the first holder is movably coupled to the crosshead through a gimbal structure and the gimbal structure is movable relative to the crosshead to pivot the first holder relative to a flexion-extension axis generally transverse to the lateral bending axis to impart a flexion-extension load My to the test specimen;
a second holder coupled to the support structure and configured to hold a second portion of the test specimen;
a first actuator mechanism coupled to the gimbal structure and configured to supply an input load or displacement to the gimbal structure to move the gimbal structure relative to the crosshead to impart the flexion-extension load My to the test specimen;
a second actuator mechanism coupled to the crosshead and configured to supply an input load or displacement to the crosshead to move the crosshead relative to the support structure to impart the lateral bending load Mx to the test specimen.
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Abstract
An orthopedic simulator is provided with a mechanism with a plurality of sub-mechanisms that generate relative motions between the portions of orthopedic devices, such as spinal disc implants. The sub-mechanisms are configured to be nested so as to place the sub-mechanism with the highest required performance closest to the specimen.
69 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An orthopedic simulator comprising:
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a support structure; a first holder configured to hold a first portion of a test specimen wherein the first holder is coupled to the support structure through a crosshead and the crosshead is movably coupled to the support structure to pivot the first holder relative to a lateral bending axis to impart a lateral bending load Mx to the test specimen through the first holder and the first holder is movably coupled to the crosshead through a gimbal structure and the gimbal structure is movable relative to the crosshead to pivot the first holder relative to a flexion-extension axis generally transverse to the lateral bending axis to impart a flexion-extension load My to the test specimen; a second holder coupled to the support structure and configured to hold a second portion of the test specimen; a first actuator mechanism coupled to the gimbal structure and configured to supply an input load or displacement to the gimbal structure to move the gimbal structure relative to the crosshead to impart the flexion-extension load My to the test specimen; a second actuator mechanism coupled to the crosshead and configured to supply an input load or displacement to the crosshead to move the crosshead relative to the support structure to impart the lateral bending load Mx to the test specimen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A simulator comprising:
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a support structure; a first holder configured to hold a first portion of a test specimen and the first holder coupled to a first support component and the first support component movable relative to a second support component and the second support component movable relative to the support structure; a first mechanism configured to impart a flexion-extension load input to the test specimen through the first and second support components and a second mechanism configured to impart a lateral bending load input to the test specimen through the second support component; and a second holder configured to hold a second portion of the test specimen and coupled to the support structure through a slide assembly including a first slide component movably coupled to the support structure to move along a lateral bending axis relative to the support structure and a second slide component movably coupled to the first slide component to move along a flexion-extension axis relative to the first slide component wherein the second holder is movable relative to the lateral bending and flexion-extension axes through the first and second slide components. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A simulator comprising:
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a support structure; a first holder configured to hold a first portion of a test specimen and the first holder is coupled to the support structure to pivot relative to a flexion-extension axis to impart a flexion-extension load My and to pivot relative to a lateral bending axis to impart a lateral bending load Mx; and a second holder configured to hold a second portion of the test specimen and coupled to the support structure through a slide assembly including a first slide component movably coupled to the support structure to move along the lateral bending axis relative to the support structure and a second slide component movably coupled to the first slide component to move along the flexion-extension axis relative to the first slide component and the second holder is movable relative to the lateral bending and flexion-extension axes through the first and second slide components. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A simulator comprising
a plurality of test stations wherein each of the plurality of test stations includes first and second holders configured to hold a test specimen; -
an actuator mechanism coupled to a support structure and operable to impart an input load to the test specimens of the plurality of test stations through the first or second holders of the plurality of test stations through a rigid transmission linkage and the actuator mechanism is coupled to the transmission linkage through a linkage joint connecting the actuator mechanism to the transmission linkage; and a plurality of linkage joints spaced along the transmission linkage connecting the transmission linkage to the first or second holders of each of the plurality of test stations to transmit the input load from the actuator mechanism to the first or second holders of each of the plurality of test stations through the plurality of linkage joints of the transmission linkage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification