Hand prosthesis and force transmission device

• US 8,579,991 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH (OTTO BOCK Holding GmbH & Company KG)
• Inventors: Puchhammer, Gregor
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoffman, Marcia
• Application Number:
  US12/097,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,532 Days
• Field of Search: 623/57, 623 63- 65, 901/30, 901/32, 901/36, 901/38
• US Class Current: 623/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/583 Hands; Wrist joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/586 Fingers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/74 fluid , i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/748 Valve systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3007 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of elastic material, e.g. of elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30525 Worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5003 having damping means, e.g. shock absorbers for implantable joints A61F2002/30563
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5006 Dampers, e.g. hydraulic damper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5018 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/503 for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5038 Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement for implantable joints A61F2002/30624
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5093 Tendon- or ligament-replacing cables implantable A61F2/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/587 Thumbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements

Abstract

A hand prosthesis includes a chassis to which at least one finger prosthesis is articulated. The finger prosthesis is swivelable about at least one swiveling axis by a drive that is connected to the finger prosthesis via a force transmission device. The force transmission device does not yield to tension and is flexible.

Claims

1. A hand prosthesis comprising:

a chassis;

at least two finger prostheses mounted to the chassis about at least one swiveling axis;

a drive mounted to the chassis;

at least two force transmission units each being coupled between one of the at least two finger prostheses and a common bearing point, the at least two force transmission units being rigid under tension and yielding under pressure, and the common bearing point being displaceable relative to the at least one swiveling axis;

a common cable, fiber or stranded-wire component extending between the force transmission units and wrapping around the common bearing point;

wherein displacing the common bearing point relative to the at least one swiveling axis with the drive pivots the at least two finger prostheses about the at least one swiveling axis.

2. The hand prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two force transmission units each comprise an elastomer component.

3. The hand prosthesis as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastomer components at least partially enclose the cable, fiber or stranded-wire component.

4. The hand prosthesis as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two force transmission units are fastened to a rocker mounted at the common bearing point.

5. The hand prosthesis as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least two force transmission units fasten the rocker at different distances from the common bearing point.

6. The hand prosthesis claimed as in claim 1, wherein the at least two force transmission units comprise bearing bushes having axes of rotation, and the axes of rotation of the bearing bushes of each force transmission unit are arranged perpendicular relative to each other.