Foot-operated controller

• US 7,186,270 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Elkins 2002 Corporate Trust
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Elkins 2002 Corporate Trust
• Inventors: Elkins, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott; Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWEET, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/685,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 623/24, 623/25, 623/57, 623/61, 623/62, 623/63, 623/64, 200/86.5
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/68 Operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/70 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/705 Electromagnetic data transfer for implantable prostheses A61F2250/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7635 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45172 Prosthesis

Abstract

A practical control device having up to eight independent channels of communication for simultaneously operating a plurality of electromechanical devices or for simultaneously performing a plurality of independent functions on an electromechanical device, such as a prosthetic hand, includes a foot-operated controller and a microprocessor. The foot-controller includes a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on a substrate. The microprocessor converts sensor inputs from the foot-operated controller into commands for a controllable electromechanical device such as a prosthetic hand. Commands may be communicated via a radio transmitter or via hard-wiring.

Claims

1. A prosthetic system comprising:

a controllable prosthetic device;

a shoe insole insert including a substrate having a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on the substrate to facilitate control of the controllable prosthetic device by application of pressure from selected parts of a foot to the sensors; and

a microprocessor for receiving input from the sensors and converting the sensor inputs into commands for the controllable prosthetic device.

2. The prosthetic system of claim 1, wherein the prosthetic device is a prosthetic hand.

3. The prosthetic system of claim 1, further comprising a radio transmitter for sending the commands to the controllable prosthetic device.

4. The prosthetic system of claim 1, located on or within a shoe.

5. The prosthetic system of claim 1, in which the microprocessor is hard-wired to the controllable device.

6. The prosthetic system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is located on the substrate.

7. The foot-operated controller of claim 1 further comprising a controllable prosthetic device operatively connected to the microprocessor to provide commands to the controllable prosthetic device in response to input from the sensors of the foot-operated controller.