Prosthesis coupling, a socket coupling, a rotary connector core and a compliant mounting element
AssigneeTaska Prosthetics Limited
InventorsRoss Hughan Dawson, Mathew James Jury, David Neil Lovegrove, Michael James Van Der Werff, Matthew Sultan Yan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotatable and removable wrist connection for a prosthetic hand. A prosthesis coupling includes first and second ball race sections that may be moved together or apart to constrain ball bearings to an inner zone or an outer zone to allow the prosthesis coupling to be secured to or removed from a socket coupling. A socket coupling includes a socket body for receiving a wrist coupling having a rotary connector core extending from the socket body and compliantly mounted to the socket body.
Claims25
A prosthesis coupling configured to rotatably and releasably engage with a race of a socket coupling, the prosthesis coupling comprising:
- a. a first sleeve including a first annular ball race section;
- b. a second sleeve having a second annular ball race section;
- and
- c. bearings provided within a race formed by the first ball race section and the second ball race section;
- wherein the first and second sleeves may be relatively moved such that:
- i. in a first configuration, in which the first ball race section and the second ball race section are brought together, the bearings are constrained to an outer annular zone, preventing removal of the prosthesis coupling when engaged with a socket coupling;
- and
- ii. in a second configuration, in which the first ball race section and the second ball race section are moved apart, the bearings may move to an inner annular zone, allowing removal of the prosthesis coupling from a prosthesis socket.
A prosthesis coupling configured to rotatably and releasably engage with a race of a socket coupling, the prosthesis coupling comprising:
- a. a body having an annular section;
- b. a first annular ball race section provided on the annular section;
- c. a second annular ball race section movable between first and second positions on the annular section;
- d. bearings provided within a race formed by the first ball race section and the second ball race section;
- and
- e. a release actuator movable in a first direction with respect to the body to move the second annular ball race section between:
- i. a first configuration in which the first ball race section and the second ball race section are brought together such that the bearings are constrained to an outer annular zone, preventing removal of the connector when engaged with a socket coupling;
- and
- ii. a second configuration in which the first ball race section and the second ball race section are moved apart such that the bearings may move to an inner annular zone, allowing removal of the prosthesis coupling from a socket coupling;
- wherein the release actuator is hand operated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.