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US 2014/0277589 A1Published application
Joint and digit
AssigneeInvisible Hand Enterprises, LLC dba ToughWare Prosthetics
InventorBradley Delton Veatch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure relates to the field of prosthetics, more specifically to a pinless anthropomorphic hinge or joint, and a digit comprising one or more phalanges connected by and articulating around pinless joints, whereby the joints provide compliant movement in more than one plane. This disclosure also relates to modular prosthetic systems comprising multiple digits, in particular for partial-hand replacements.
Claims12
A joint, comprising:
- a first lever comprising a first hole;
- a second lever comprising a second hole;
- and
- a first loop;
- wherein the first lever and second lever are aligned lengthwise along a first axis (horizontal-X), each lever comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first lever is adjacent to the distal end of the second lever;
- wherein the first hole is located in the proximal end of the first lever, and the second hole is located in the distal end of the second lever, and the first hole and second hole are located in the palmar half of both respective levers;
- and
- wherein the first loop is secured through the first hole and the second hole;
- whereby the joint provides biased motion in the palmar direction in the plane formed by the first axis and a third axis (vertical-Y), some motion in the dorsal direction of the plane formed by the first and third axes, some motion in the plane formed by the first axis and a second axis (depth-Z), and some motion in the plane formed by the second and third axes, the first, second, and third axes being mutually orthogonal.
6 more elements
The joint of claim 2, wherein the palmar side of each adjacent lever end is rounded, wherein the two rounded, adjacent ends form a nip, wherein the first hole and second hole pass through both respective levers in the direction of the second axis, and the first hole and second hole are aligned at about the same height in the direction of the third axis, wherein both levers are about the same width in both the second axis and third axis directions, and further comprising:
- a second loop;
- a third loop;
- and
- a cylinder comprising a third hole;
- wherein the cylinder is about the same width in the direction of the second axis (Z) as the first lever and second lever, and the cylinder is positioned in the nip, with the third hole aligned in the direction of the second axis (Z), about parallel with the first hole and second hole;
- and
- wherein the second loop is secured through the first hole and the third hole, and the third loop is secured through the second hole and the third hole.
4 more elements
A joint, comprising:
- a first lever comprising a first hole;
- a second lever comprising a second hole;
- a cylinder comprising a third hole;
- a first loop;
- a second loop;
- and
- a third loop;
- wherein the first lever and second lever are aligned lengthwise along a first axis (X), each lever comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first lever is adjacent to the distal end of the second lever;
- wherein the palmar side of both adjacent lever ends are rounded, forming a nip;
- wherein the first hole is located in the proximal end of the first lever, and the second hole is located in the distal end of the second lever, and the first hole and second hole are located in the palmar half of both respective levers, wherein the first hole and second hole pass through both respective levers in the direction of a second axis (Z), and the first hole and second hole are aligned at about the same height in the direction of a third axis (vertical-Y);
- wherein both levers are about the same width in both the second axis (Z) and third axis (Y) directions;
- wherein the cylinder is about the same width in the direction of the second axis (Z) as the first lever and the second lever, and the cylinder is positioned in the nip, with the third hole aligned in the direction of the second axis (Y), about parallel with the first hole and second hole;
- and
- wherein the first loop is secured through the first hole and the second hole, the second loop is secured through the first hole and the third hole, and the third loop is secured through the second hole and the third hole;
- whereby the joint provides biased motion in the palmar direction in the plane formed by the first and third axes, some motion in the dorsal direction of the plane formed by the first and third axes, some motion in the plane formed by the first and second axes, and some motion in the plane formed by the second and third axes.
12 more elements
A digit, comprising:
- a. a first lever comprising a first hole;
- b. a second lever comprising a second hole and a third hole;
- c. a third lever comprising a fourth hole and a fifth hole;
- d. a base comprising an anchor;
- e. a first cylinder comprising a sixth hole;
- and
- f. a second cylinder comprising a seventh hole;
- wherein the first lever, second lever and third lever are aligned lengthwise along a first axis (X), each lever comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first lever is adjacent to the distal end of the second lever, the proximal end of the second lever is adjacent to the distal end of the third lever, and the proximal end of the third lever is adjacent to the base;
- wherein the first hole of the first lever is located in the proximal end of the first lever;
- wherein the second hole of the second lever is located in the distal end of the second lever, the third hole of the second lever is located in the proximal end of the second lever;
- wherein the fourth hole of the third lever is located in the distal end of the third lever, the fifth hole of the third lever is located in the proximal end of the third lever;
- wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth holes are located in the palmar half of their respective levers, all holes pass through their respective levers in the direction of the second axis (Z), and all are aligned at about the same height in the direction of a third axis (Y);
- wherein the palmar side of the proximal end of the first lever is rounded;
- wherein the palmar side of the distal and proximal ends of both the second lever and third lever are rounded;
- wherein the rounded sides of the adjacent first lever and second lever form a first nip, and the rounded sides of the adjacent second lever and third lever form a second nip;
- wherein all of the holes are oriented about parallel to each other and are oriented in direction of the second axis (Z);
- and
- wherein the digit further comprises a first joint, wherein the first joint comprises:
- a first loop;
- a second loop;
- a third loop;
- and
- a first cylinder comprising a sixth hole;
- and
- wherein the first cylinder is positioned in the first nip;
- wherein the first loop is secured through the first hole and the second hole, the second loop is secured through the first hole and the sixth hole, and the third loop is secured through the second hole and the sixth hole;
- and
- wherein the digit further comprises a second joint, wherein the second joint comprises:
- a fourth loop;
- a fifth loop;
- sixth loop;
- and
- a second cylinder comprising a seventh hole;
- wherein the second cylinder is positioned in the second nip;
- and
- wherein the fourth loop is secured through the third hole and the fourth hole, the fifth loop is secured through the third hole and the seventh hole, and the sixth loop is secured through the fourth hole and the seventh hole;
- and
- wherein the digit further comprises a third joint, wherein the third joint comprises:
- the base comprising the anchor;
- and
- an attachment;
- wherein the anchor is aligned in the direction of the first axis (X) and is at about the same height in the direction of the second axis (Z) as the fifth hole;
- and
- wherein the attachment secures the third lever to the base by passing through the fifth hole and the anchor;
- and
- wherein all three joints provide biased motion in the palmar direction in the plane formed by the first and third axes, and also provide some motion in the dorsal direction of the plane formed by the first and third axes, some motion in the plane formed by the first and second axes, and some motion in the plane formed by the movement is primarily in the second and third axes.
43 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a first lever comprising a first passage, a second lever comprising a second passage, and a first loop, wherein the first lever and second lever are aligned lengthwise along a first axis (horizontal-X), each lever comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the first lever is adjacent to the distal end of the second lever, wherein the palmar side of each adjacent lever end is rounded, wherein the two rounded, adjacent ends form a nip, wherein the first and second passages each pass through a respective one of the first and second levers and the first passage and second passage are substantially aligned with one another, and wherein the first loop is secured through the first and second passages;
- and
- performing at least one of the substeps:
- (i) moving at least one of the first and second lever in the palmar direction in the plane formed by the first axis and a third axis (depth-Z);
- (ii) moving at least one of the first and second levers in the dorsal direction of the plane formed by the first and third axes;
- (iii) moving at least one of the first and second levers in the plane formed by the first axis and a second axis (vertical-Y);
- and
- (iv) moving at least one of the first and second levers such that a plane formed by the movement is primarily in the second and third axes.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.