Systems And Methods For Suppressing Essential Tremors
AssigneeHutchinson Technology Incorporated
InventorMark A. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present embodiments relate to systems and methods for suppressing essential tremors using a shape memory alloy (SMA) devices. The systems as described herein can be designed to contract/relax muscles in response to a tremor and also allow for movement during normal motion of the user. The designs can implement SMA actuators having a straight SMA wire concept or a metal cross springs in a stacked “X” configuration (also referred to as Xmorph) concept that generates enough force to hold and move the weight of the hand and/or wrist of the user while also generating sufficient force to suppress tremors of the user.
Claims20
A system for suppressing tremors in a user, comprising:
- a first component configured to connect to the user;
- a second component configured to connect to the user;
- and
- a set of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires connecting at a first end to the first component and at a second end to the second component, wherein actuation of the set of SMA wires are configured to contract or relax muscles of a user in response to a tremor and allow for movement during normal motion of the user.
A device comprising:
- a glove component configured to connect to a hand and/or fingers of a user;
- a wrist component configured to connect to a wrist region of the user;
- a forearm component configured to connect to a forearm region of the user;
- a set of metal wires disposed between the glove component and the wrist component;
- and
- a set of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires connecting at a first end to the wrist component and at a second end to the forearm component, wherein the set of SMA wires further comprises a first pair of SMA wires on a first side of the first component and the second component and a second pair of SMA wires on a second side of the first component and the second component opposite to the first side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.