US 4,623,354 A · Myoelectrically controlled artificial hand

Abstract

A myoelectrically controlled artificial hand is provided having a pair of fingers extending distally from a pivot and mounted thereon for selective separation and conversions by means of a pair of electrical motors. The first electric motor has high speed and low torque with a drive train connected to one of the fingers so as to affect rapid separation and conversion of the fingers. The second motor has low speed and high torque, and has a drive train connected to the second finger to effect pinch force between the fingers. A field effect transistor driver actuates the electric motor to operate the artificial hand. The control mechanism for the motors is actuated by myoelectric signals from the user, so as to supply myoelectric pulses to the field effect transistor driver. As a result, the user can selectively separate or converge the fingers based on his own muscular movement. The combination of the field effect transistor driver and the pair of electric motors results in a highly efficient system which utilizes a minimal quantity of electric current, so that a single nine volt disposable battery may be used to power the system.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A myoelectrically controlled artificial hand comprising:

a pivot member;
a pair of finger members extending distally from said pivot member and pivotally mounted thereon for selective separation and convergence;
electric motor means for effecting said selective separation and convergence of said finger members,
said electric motor means including a high speed low torque electric motor having a first drive train connected to a first one of said finger members, constructed and arranged to effect rapid separation and convergence of said finger members;
and
a second high torque low speed electric motor having a second drive train connected to a second one of said finger members, constructed and arranged to effect high pinch force between said finger members;
battery means for supplying electrical power to said electric motor means;
field effect transistor driver means for actuating said electric motor to operate said myoelectrically controlled artificial hand;
and
control means for supplying myoelectric pulses to said field effect transistor driver means in response to said myoelectric signals generated by the user, thereby effecting said selective separation and convergence of said finger members.

7 more elements

A control mechanism for an artificial hand having a pair of pivotally mounted fingers and electric motor means for effecting said selective separation and convergence of said finger members, said control mechanism comprising:

a plurality of electrode members affixable to a user proximate a plurality of voluntary muscles of the user;
a signal detector for detecting said myoelectric signals and for amplifying said signal;
a pair of dual comparators constructed and arranged for receiving said myoelectric signals, for comparing said myoelectric signals to signals of selected upper and lower threshold levels, and for generating a myopulse signal in response to myoelectric signals within said threshold levels;
a first one of said dual comparator being effective to activate said electric motor means to separate said finger member;
a second one of said dual comparators being effective to activate said electric motor means to converge said finger members;
field effect transistor driver means for selectively activating and deactivating said electric motor means in response to said myopulse signals;
damping means for selectively damping said electric motor means upon deactivation thereof;
and
switching means for limiting the pivotal motion of said pair of fingers to a selected range.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Myoelectrically controlled artificial hand

Life of this patent

Myoelectrically controlled artificial hand

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13