System and method for providing a sense of feel in a prosthetic or sensory impaired limb

A method for providing sensory perceptions in a sensor system of a prosthetic device, the method comprising:

• sensing an external operation magnitude from a plurality of sensor groups, each sensor group sensing a fraction of the external operation magnitude;
• generating a plurality of sensory inputs from the sensor groups in response to the external operation, wherein the plurality of sensory inputs are in a plurality of sensory input signals;
• generating an electrical input signal with a magnitude;
• controlling the electrical input signal with the plurality of sensory inputs to create a plurality of sensory output signals collectively having a stimulus with a collective stimulus magnitude corresponding to the electrical input signal magnitude, each sensory output signal having a fraction of the stimulus magnitude corresponding to the fraction of the external operation magnitude sensed by one of the sensor groups;
• and
• transmitting each of the sensory output signals to a designated one of each of a plurality of contacts through a designated one of a plurality of channels;
• wherein controlling the output comprises:
• processing the sensory input signals to create a plurality of control signals;
• and
• controlling the electrical input signal with the control signals by applying the control signals to the electrical input signal to create the plurality of sensory output signals;
• wherein the controlling the output step comprises digitally processing the electrical input signal with the plurality of sensory input signals;
• wherein processing the sensory input signals comprises:
• counting frequency pulse data in the sensory input signals within a discrete time frame;
• and
• processing the frequency pulse data to determine the fraction of the stimulus magnitude to be generated in each of the sensory output signals.

A method for providing sensory perceptions in a sensor system of a prosthetic device, the method comprising:

• sensing an external operation magnitude from a plurality of sensor groups, each sensor group sensing a fraction of the external operation magnitude;
• generating a plurality of sensory inputs from the sensor groups in response to the external operation, wherein the plurality of sensory inputs are in a plurality of sensory input signals;
• generating an electrical input signal with a magnitude;
• controlling the electrical input signal with the plurality of sensory inputs to create a plurality of sensory output signals collectively having a stimulus with a collective stimulus magnitude corresponding to the electrical input signal magnitude, each sensory output signal having a fraction of the stimulus magnitude corresponding to the fraction of the external operation magnitude sensed by one of the sensor groups;
• and
• transmitting each of the sensory output signals to a designated one of each of a plurality of contacts through a designated one of a plurality of channels;
• wherein controlling the output comprises:
• processing the sensory input signals to create a plurality of control signals;
• and
• controlling the electrical input signal with the control signals by applying the control signals to the electrical input signal to create the plurality of sensory output signals;
• wherein the controlling the output step comprises digitally processing the electrical input signal with the plurality of sensory input signals;
• wherein processing the sensory input signals comprises:
• counting frequency pulse data in the sensory input signals within a discrete time frame;
• and
• processing the frequency pulse data to determine the fraction of the stimulus magnitude to be generated in each of the sensory output signals;
• wherein receiving the sensory input signals into a frequency counter comprises:
• counting the frequency pulse data in the sensory input signals as binary values in a binary counter within a discrete time frame;
• and
• storing the binary values for a delay time before transmitting the binary values.

A sensory feedback system for use with a prosthetic device comprising:

• a power source adapted to transmit an electrical input signal;
• a plurality of sensors each operable to create a sensory input in response to an external operation thereon;
• a plurality of contacts each adapted to receive a sensory output signal;
• a plurality of channels each connected to one of the plurality of contacts and adapted to carry one of the sensory output signals to the contact to which it is connected;
• and
• a control and processing center adapted to receive the electrical input signal from the power source and to receive the sensory inputs from the sensors, to create the sensory output signals by processing the sensory inputs to create processed input signals and applying each of the processed input signals to the electrical input signal so that each sensory output signal has a particular stimulus with a particular stimulus level that corresponds to a particular processed input signal, and to transmit the sensory output signals to the contacts through the channels.

A sensory feedback system for a prosthetic device comprising:

• a power source adapted to transmit an electrical power signal and an electrical input signal;
• a control and processing center adapted to receive the electrical input signal and to transmit a plurality of sensory output signals;
• a plurality of contacts each adapted to receive a designated one of the sensory output signals;
• a plurality of inductance-based pressure sensors each adapted to receive the electrical power signal, to change the electrical power signal to a sensory input signal representing pressure applied thereto, and to transmit the sensory input signal therefrom;
• and
• a sensor controller adapted to route the electrical power signal to each inductance-based pressure sensor and to return the sensory input signal from each inductance-based pressure sensor to the control and processing center;
• wherein the control and processing center is further adapted to process the sensory input signals and the electrical input signal to create a plurality of sensory output signals each representing the pressure applied to at least one of the inductance-based pressure sensors, and to transmit the sensory output signals to the contacts.