Artificial muscle
AssigneeMuscle Tech Ltd.
InventorZalman Peles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulically actuated artificial muscle for use with orthetic devices, prosthetic devices or as an actuator for other applications in medical or robotic devices. Working fluid is pumped between two expandable fluid-containing cells, which are complimentary active elements of the artificial muscle. This eliminates the need for a storage reservoir, thereby providing a self-contained, force efficient device. Each of the preferred embodiments described has one or more expandable fluid-containing cell defined by at least one flexible wall. The flexible walls are configured so as to have elastic properties that are limited to predefined directions of expansion and contraction.
Claims22
A method for causing relative movement between at least two connecting elements, the at least two connecting elements being for attaching a hydraulic actuator to an application device, the method comprising:
- transferring incompressible fluid between at least one first expandable fluid-containing cell and at least one second expandable fluid-containing cell such that said transferring of incompressible fluid out of one of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell and into an other of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell thereby causing substantially simultaneous contracting of said one and expanding of said other of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell, said transferring being performed using a pump system in fluid communication with said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell thereby forming a closed fluid system;
- wherein said at least one first expandable fluid-containing cell is at least partially defined by a first displaceable containment-wall, said first expandable fluid-containing cell being mechanically linked to at least a first of the connecting elements, said at least one second expandable fluid-containing cell is at least partially defined by a second displaceable containment-wall, said second expandable fluid-containing cell being mechanically linked to at least a second of the connecting elements, and at least one of said first displaceable containment-wall and second displaceable containment-wall is a flexible wall and said expanding of each of said expandable fluid-containing cells generates relative movement between at least two of the connecting elements.
A hydraulic actuator comprising:
- (a) at least two connecting elements for attaching the hydraulic actuator to an application device;
- (b) at least one first expandable fluid-containing cell at least partially defined by a first displaceable containment-wall, said first expandable fluid-containing cell being mechanically linked to at least a first of said connecting elements;
- (c) at least one second expandable fluid-containing cell at least partially defined by a second displaceable containment-wall, said second expandable fluid-containing cell being mechanically linked to at least a second of said connecting elements;
- and
- (d) a pump system in fluid communication with said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell thereby forming a closed fluid system, said pump system configured to transfer incompressible fluid out of one of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell and into an other of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell, thereby causing substantially simultaneous contraction of said one and expansion of said other of said first expandable fluid-containing cell and said second expandable fluid-containing cell;
- wherein at least one of said first displaceable containment-wall and second displaceable containment-wall is a flexible wall and said expansion of each of said expandable fluid-containing cells generates relative movement between at least two of said connecting elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.