Systems and methods for postural control of a multi-function prosthesis

US11478367B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate · US

Inventors

• Jacob Segil · Boulder, US
• Richard Weir · Longmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 27, 2020
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 22, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/7635
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods for postural control of a multi-function prosthesis are provided. Various embodiments provide for a postural controller that use EMG signals to drive a point in a posture space and outputs continuously varying joint angles for a powered prosthetic hand. The postural controller can include an EMG signal processing unit to receive signals from electrodes for processing (e.g., band pass filtering, rectification, root mean square averaging, dynamic tuning, etc.). The processed EMG signals can then be combined or converted to produce a point in the postural control domain. The PC domain map defines the posture that corresponds to each PC cursor coordinate. This map can have limitless possible postures and limitless possible positions of the postures. The Joint Angle Transform converts the PC cursor coordinate into the joint angle array which is sent to the prosthetic hand thereby creating more natural movements.