Electrically driven hand orthosis device for providing finger prehension
US3967321A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 1975 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F5/013
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The arm splint of an orthosis is attached to the forearm of a cervical 6 - cervical 7 motor lesion quadraplegic. The arm splint includes a thumb flange for holding the thumb of the patient, and a pivoting finger trough for holding the first and middle fingers of the patient. A Bowden cable is connected to the pivoting finger trough and is operated by a motor to cause the pivoting finger trough to pivot to close towards the thumb flange to provide finger prehension so that the patient can grasp objects. The motor is controlled by control circuitry that is operated by the patient touching a touch sensitive contact that is typically mounted on the arm rest of a wheelchair. The control means and the motor are powered by a twelve-volt car battery carried on the wheelchair. The control means also includes a time delay so that the patient can operate the control means by touching the touch sensitive contact and then move the arm and hand to a position ready for grasping. Subsequent contact with the touch sensitive contact results in reverse operation of the motor so that the grasped object can be released.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.