Tactile stimulus receptor for a hand prosthesis

Claim 2

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure transducer means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic impulses proportional to pressure experienced; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the tactile pressure means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff member which substantially encircles and abuts the user's truncated limb, the cuff member being variably pressurized.

Claim 3

The means of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric means comprises a piezoelectric film.

Claim 4

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for providing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the variable pressure generating means comprising a motor which operates a hydraulic cylinder to produce variable hydraulic pressure according to the operation of the motor.

Claim 5

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for providing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means comprising a tactile pressure means adapted to be placed in abutment with the user, and variable pressure generating means operatively connected to the pressure transducer means for producing a variable tactile pressure stimulus proportional to pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the variable pressure generating means comprising a motor which operates a hydraulic cylinder to produce variable hydraulic pressure according to the operation of the motor.

Claim 6

The means of claim 3 wherein the motor comprises a stepper motor which is reversible so as to operate to increase and decrease pressure in the hydraulic cylinder according to instruction.

Claim 7

The means of claim 4 wherein the pressure stimulus means further includes an electrical control circuitry means.

Claim 8

The means of claim 5 wherein the electrical control circuitry includes a Schmidtt trigger to detect signal polarity for determining the direction in which the stepper motor will turn.

Claim 9

The means of claim 5 wherein the electrical control circuitry includes a signal control means which automatically reduces the signal to the pressure stimulus means when no pressure changes are detected so that no pressure stimulus changes are affected.

Claim 10

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means including an electrical control circuitry means which in turn includes a noise reduction electrical circuitry means for reducing common mode pick-up noise.

Claim 11

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; and pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means, the pressure stimulus means including an electrical control circuitry means which in turn includes a noise reduction electrical circuitry means for reducing common mode pick-up noise.

Claim 12

The means of claim 8 wherein the electrical control circuitry includes a band pass filter for reducing the effects of temperature and low frequency noise.

Claim 13

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means; the pressure stimulus means further including an electrical control circuitry means which includes a signal control means which automatically reduces the signal to the pressure stimulus means when no pressure changes are detected so that no pressure stimulus are affected.

Claim 14

A tactile stimulus receptor for use with a myoelectric prosthesis comprising: pressure transducer means positioned on the prosthesis for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the prosthesis, and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means; the pressure stimulus means further including an electrical control circuitry means which includes a signal control means which automatically reduces the signal to the pressure stimulus means when no pressure changes are detected so that no pressure stimulus are affected.

Claim 15

The prosthesis device including a tactile stimulus receptor to allow, precise and accurate control of the prosthesis device comprising: a myoelectrically controlled artificial hand means; pressure transducer means for position on the myoelectrically controlled artificial hand for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the artificial hand; and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic pulses proportional to pressure experienced; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means the pressure stimulus means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff means adaptable to be positioned around the user's truncated limb and a hydraulic cylinder for producing variable hydraulic pressure in response to operation of a motor, which in turn operates in response to the electronic impulses from the piezoelectric means to produce constriction proportional to the release of pressure sensed at the pressure transducer means.

Claim 16

The prosthesis device including a tactile stimulus receptor to allow, precise and accurate control of the prosthesis device comprising: a myoelectrically controlled artificial hand means; pressure transducer means for position on the myoelectrically controlled artificial hand for sensing pressure experienced by gripping of an object by the artificial hand; and converting the sensed pressure into a corresponding signal, the pressure means comprising a piezoelectric means which creates electronic pulses proportional to pressure experienced; pressure stimulus means adapted to be operatively positioned on a user for producing a pressure stimulus corresponding to the pressure sensed by the pressure transducer means the pressure stimulus means comprising a hydraulically pressurizable cuff means adaptable to be positioned around the user's truncated limb and a hydraulic cylinder for producing variable hydraulic pressure in response to operation of a motor, which in turn operates in response to the electronic impulses from the piezoelectric means to produce constriction proportional to the release of pressure sensed at the pressure transducer means.

Claim 19

The method of claim 12 comprising the further step of reducing electrical noise to reduce interference with the accurate operation of the artificial hand.

Claim 20

The method claim 12 further comprising the step of reducing the effects of temperature to operation of the artificial hand, by including electrical circuitry to suppress the effects of temperature.

Claim 21

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of producing a signal which automatially reduces hydraulic pressure to the cuff means when no pressure changes are detected by the pressure transducer means.