Patent US5539649A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5539649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated design and manufacture of artificial limbs
Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
•
Filing: 1995-01-17
•
Granted: 1996-07-23
•
Expires: 2015-01-17
Abstract
Abstract The system for automated design and construction of artificial limb sockets for amputees consists of an array of ultrasound transducers especially constructed to insonify the residual limb of an amputee. The time-of-flight information recovered from this procedure is then stored in a computer, where it can be processed to provide dimensional information with regard to the relative location of the limb, skin, and bone surfaces in space. This three dimensional information is then used to produce an image of the limb with a computer aided design system for customized prosthetic design and manufacture.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicolas Walsh
- 👤 Virgil Faulkner
- 👤 Keith S. Pickens
- 👤 Mark V. Muller
- 👤 Henry L. Grothues
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8993; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/5044; A61F2/5046; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y50/00; B33Y80/00; G01S15/8934; G01S15/8938; A61F2/78; A61F2/80; A61F2002/505; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A system for producing a three-dimensional topographic image of a portion of a human limb and for producing a prosthetic device for attachment to said limb, comprising: transducer means for generating an ultrasonic signal and for directing said ultrasonic signal toward said limb, said transducer further comprising means for detecting portions of said ultrasonic signals reflected by the surface of said limb and by the surface of the bone within said limb and for producing electronic signals in response thereto; means for moving said transducer to a plurality of positions proximate to the surface of said limb; means for tracking a source point in space of said ultrasonic signal; data processing means for processing a plurality of said electronic signals from said transducer and information from said tracking means to produce an electronic data representation of said surfaces of said limb and said bone; data modification means for defining a limb socket surface structure for said prosthetic device based on modification of said electronic data representation of said surface of said limb and according to said electronic data representation of said surface of said bone, said modification serving to provide optimal support structures to areas on said limb socket surface proximal to said bone; and a numerically controlled mill for automated production of said prosthetic device for attachment to said limb, said numerically controlled mill being responsive to control signals generated by said data processing means and said data modification means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
241 words
A system for producing a three-dimensional topographic image of a portion of a human limb and for producing a prosthetic device for attachment to said limb, comprising: transducer means for generating an ultrasonic signal and for directing said ultrasonic signal toward said limb, said transducer further comprising means for detecting portions of said ultrasonic signals reflected by the surface of said limb and by the surface of the bone within said limb and for producing electronic signals in response thereto; means for moving said transducer to a plurality of positions proximate to the surface of said limb; means for tracking a source point in space of said ultrasonic signal; data processing means for processing a plurality of said electronic signals from said transducer and information from said tracking means to produce an electronic data representation of said surfaces of said limb and said bone; data modification means for defining a limb socket surface structure for said prosthetic device based on modification of said electronic data representation of said surface of said limb and according to said electronic data representation of said surface of said bone, said modification serving to provide optimal support structures to areas on said limb socket surface proximal to said bone; and a numerically controlled mill for automated production of said prosthetic device for attachment to said limb, said numerically controlled mill being responsive to control signals generated by said data processing means and said data modification means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for visual display of a graphic representation of the topology of said surface of said limb, said bone, and said prosthetic device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 2, further comprising archival data storage means for storing a multiplicity of said graphic representations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 3, said system utilizing stereolithography techniques to produce said topographic image of said limb, said bone, and said prosthetic device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1, said transducer means comprising a multiplicity of individual transducers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system according to claim 1, further comprising a group of one or more stationary transducers, said group of stationary transducers providing electronic signal data used to eliminate movement artifacts from said electronic data representation of said surfaces of said limb and said bone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for visual display of a graphic representation of the topology of said surface structure for said prosthetic device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4575805A
Cited
US4436684A
Cited
US4436684B1
Cited
US5092022A
Cited
US4742464A
Cited
US4821200A
Cited
US5031120A
Cited
US4995087A
Cited
US5121334A
Cited
US5293326A
Cited
US5448489A
Cited
US5269309A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-23 | 2000-01-22 | 2000-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-23 | 2004-01-22 | 2004-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-23 | 2008-01-22 | 2008-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |