Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Arm or component and actuator or connector therefor
Patent
1992-04-02
1993-06-15
Shay, Randy C.
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Arm or component and actuator or connector therefor
901 39, 2941031, 623 64, A61F 266
Patent
active
052193667
ABSTRACT:
A bi-directionally operable terminal device for an upper limb prosthesis is provided having a frame that includes a rigid finger portion which, to simulate the fingers of a natural hand, is partially curled in a manner generally corresponding in configuration and location to the normal relaxed finger condition of the natural hand; this rigid finger portion of said frame effectively constituting a first gripping jaw means. To said frame is attached a thumb-like unit that is adapted to swing towards and away from said rigid finger portion of the frame; this thumb-like unit including its immediately adjacent frame support structure effectively constituting a second jaw means. Operatively disposed between said thumb-like unit and said rigid finger portion of the frame, for bi-directional gripping movement, is the hooked forward end of a finger slide that is movably carried by said frame; this hooked forward end of said finger slide effectively constituting a third or central jaw means. The said first, second and third jaw means are disposed in substantially linear array. Forward movement of said finger slide (the third jaw means) enables an object to be gripped between said hooked end of the finger slide, (the third jaw means) and the rigid finger portion of said frame (the first jaw means) while rearward movement of said finger slide enables an object to be gripped between said thumb-like unit (the second jaw means) and said hooked end of the finger slide. A portion of the thumb-like unit is positionally indexible relative to the remaining part of the thumb-like unit; and further the thumb-like unit as a whole is adapted to be activated in response to the actuation of said finger slide. Separate corresponding and cooperating index fingers are provided on said finger portion of said frame and on said forward end of said finger slide respectively. The synergistic operation of the combination of these features affords a significantly wider variety of gripping modes for the present improved terminal device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2400140 (1946-05-01), Sargeson
patent: 4332038 (1982-06-01), Freeland
patent: 4623183 (1986-11-01), Aomori
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