Arm prosthetic device with antenna including housing as radiating element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10918500-B2
Application number	US-201715675990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2017
Priority date	Feb 6, 2007
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A prosthetic arm apparatus including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a prosthetic support apparatus that may be adorned by the user. A prosthetic limb segment includes a housing having an input interface and an output interface, the output interface and the input interface being moveable with respect to one another, a motorized drive disposed within the housing, the motorized drive effecting movement of at least one of the output interface or the input interface, and a controller disposed within the housing for controlling actuation of the motorized drive. The controller may be configured to communicate with at least a second motorized drive of at least a second prosthetic limb segment to control actuation thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A prosthetic limb segment comprising:
a housing having an input interface and an output interface, the output interface and the input interface being moveable with respect to one another;
a motorized drive disposed within the housing, the motorized drive effecting movement of at least one of the output interface or the input interface; and
a controller disposed within the housing for controlling actuation of the motorized drive; and
an antenna connected with the controller, the antenna including the housing as a radiating element.

2. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 1 , additionally comprising a user interface integrally formed in the housing and in communication with the controller.

3. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having at least one light emitting diode (LED) for displaying information from the controller.

4. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 3 , wherein the LED displays a current mode of operation.

5. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 3 , wherein the LED provides a low power alert.

6. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 3 , wherein the LED provides a system failure alert.

7. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for displaying information from the controller.

8. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array for displaying operational mode information from the controller.

9. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes at least one input member for providing a signal to the controller.

10. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 9 , wherein the signal causes the controller to alter information being displayed on a status indicator.

11. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a protective cover.

12. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is flexible to allow actuation of an input member disposed beneath the protective cover.

13. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is translucent to allow light from a light emitting diode (LED) disposed beneath the protective cover therethrough.

14. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured for transmitting and receiving signals.

15. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is electrically isolated from the controller.

16. A prosthetic limb segment comprising:
a housing having at least one movable interface;
a motorized drive disposed within the housing, the motorized drive effecting movement of the at least one movable interface;
a controller disposed within the housing for controlling actuation of the motorized drive; and
at least one antenna in connection with the controller for transmitting and receiving signals, the at least one antenna including the housing as a radiating element;
wherein the controller is configured to communicate with at least a second motorized drive of at least a second prosthetic limb segment to control actuation thereof.

17. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 16 , wherein the housing is electrically isolated from the controller.

18. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 16 , additionally comprising a user interface integrally formed in the housing and in communication with the controller.

19. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 18 , wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having at least one light emitting diode (LED) for displaying information from the controller.

20. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 19 , wherein the LED is configured to display a current mode of operation.

21. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 18 , wherein the user interface includes a status indicator having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for displaying information from the controller.

22. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array for displaying operational mode information from the controller.

23. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 18 , wherein the user interface includes at least one input member for providing a signal to the controller.

24. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 23 wherein the signal causes the controller to alter information being displayed on a status indicator.

25. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 18 , wherein the user interface includes a protective cover.

26. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is flexible to allow actuation of an input member disposed beneath the protective cover.

27. The prosthetic limb segment according to claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the protective cover is translucent to allow light from a light emitting diode (LED) disposed beneath the protective cover therethrough.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Evans Christopher O
• Perry N Christopher
• Van Der Merwe Dirk A
• Violette Keith D
• Coulter Stewart M
• Doyon Thomas A
• Blumberg Jr David

Classifications

• A61F2/74

  fluid {, i.e. hydraulic or pneumatic} · CPC title

• A61F2002/6836

  Gears specially adapted therefor, e.g. reduction gears · CPC title

• A61F2002/5083

  modular · CPC title

• A61F2002/30462

  retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable · CPC title

• F16D41/12

  with hinged pawl co-operating with teeth, cogs, or the like (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title