Method for configuring a myoelectrically controlled prosthesis system and prosthesis system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11707367-B2
Application number	US-201916407170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2019
Priority date	May 9, 2018
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

A method for configuring a myoelectrically controlled prosthetic system with a prosthesis socket and several lead electrodes for recording electric muscle activities, featuring the steps: placement of a surface electrode arrangement comprising several surface electrodes around the circumference of a residual limb, recording of electric muscle activity in muscles of the residual limb as electromyograhic signals, the activity being recorded by the surface electrodes, evaluation of the myoelectric signals with regards to the distinctness of the signals, selection of the control procedure that is to be used to control the prosthesis system, based on the evaluation of the distinctness of the signals, and fixing of the lead electrodes to the prosthesis socket.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for configuring a myoelectrically controlled prosthetic system with a prosthesis socket and several lead electrodes for recording electric muscle activities, the method comprising:
placing a surface electrode arrangement comprising several surface electrodes around a circumference of a residual limb;
recording electric muscle activity in muscles of the residual limb as electromyographic signals, the activity being recorded by the surface electrodes;
evaluating the myoelectric signals with regards to a distinctness of the signals;
selecting a control procedure that is to be used to control the prosthesis system, based on the evaluation of the distinctness of the signals;
fixing the lead electrodes to the prosthesis socket;
undertaking a selection and definition of the control procedure; and
selecting a dual channel control system as the control procedure, identifying the two most easily distinguishable myoelectric signals, and indicating the position of the corresponding electrodes on the residual limb in an indicator device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising designing the surface electrode arrangement to be independent from the prosthesis socket and placed separately from the prosthesis socket.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising arranging the surface electrode arrangement on the residual limb such that the surface electrode arrangement can be at least one of shifted and twisted.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising arranging the surface electrodes at an equal distance or at least at an equal distance from one another around the residual limb.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising evaluating the distinctness of the myoelectric signals of the surface electrodes on the basis of at least one of amplitude, duration, frequency and range.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising automatically executing the selection of the control procedure in a control unit on the basis of specific criteria.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting the position of the surface electrodes by a positioning aid from the residual limb to the prosthesis socket.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the position of the lead electrodes is indicated on the prosthesis socket, projected on the prosthesis socket or transferred onto the prosthesis socket by way of a positioning instruction.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of shifting and twisting the surface electrode arrangement on the residual limb into an end position, in which at least two signals can be detected, and the lead electrodes are fixed to the prosthesis socket correspondingly to the end position.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising fixing the lead electrodes to the prosthesis socket via a dome bolt connection.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising connecting the lead electrodes to a control unit via cables and mechanically securing the lead cables from becoming detached by way of a safety element.

12. A prosthesis system, comprising:
a prosthesis socket, which can be arranged on a residual limb;
several lead electrodes for recording electric muscle activities;
a control unit that is connected to the lead electrodes;
a driven prosthesis component, which is fixed to the prosthesis socket and coupled with the control unit; and
a surface electrode arrangement with several surface electrodes, which are configured to be arranged around a circumference of a residual limb, wherein the surface electrode arrangement is configured to be arranged on the residual limb such that the surface electrode arrangement can be at least one of shifted and twisted, wherein at least one of the surface electrodes and lead electrodes are designed as a dome bolt with a dome nut and are bolted to the surface electrode arrangement or the prosthesis socket;
wherein the control unit is connected to the lead electrodes or surface electrodes via plugs such that the control unit can be detached, and
wherein an adapter is arranged between the control unit and the plug for converting pattern recognition signals into dual channel control signals.

13. The prosthesis system according claim 12 , wherein the surface electrode arrangement is designed to be a closed, circular strap.

14. The prosthesis system according claim 12 , wherein the surface electrode arrangement is designed to be elastic in a circumferential direction.

15. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein the surface electrodes are arranged in a circumferential direction at an equal distance or at least at an equal distance from one another on the surface electrode arrangement.

16. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of the surface electrode arrangement and a positioning aid features at least one stabilizing element that extends in a proximal/distal direction.

17. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein a replaceable cover is arranged on the surface electrode arrangement.

18. The prosthesis system according claim 17 , wherein recesses for surface electrodes are designed in the cover.

19. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein markings are arranged on at least one of a positioning aid and a replaceable cover.

20. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein the dome bolt comprises an undercut and a passage spot is sealed against moisture.

21. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein at least one cable is fixed to the prosthesis socket or the surface electrode arrangement such that the at least one cable can be detached and is in electrical contact with the lead electrode or the surface electrode.

22. The prosthesis system according to claim 12 , wherein the plugs are mechanically secured against becoming detached by way of a safety element.

Assignees

• Bock Otto Healthcare Prod Gmbh

Inventors

• Messner Christoph
• Amsuess Sebastian
• Brandmayr Georg
• Wehrle Martin
• Friedrich Markus
• Steininger Johannes

Classifications

• A61B5/397

  Analysis of electromyograms · CPC title

• A61F2/72 Primary

  Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric · CPC title

• A61B5/256

  Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands · CPC title

• A61B5/273

  Connection of cords, cables or leads to electrodes · CPC title

• A61B5/296

  for electromyography [EMG] · CPC title