Simplified spine testing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9378662-B2
Application number	US-201214236121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2012
Priority date	Aug 4, 2011
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A sample testing device includes a motor, a gear reducer, and an output shaft coupled for rotation by the motor via the gear reducer. The sample testing device further includes a first device adapted to enable the output shaft to move linearly in a first direction substantially parallel with an axis of the output shaft and a second device coupled to the first device for enabling the output shaft to move linearly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The sample testing can further include a third device coupled to the first and second devices for enabling the output shaft to translate linearly in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sample testing device comprising:
a motor;
a gear reducer coupled to the motor;
a spline adapter coupled to the motor via the gear reducer;
the motor, the gear reducer and the spline adapter mounted to a body;
a shaft supporting the body having the motor, the gear reducer and the spline adapter mounted thereto for linear motion on the shaft; and
a ball spline shaft supported by the spline adapter substantially perpendicular to an axis of the shaft for rotation by the motor via the spline adapter and the gear reducer, wherein an end of the ball spline shaft opposite the spline adapter is coupleable to a sample under test.

2. The sample testing device of claim 1 , wherein the body is adapted to move linearly on the shaft in response to rotation of the ball spline shaft via the motor and the gear reducer.

3. The sample testing device of claim 2 , wherein the spline adapter and the ball spline shaft are adapted to enable translation of the ball spline shaft linearly along its axis during rotation of the ball spline shaft via the motor and the gear reducer.

4. The sample testing device of claim 1 , wherein the spline adapter and the ball spline shaft are adapted to enable translation of the ball spline shaft linearly along its axis during rotation of the ball spline shaft via the motor and the gear reducer.

5. The sample testing device of claim 1 , wherein the gear reducer includes: a planetary gear reducer, a pair of pulleys coupled by a belt, or both.

6. The sample testing device of claim 1 , further including a pair of bearing blocks coupling opposite ends of the shaft for linear motion to a pair of linear shafts having axes disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

7. The sample testing device of claim 6 , wherein an axis of the ball spine shaft is disposed substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular with axes of the pair of linear shafts and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

8. The sample testing device of claim 1 , further including:
a mounting arm; and
a pair of columns coupled between the shaft and the mounting arm.

9. The sample testing device of claim 8 , wherein the mounting arm is pivotally coupled to a table.

10. A sample testing device comprising:
a motor;
a gear reducer;
an output shaft coupled for rotation by the motor via the gear reducer;
a first device adapted to enable the output shaft to move linearly in a first direction substantially parallel with an axis of the output shaft; and
a second device coupled to the first device for enabling the output shaft to move linearly in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The sample testing device of claim 10 , further comprising a third device coupled to the first and second devices for enabling the output shaft to translate linearly in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

12. The sample testing device of claim 10 , wherein the first device is one of the following:
a linear slide assembly; or
a ball spline supporting the output shaft for linear translation thereof.

13. The sample testing device of claim 12 , wherein the output shaft is a spline shaft.

14. The sample testing device of claim 10 , wherein the second device is one of the following:
a linear slide assembly; or
a body supported by a shaft for linear motion thereon, wherein the motor, the gear reducer, and the output shaft are mounted to the body.

15. The sample testing device of claim 10 , wherein the third device is one of the following:
a linear slide assembly; or
one or more shafts, each of which is coupled to the output shaft via a bearing block.

16. A sample testing device comprising:
a multi-axis motion assembly;
a motor supported by the multi-axis motion assembly;
a gear reducer supported by the multi-axis motion assembly; and
an output shaft coupled for rotation by the motor via the gear reducer, wherein the multi-axis motion assembly is adapted to enable the combination of the motor, the gear reducer and the output shaft to move in substantially perpendicular directions, including a direction parallel with an axis of the output shaft, when the output shaft is rotatably driven by the motor via the gear reducer.

17. The sample testing device of claim 16 , wherein the multi-axis motion assembly comprises a plurality of linear slide assemblies coupled together such that the plurality of linear slide assemblies are moveable in substantially perpendicular directions to each other.

18. The sample testing device of claim 16 , wherein the multi-axis motion assembly is adapted to enable the combination of the motor, the gear reducer and the output shaft to move in three perpendicular directions.

19. The sample testing device of claim 16 , further including a device for coupling the output shaft to a sample under test.

20. The sample testing device of claim 19 , further including a device for repositioning the output shaft axis relative to the sample under test.

Assignees

• Carroll Norman L
• Cartwright Edward C
• Gephardt Robert J
• Dixon Christopher L
• Goel Vijay K
• Friis Elizabeth A
• Ats Holdings Llc
• Univ Kansas
• Univ Toledo

Inventors

• Carroll Norman L
• Cartwright Edward C
• Gephardt Robert J
• Dixon Christopher L
• Goel Vijay K
• Friis Elizabeth A

Classifications

• G01N3/20

  by applying steady bending forces (G01N3/26, G01N3/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2/468

  Testing instruments for artificial joints (for testing non-implantable prostheses A61F2/76) · CPC title

• G09B23/30 Primary

  Anatomical models {(G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N3/08 Primary

  by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence) · CPC title