Patent ID: 6500210
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method for providing sensory perceptions in a sensor system of a prosthetic device, the method comprising:sensing an external operation magnitude from a plurality of sensor groups, each sensor group sensing a fraction of the external operation magnitude; generating a plurality of sensory inputs from the sensor groups in response to the external operation; generating an electrical input signal with a magnitude; controlling the electrical input signal with the plurality of sensory inputs to create a plurality of sensory output signals collectively having a stimulus with a collective stimulus magnitude corresponding to the electrical input signal magnitude, each sensory output signal having a fraction of the stimulus magnitude corresponding to the fraction of the external operation magnitude sensed by one of the sensor groups; and transmitting each of the sensory output signals to a designated one of a plurality of contacts through a designated one of a plurality of channels; wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a non-floating ground contact and a floating ground contact, and wherein the method further comprises creating a potential difference between the floating ground contact and the non-floating ground contact and creating a partial circuit path from the non-floating ground contact through a residual limb and then to the floating ground contact.