Patent Publication Number: US-2009229398-A1

Title: Electromechanical motion hand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE:  
     U.S.61/070,417, 03/24/2008 filing date. Provisional. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to the Human Prosthetics field and was designed twenty (20) years ago in Colombia when the present claimant met a man who had both of his hands amputed. In those days this claimant had not seen any human being using an electrical prothesis, but prosthetic curved hooks which had to be moved by using the back muscles of the patient. Thinking in those impediments and the harmly effort of those limb people, this claimant engaged in a race to match the design, developing and magnufacturing of his electromechanical motion hand (hereinafter, EMH). 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The EMH will allow an arm&#39;s limb patient a “second Chance” to grab and release objects againg by assembling it to the remaining of his/her limb arm. Two remote control unit (RCU), one installed as a foot pad as illustrated in  FIGS. 1C and 1D , will control the grabbing and release motion. A second RCU installed in the back of the patient between the shoulder blades will cont- rol the wrist motion.  FIGS. 6-6A  This EMH is wireless, an innovation that improve the assembling and the use of it for persons without technical skills. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The preferred embodiment  10  is an electromechanical motion hand  10  which simulates the mechanical function of a hand and comprising: 
       The frame  11  secured a group of pivotable members  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c ,  13   d  and  13   e , which simulates the shape, position and mechanical function of each fingers. Connected to the frame  11  there is a flat portion  12  which extends downward, it includes a battery pack  14  electrically connected to a momentary normally open switch  15 , to electromechanical actuator  50 , to a rotating-altern device  16  (commutator), and to a limit switch  30 . All of them are the electrical path which allows for performing of the actuator  50  to perform in a direction to drive the main belt  17 . The next input does the actuator to perform on opposite direction; thus the preferred embodiment  10  close or open the group of pivotable members  13   a - 13   e  by activate the switch  15 , which presently have been illustrated in an user&#39;s foot  21   FIGS. 1A-1D . 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment  10  coming from  FIG. 1  in a rest position, the cover to simulates the skin is not illustrated, however, it illustrates a partial assembly of a single pivotable member  13   a  where the driver&#39;s belt is not illustrated. 
       The pivotable members  13   b ,  13   c ,  13   d  and  13   e  illustrates a fully assembly. Each fully assembly illustrates a belt  25   b    25   c ,  25   d  and  25   e  connected to the end section of each pivotable member. 
       The member  13   e  do not show the belt but show a spring means  27   e.    
       The rest of the members  13   a - 13   d  also has a spring means, but is not showed in the drawing figures. The function of the spring means is to mantain open the pivotable members when the belts  25   a - 25   e  release the pressure. A belt connected to the pivotable member  25   e  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The force applicated by the belts  25   a - 25   e  is large than the force produced by spring means  25   a - 25   e.    
       A pressure belt sensor  29   FIG. 2  controls and adjust the pressure on the main belt  17 . 
       A switch connected to a second belt sensor  30  have been used to automatically disconnect the power from the actuator  50 . 
       A manual adjustment could be completed by adjust the belt tensioner  29 . 
       Thereby the preferred embodiment  10  could be used to help people having amputed hands to simulate mechanically the function of his/her hands, to grab and release light objects and to be utilized as a transition to help those in adapting for the use of advanced prothesis. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This EMH as its title so describe it, is an electrome-chanical device which is compossed of many parts and joint together will simulate mechanically the function of a human hand and in this case, will allow a limb patient remain active despite of that impediment. The EMH parts as described in  FIGS. 1-6  as follows:
       10 , is the preferred embodiment     11 , is the frame of the EMH     12 , is the flat portion of the EMH     13   a - 13   e , are the pivotable members (fingers)     14 , is a 12V. DC. Battery     15 , is the food pad switch (RCU)     16 , is an electronic circuit (rotating alterning device)     17 , is the main belt system     18 , is a motor or actuator (wrist motion)     19 , is the wrist motion switch (RCU)     20 , is an on/oof switch     21 , is a foot pad (RCU)     22 , is an IR emisor LED (infrared)     25   a - 25   d , is the nylon tendons     261 - 26   d , is the tendon fasteners     27   e , is a spring means     28 , is an IR receptor LED     29 , is a pressure belt sensor     30 , is a limit switch     31 , is the wrist gear     32 , is the main belt gear     33 , is a secondary gear     34 , is the tendon joint bars     35   a - 35   c , is the tendon pulleys     50 , is the main belt motor or actuator   

     The preferred embodiment  10 , and the pivotable members  13   a - 13   e  will be constructed of reinforced plastics/composites with mechanical properties which significantly will improve its functions. This EMH will be essentially constructed in fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials and will be typically processed under standard thermoplastic processing equipment. 
     For a full assembly of the EMH mechanical parts, any manufacturer could tracing the following steps: 
     Once the preferred embodiment  10  and the pivotable members  13   a - 13   e  has been thermoplastically constructed, they shall be drilled out to then be secured as showed in  FIG. 1 . 
     The joints which conform the pivotable members shall be assembled between it by securing them using the formed steel pin  24  there depicted. Each pivotable member is compossed of three parts (as the fingers in the human being), and once joined they shall be fitted in the EMH&#39;s frame  11  by securing them to it using the same formed steel pin  24  used for the joints. (Pin  24 , was standarized to reduce cost and easying the magnufacturing processing). 
     Once the pivotable members has been fitted in the EMH frames, then the nylon tendons shall be secured to the extreme or end section of each pivotable member by using a screw  26 . 
     Each tendon shall be passed individually through the space betweeen the pivotable member and each pin.  FIG. 3 . 
     The pins  24  performs double function: one, is to secure the joints between itself and to the frame; and two, it does as basis for each tendon can sustent the pulling pressure to contract or close the pivotable members  13   a - 13   e .  FIG. 3 . 
     After the tendons has been secured to the pivotable members, then they shall be fastened to the alluminium bar  34 . See,  FIG. 5 . 
     A main tendon shall be fastened in the center of the bar, and then it shall be passed between two parallel pulleys  35   a ,  35   b  mounted in a balancing and finally, it shall be secured to the main belt system  17 .  FIG. 5 . 
     A pressure rendered upon the balancing pulleys is the result of the pulling effect of the main belt upon the nylon tendons when the EMH is in grabbing motion. An object grabbed by the EMH makes the main tendon performing a pushing pressure upon the balancing pulleys forcing it to push a micro single pole switch  30  which cuts the power supply from the motor  50 . It cause the EMH grabbing motion be stopped.  FIG. 4 . 
     The main belt is driven for a motor or actuator  50  which is engaged to it through a gear  32 . Motor  50  also drives a secondary gear  33  which controls the single pivotable member  13   e .  FIG. 4 . 
     For a full attaching of the EMH to a limb arm is preferable follows the steps described below: 
     The preferred embodiment  10 , shall be fitted in the limb arm by encapsuling the limb in the end case of the EMH. There will be also a couple of leather belts which will keep the EMH properly secured.  FIG. 6-6A . 
     A wrist motion remote control unit shall be fitted in the back of the patient, between the shoulder blades which after a light movement of the side wished does start the wrist motion. e.g., 
     A right movement does start the wrist motion to the left side, and viceverse.  FIG. 6-6A . 
     A foot pad remote control unit shall be fitted in a foot of the patient. Then, after a single input of it, the EMH does start the grabbing motion. A second input will release the pressure of the fingers.  FIG. 1C-1D .