IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, OR SUBSTITUTES FOR NATURAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, AND PARTS THEREOF
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, OR SUBSTITUTES FOR
NATURAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, AND PARTS THEREOF."-A communication
from abroad by José Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard St. Martin, Paris,
France...
Sealed the 24th August 1860, and dated the 14th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
March 1860.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, OR SUBSTITUTES FOR
NATURAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, AND PARTS THEREOF," conimunicated to me
from abroad by José Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard St. Martin, Paris, France, to.
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of artificial members or substitutes
for the natural hand, foot, and limbs, and parts thereof.
In this Invention it is proposed to employ spiral springs as motive agents,
with which springs pulleys, cords, or pulls and points of attachment may be
combined. To explain the improvements, I proceed to describe them as applied
to a case where only a small portion of the natural member is remaining, as
they can evidently be more readily and simply adapted where more thereof
has been left, and a less considerable portion, as only the hand or fore-arm for
example, has to be supplied by artificial means.

page_text: Artificial arm.-A cord is attached at one end to a lever connected to part
of the artificial arm, and at the other end to a point on the remaining stump
or sentient corporeal part, so that the wearer by a voluntary movement, may
open or extend the arm, overcoming the resistance of a spiral spring which
tends to close it towards the body; this cord regulates the degree of tension of
another cord, according to the position of a pulley over which it passes, and
thus actuates the extension of the fingers, the pulley being adjustable by the
other hand, with suitable arrangements for regulating the tenacity and vigour
of the artificial hand; this may also be done by spiral springs, as herein-after
described. The cord operates as a sort of check to regulate, slacken, or
moderate the arm's expansion. The artificial hand may be fitted to tubular
pieces of leather or other suitable material, covering the stump where remain-
ing, simulating the human arm, and together with the hand and mechanism
composing the artificial limb. In the arrangement preferred, an armlet is
fitted round the stump, serving as the first fulcrum of the action. The afore-
said lever is connected thereto. Axes or joints are provided for the play of
wrist and elbow. The lever is fitted in the centre of articulation, and attached
at the outer end to the tube representing the fore-arın. A sort of hook with
toothed wheel may be used to regulate the tension of the regulating cord or
cord that transmits action, and a strong spring is set in the centre of the
foregoing motion, operating independently or as auxiliary to the first-named
spring. For obtaining a motion of the main part of the fore-arm in a rotary
direction without interfering with the other mechanism two tubes, are provided.
Levers and single and double pulleys may be used for increasing, reducing, or
-regulating the power and time of travel of the limb for better imitating natural
action. The fingers are composed of artificial finger joints articulated progres-
sively and independently, and working nearly at right angles on their centres,
which may be of silvered steel, covered with silk cloth or other fabric for
resisting oxydation and friction of the material composing the hand. Each
articulation has a slot or notch lengthwise of the finger, with a pin across at the
part, in which is a recess in each slot serving as a stop and preventing jamming.
The tendons consist of cords of sinewy filament, silk, steel wire, or other
.suitable material attached at their inner ends to points on the stump, whence
impulsion may be transmitted to them; near the bottom of each finger is a
spiral spring, which communicates action to the finger joints through the
tendons. The axis of each spring is mounted on plates fitted with a square
for winding it up and regulating tenacity and vigour of grasp. The tendons
that move in an opposite direction to the foregoing are actuated by the
articulations and the mechanism of the tubes; the finger tendons may be worked

page_text: together by a single cord attached to the armlet, by connecting them to a plate
or appliance, the cord drawing them in the direction of a slot in which work
studs or screws connected to the upper and outer part of the palm; a separate
piece may be mounted on an axis or joint for actuating the little finger, some-
what in advance of the others, and the thumb operated by the pulley arrange-
ment. The cord is connected to a pulley, round which passes a double cord,
which rides also on a convex seat to accommodate itself to the varying posi-
tions of the wrist joint and palm. The end of the lever is concealed by a cap.
and the fitting of the tubes is strengthened by and the elbow joint received in
straps or braces.
Artificial leg. In the arrangement preferred of this limb, the skeleton or
framework may be of a light and supple wood, strengthened at parts by metal
plates or braces. The foot is articulated at the base by flexible leather joints
or otherwise. A strong spiral spring works the ankle joint and supports the
weight of the wearer on the heel, so as not to distress the stump. A rounded
piece is centred at the ankle joint for the longitudinal movement of the foot;
another strong spiral spring in expanding produces the artificial knee-joint
action, and hence the motion of the leg, assisted by the weight of the latter
when lifted for walking. Through the centre of the spherical piece represent-
ing the knee joint passes a stationary axis, to which are connected rods or bars
constituting the calf and thigh, the end of a bar travels about one-fourth of a
revolution in a slot, and rests at a stop, so as to come vertical when the wearer
begins to walk. A perforated steadying bar is fitted lengthwise of the thigh
for preventing too much oscillation of the lower part of the limb, its end is
covered with leather, and adjusted by inserting a moveable stud or pin into
one of its perforations, and thereby regulating the linb's oscillation, this the
person should try before wearing it. Braces or supports receive the knee-joint
axis, and connect the bars of calf and thigh, which fold at right angles when
the knee is bent. The stump is received in a socket lined with skin or other
comfortable material, and fitted with a screw for opening and closing it as
desired. The artificial limb is retained in a forked holder, strapped round the
waist, and with joints or hinges working vertically on horizontal axes and
plates, whose lateral play is provided for by centering pins or pivots; slots,
pins, and nuts adjust the part against which the upper hip bone bears, and a
buckling pad adapts the shape to the waist; the trouser is kept away from
the main articulation by an elastic web, and the part of the limb near the knee
joint is surrounded by a hoop or band.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th September 1860.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Michael. Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael Henry,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the 'said
Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, OR SUBSTI-
TUTES FOR NATURAL HANDS, FEET, AND LIMBS, AND PARIS THEREOP," a communica-
tion from abroad by José Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard St. Martin, Paris,
France, upon, the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Michael
enry, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
!
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
'
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of artificial
hands, feet, and limbs; or substitutes for natural hands, feet, and limbs, and
parts thereof. By means of these improvements mechanical movements are
obtained resembling the natural action of the human members; they are
cheap in construction, and of so simple a description as to be easily obtained,

page_text: and without being noticeable or conspicuous. An important part of this
Invention rests upon the novel mode herein described of applying spiral springs
combined or not with pulleys, cords, or pulls, and points of attachment.
In order to explain the improvements fully, I proceed to describe them as
applied in cases in which almost the entire limb has to be supplied by
artficial means, that is, where only a small portion of the natural limb is
remaining, as it is clear that such arrangements can be all the more readily
and simply adapted to cases where more of the natural limb is left, and con-
sequently a less portion (as only the hand or fore-arm for example) has tó
be supplied by artificial means.
The accompanying Drawings explain the improvements and means employed
for carrying them into effect.
Artificial arm. Figure 1, Sheet I. is an elevation, and Figure 2, Sheet I.,
a plan of an artificial arm and hand constructed according to this Invention
and arranged as follows:-b, c, is a cord attached at one end b to a lever or
arm 11, and at the other end c to a fixed point or points on the remaining
stump 12 near the part the latter springs from, or on the shoulder or sentient
part of the wearer's body, so that the wearer may by a voluntary action on his
part, open or extend bis artificial arm, overcoming the resistance of a spiral
spring 8, which tends to close it towards his body. The cord is shewn in
the position it occupies when the arm is extended, and also in its position
when the arm is bent. Another cord a, herein-after described, is also shewn
in these two positions, that in interrupted lines indicating its position when
the arm is bent, being nearly at right angles to that in continuous lines, which
indicates it when the arm is extended. The positions thus exemplified shew
that by having two fixed points of attachment c and y (one of which, as y, may
be on the shoulder for example), the wearer can, by a drawing-back action at
the point c, pull back the cord b, c, and thereby extend or open the arm as
desired, and so regulate the degree of extension of the cord according to
the position of a pulley 14 over which it passes, and thereby effects the exten-
sion or opening of the fingers in proper order as herein-after described. The
position of the pulley 14 may be varied or adjusted by the other hand by
means of any ordinary arrangement, and particularly by that shewn in the Draw-
ings, in order that the tenacity and power of the artificial hand may be regu-
lated. This regulation may also be partially effected by means of spiral springs
as herein-after described. 1 is an armlet or band fitted round the remaining
stump 12, and serving as the first fulcrum of action; 3 is the artificial band
shewing its construction both closed and open. It is fitted to and held in
place by tubular pieces 2, which I prefer to construct of leather, though other

page_text: materials may be used, and which tubes 2 cover the remaining stump, and
extend to the wrist, simulating the appearance of the human arm. The dotted
lines 4 shew two positions of the, stump, for various sizes and shapes of arm,
and exemplify some of the means adopted for replacing the principal motions
of a natural limb. 5 is a spiral spring (one on each side of the wrist), these
springs may be graduated in power according to the strength required, or the
functions the hand may have to perform; 5¹ shews the position of that spring 5
when the arm is bent against the body; 6, axis or joint for the play of the
wrist; 7, two tubular pieces of leather whereby the turning action or motion
in a rotary direction required at the fore-arm is obtained without interfering
with the other mechanism; 8, large spring in such position and of such power
as to tend to bend the arm towards the body from the elbow joint; this
spring 8 may be wound, up by a key or otherwise, to regulate its expansion,
and the corda is wound on and tightened by it, but when the wearer, as
before described, pulls the cord b; c, to extend the arm, the resistance of the
spring is overcome, and the cord x unwound or slackened; on the other hand,
when the wearer ceases to pull the cord b, c, the spring 8 is: allowed to act,
and the, cord, is tightened, the arm returning to its previous position; 9 is
a sort of hook, with toothed wheel 9*, for regulating the tension of the cord x,
the dotted lines shew the path the arm describes when worked from an
artificial elbow joint; 10, strong spring set in the heart of the motion before
described, and placed in the direction with the elbow, it either operates
independently, or as auxiliary to spring 8; 11 is the lever (preferably of steel),
centred in the elbow joint, and connected at one end to the tube of the fore-
arm by a screw a, and at the other end b is an orifice 6', whereto is attached
the cord b, c,, which is extended or slackened by the action of the stump 12.
as described, 13, self-adjusting or sliding metallic cap piece, which conceals
the end of the lever 11, and covers the elbow, accommodating itself to the
play thereof; 14, single or double pulleys, which may be used with or with-
.out, levers for increasing, reducing, or regulating the power of the fore-arm
and hand, and the time occupied by them in their motions for better imitating
the action, of a human limb; 16 are artificial finger joints (pbalanges) articulated
progressively, and, independently,, and working nearly at right angles on their
.centres or axes, which are composed of silvered steel covered with cloth, silk,
or other bric whereby oxydation is prevented, and the friction of the wood
or other material composing the body of the hand is resisted; 17, 17, are
the articulations of the joints 16, in each of which articulations is a slot or
notch lengthwise of the finger, a pin extends across it at the part where there
is a recess (in each slot) acting as a stop, and preventing the joints from

page_text: catching or jamming at the upper parts at the points d; 18 are artificial
tendons, consisting of cords or filaments of sinewy material, silk, steel wire, or
other strong and durable flexible substance attached at their inner ends to.
points 15, 15, on the stump, whence impulsion may be transmitted to them;
19, are spiral springs at the base of each finger for actuating the joints through
the tendons, the axis of each spring. 19 is supported on a pair of plates 20;
one of each pair having on it a square for winding the spring up and so regu-
lating its power, and thence the tenacity and vigour of grasp; 21 are other
tendons working in an opposite direction to the tendons 18, and actuated by
one or more cords or wires, worked by the articulations before described and
the mechanism of the tubes. The finger tendons may be connected to a plate
or piece 22, and worked together by a cord f, attached to the armlet 1,
which draws them in the direction of a slot g, wherein work two screw.
studs fixed to the upper and outer part of the palm; but as it is not necessary
that all the fingers should move simultaneously, a separate piece may be
mounted on the axis h, so that the cord f may move the little finger
somewhat before the others; the thumb is operated by the pulley 14 arrange-
ment. The cord f is connected to a pulley 24, round which passes a double
cord 23, riding freely upon a convex sent so as to accommodate itself
to the varying positions of the wrist joint and palm without interfering with
the action of any of the articulations; 25 are metal straps or braces for
strengthening the adjustment of the tubes and for receiving the elbow joint.
The principle of the foregoing system of construction may be said to consist in
the subdivision of the mechanism. The use of spiral springs as agents of
impulsion is advantageous on account of their strength, sustained tenacity, and
expansive elasticity of action, and also on account of their being graduated or
regulated at pleasure; their power is very considerable in proportion to their
weight and size.
Artificial leg. The same principles of construction are applied to the manu-
facture of artificial legs.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a view of the improved leg, shown both bent and
straight. Figure 2, Sheet 2, represent details. The skeleton may be con-
structed of light and supple wood, strengthened at parts by metal plates or
stays fastened on by screws. 1 is the artificial foot jointed at the base at a
and b by flexible leather joints 2, which may be here used instead of metal
or other hinges; 3 shows the paths of these joints; 4 is the ankle joint; 5,
a strong spring working the ankle joint 4, and supporting the weight of the
wearer on the heel so as not to distress the stump; 6, rounded piece turning
on the axis or centre 4 for the longitudinal motion of the foot; '7, four metal

page_text: bars, connected at; intervals by.curved metal stays c, and representing the leg.;
8. is a strong spiral spring, which in its expansion produces the artificial knee-
joint action, and thence the motion of the leg, which is assisted by the weight.
of the latter when lifted for walking; 9, spherical piece, representing the ball
and socket knee-joint action; through the centre of this piece is fixed an axis
or pin, to which are connected the bars 7, and also the bars extending along
the artificial thigh. The end of a bar (of wood or other solid substance)
travels about a quarter of a revolution in, a slot 10, and rests at g, so as to
come straight or vertical when the wearer is beginning to walk; 11 is a strong
perforated wood bar, which I call a steadying bar,, and which extends length-
wise: along the artificial thigh; it is intended to prevent the lower part of the,
limb from swinging or oscillating unnecessarily, and is adjusted by inserting a
screw. bolt: s.in one of its perforations j, Figure 2, so as to regulate the degree
of oscillation to suit the wearer, according; to the hole in which the bolt.is
inserted; and this he should try before regularly wearing the limb; 12, metal
supports for receiving the axis of the knee joint, and connecting the bars 7 of
the leg and the bars of the thigh; these supports fold at right angles when
the knee is bent; 13, top fittings of the limb, consisting of a socket or rest,
which receives the stump, and is lined or, padded with leather or other com-.
fortable material for the purpose; it may be opened or closed more or less, as
desired, by a screw 14; so as to hold the stump more or less tightly within it
(22 is the opening between the edges, across which the screw 14 passes); 15
is a forked: holder for supporting the artificial limb, and which is fastened
round the wearer's waist by straps k and buckles, and it has joints or binges
16 working at right angles to their horizontal axes, and also plates 1, the
lateral play whereof is provided for, by pins or pivots 17, on which they work;
18, 'slot; screw, and slide nut, for adjusting the length of the part against which
the upper hip bone rests; 19, pad, which buckles on to adapt the shape to the
waist; 20, elastic web, for keeping the trowser away from the main articula-
tion. Round the upper part of the limb near the knee joint is fitted a metal
hoop, plate, or band 21. Thus, as in the instance of the artificial arm, where
motion is principally communicated by the other arm or the stump remaining
by means of a pulley and cord, so also the same advantages are obtained, by
the wearer's availing himself of the impulsive action of his leg, himself
selecting the part or parts to which he finds it most convenient to attach the
opposite ends of the cords that pass over intervening pulleys, and which cords
may be of catgut or of flexible material so contrived that one may be more
elastic than another, and corresponding to the pulleys, whether the latter are
single, double, or compound, these being so combined as to increase or reduce

page_text: the power and rapidity of action of the principal artificial movements; a ball-
and-socket joint may be used at the wrist, whereby the auxiliary motions
required at that part are more easily obtained.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be performed, I declare that the said Invention relates
to the manufacture of artificial hands, feet, and limbs, that is to say, of sub-
stitutes for the natural hands, feet, and limbs, and for parts of them, and that
what I claim is,-
First, the application or employment of spiral springs in the manner herein-
before described.
Second, the arrangements of artificial hands, feet, and limbs herein-before
described.
.1
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteeth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office,
84, Fleet St., London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)
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