Patent ID: 7438724

Claim:
A force feedback system for use with a prosthetic device, comprising: a prosthetic hand having a plurality of digits for use with the prosthetic device; a force sensor configured to produce a force signal, the force sensor being configured to be associated with the plurality of digits for the prosthetic hand; a force feedback controller configured to receive the force signal from the force sensor; a force feedback actuator in communication with the force feedback controller, the force feedback actuator having an electric motor with an eccentric mass encapsulated within a motor housing, the electric motor configured to receive a voltage applied that increases as a function of force so that the voltage increases as the resonant frequency of the electric motor decreases, in order to provide feedback vibrations to a remnant limb on a user of the prosthetic hand which are inversely proportional to the force signal; and a compliant mounting system to couple the prosthetic hand to the remnant limb.