Automated hand
The invention relates to an automated hand, such as a prosthetic hand. In one form, the automated hand may be fluid compatible. In one form, the automated hand may comprise features to reduce the risk of harm to motors and/or other sensitive components of the hand when subject to an impact. In one form, the hand may comprise a wrist joint configured to allow the hand to curl and flex and/or to rotate. In one form, one or more digits of the hand may be individually controlled. In one form the hand may include a thumb rotation locking mechanism. In one form the hand may be provided with removable grip plates. In one form, the hand May be configured for use as a training hand.
1 . An automated prosthetic hand comprising:
a palm comprising a display and an outer shell, the outer shell forming an upper part of the palm and a lower part of the palm, wherein the display is on the upper part of the palm;
two or more digits extending from the palm;
one or more actuators configured to cause at least one of the two or more digits to move; and
a control system connected to the one or more actuators and configured to:
receive one or more electromyography (EMG) signals; and
indicate on the display that the one or more EMG signals have been received,
wherein the two or more digits are mounted to the palm by a mounting arrangement that allows lateral movement of the two or more digits, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a material having a DMTA damping factor between 0.05 and 0.8 over a temperature range of −20° C. to 100° C.
2 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to indicate, on the display, an attribute of the one or more EMG signals received, wherein the attribute is strength of the one or more EMG signals received.
3 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the display comprises one or more lights, wherein the one or more lights comprise one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
4 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the display comprises an alphanumeric display.
5 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to cause the two or more digits to assume a grip pattern depending on the one or more EMG signals received.
6 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand comprises a user interface and the control system is configured to cause the two or more digits to assume a grip pattern depending on one or more signals received from the user interface.
7 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises one or more buttons.
8 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 7 , wherein the one or more buttons are located in the same areas as one or more lights, wherein the one or more buttons have one or more lights thereon.
9 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 , wherein the control system receives the one or more EMG signals from a user.
10 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 1 wherein the display is on a panel on the outer shell, wherein the panel is sealed.
11 . An automated prosthetic hand comprising:
a palm comprising a display and an outer shell, wherein the display is on the outer shell;
two or more digits extending from the palm;
one or more actuators configured to cause at least one of the two or more digits to move; and
a control system connected to the one or more actuators and configured to:
receive one or more electromyography (EMG) signals and/or one or more signals from a user interface located on the automated prosthetic hand;
cause the two or more digits to assume a predetermined grip pattern depending on the one or more EMG signals and/or the one or more signals from the user interface; and
indicate the predetermined grip pattern on the display,
wherein the two or more digits are each mounted to the palm by an articulated joint in a knuckle region of the automated prosthetic hand;
and wherein the knuckle region comprises a material having a DMTA damping factor between 0.05 and 0.8 over a temperature range of −20° C. to 100° C.
12 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 11 , wherein the display is an alphanumeric display.
13 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 12 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand comprises the user interface and the user interface comprises one or more depressible buttons, wherein the outer shell forms an upper part of the palm and a lower part of the palm, wherein the user interface and the alphanumeric display are located on the outer shell at the upper part of the palm, and wherein the user interface is spaced apart from the alphanumeric display such that there is a portion of the outer shell between the user interface and the alphanumeric display.
14 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 11 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand comprises the user interface and the control system is configured to receive both the one or more EMG signals and the one or more signals from the user interface.
15 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to select the predetermined grip pattern for the two or more digits to assume based on both the one or more EMG signals and the one or more signals from the user interface.
16 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 11 , wherein the control system receives the one or more EMG signals from a user.
17 . An automated prosthetic hand comprising:
a palm;
two or more digits extending from the palm;
one or more actuators configured to cause at least one of the two or more digits to move;
a control system in the palm, the control system configured to control the one or more actuators; and
a user interface on the palm;
wherein the user interface comprises one or more depressible buttons having one or more lights thereon, wherein the automated prosthetic hand further comprises wired electrical connectors within the palm, the wired electrical connectors connecting one or more depressible buttons to the control system, and
wherein the two or more digits are mounted to the palm by a mounting arrangement that allows lateral movement of the two or more digits, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises a material having a DMTA damping factor between 0.05 and 0.8 over a temperature range of −20° C. to 100° C.
18 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 , wherein the one or more lights comprise one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
19 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand is configured to cause the two or more digits to assume a grip pattern depending on one or more signals received from the user interface.
20 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand is further configured to cause the two or more digits to assume a grip pattern depending on one or more electromyography (EMG) signals.
21 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 20 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand is configured to cause one or more lights to indicate that the one or more EMG signals have been received.
22 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 21 , wherein the automated prosthetic hand is configured to cause the one or more lights to indicate strength of the one or more EMG signals received.
23 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 wherein the one or more lights is/are configured to flash in different patterns for different grips.
24 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 wherein the one or more depressible buttons comprise a plurality of depressible buttons and the one or more lights comprise a plurality of lights of varying colours.
25 . The automated prosthetic hand of claim 17 wherein the one or more actuators comprise a plurality of actuators, one for each of the digits, wherein the actuators are individually sealed within the digits.