IP Library › Granted Patent US 12702576
Granted Patent B2
US 12702576 · App. 18/798,996 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Upper extremity assistance device

Inventors: Michael Goldfarb (Nashville, TN); Benjamin William Gasser (Nashville, TN); Daniel Alvin Bennett (Nashville, TN)
Assignee: Vanderbilt University
A61F5/013A61F2005/0134A61F2005/0151A61F2005/0155A61F2005/0158
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702576
App. No.
18/798,996
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, the orthotic device can include a powered hand portion, a switching element, and a controller. The wearer can interact with the switching element to generate input signals for adjusting an operation of the powered hand portion. The controller can receive the input signals and generate control signals to accordingly adjust the operation of the powered hand portion. In some embodiments, a powered hand portion can be comprised of a plurality of linkages and at least one powered actuator to assist with an opening and closing of the hand portion. The plurality of linkages can be operated by at least one electric motor with quick-connect elements to link onto fingers of a user. In some embodiments, an electrically-actuated clutch mechanism can be affixed to an upper arm section and a lower arm section of an orthotic device. The clutch mechanism can be configured into different positions.

Claims (28)

1 . An orthotic device, comprising:

an upper arm section;

a forearm section;

at least one elbow joint rotatably coupling the upper arm section and the forearm section; and

at least one electrically-actuated clutch mechanism comprised of at least one rotating member, at least one sliding member, and at least one bearing member, the at least one rotating member including at least one detent and being affixed to a first arm section, the at least one sliding member being configured to slide through a second arm section such that the at least one rotating member rotates relative to the at least one sliding member,

wherein the movement of the at least one sliding member with respect to the at least one bearing member and the at least one detent assists in locking and unlocking the at least one rotating member,

wherein the at least one detent is on a radial aspect of the at least one rotating member and is cylindrical or spherical in shape.

2 . The orthotic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotating member is a clutch disc.

3 . An orthotic device, comprising:

an upper arm section;

a forearm section;

at least one elbow joint rotatably coupling the upper arm section and the forearm section; and

at least one electrically-actuated clutch mechanism comprising at least one rotating member, at least one sliding member, and at least one bearing member, the at least one rotating member including at least one detent and being affixed to a first arm section, the at least one sliding member being configured to slide through a second arm section such that the at least one rotating member rotates relative to the at least one sliding member, the at least one sliding member being configured to slide within the second arm section into either a first slider position or a second slider position,

wherein in the first slider position, the at least one sliding member forces the at least one bearing member into the at least one detent in the rotating member to form a locked position, and

wherein in the second slider position, the sliding member releases the at least one bearing member from the at least one detent in the at least one rotating member to form an unlocked position,

wherein the at least one detent is on a radial aspect of the at least one rotating member and is cylindrical or spherical in shape.

4 . The orthotic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one rotating member is a clutch disc.

5 . An orthotic device, comprising:

an upper arm section;

a forearm section;

at least one elbow joint rotatably coupling the upper arm section and the forearm section; and

at least one electrically-actuated elbow and wrist rotation clutch mechanism comprised of at least one rotating member and at least one sliding member, and at least one bearing member, the at least one rotating member including at least one detent and being affixed to a first arm section, the at least one sliding member configured to slide through a second arm section such that the at least one rotating member rotates relative to the at least one sliding member, the at least one sliding member being slidably configured within the second arm section into either a first slider position or a second slider position,

wherein in the first slider position, the at least one sliding member forces the at least one bearing member into the at least one detent in the rotating member to form a locked position,

wherein in the second slider position, the sliding member releases the at least one bearing member from the at least one detent in the at least one rotating member to form an unlocked position,

wherein the at least one detent is on a radial aspect of the at least one rotating member and is cylindrical or spherical in shape.

6 . The orthotic device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sliding member is a constant-radius curvilinear sliding member.

7 . The orthotic device of claim 5 , wherein the constant-radius curvilinear sliding member is affixed to the forearm section.

8 . The orthotic device of claim 5 , wherein the constant-radius curvilinear sliding member includes a plurality of detents.