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Sommaire du brevet 2184985 

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Disponibilité de l'Abrégé et des Revendications

L'apparition de différences dans le texte et l'image des Revendications et de l'Abrégé dépend du moment auquel le document est publié. Les textes des Revendications et de l'Abrégé sont affichés :

  • lorsque la demande peut être examinée par le public;
  • lorsque le brevet est émis (délivrance).
(12) Brevet: (11) CA 2184985
(54) Titre français: PROTHESE DE LA MAIN
(54) Titre anglais: HAND PROSTHESIS
Statut: Durée expirée - au-delà du délai suivant l'octroi
Données bibliographiques
(51) Classification internationale des brevets (CIB):
  • A61F 2/54 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/00 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/56 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/58 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/68 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/70 (2006.01)
  • A61F 2/72 (2006.01)
(72) Inventeurs :
  • GOW, DAVID JAMES (Royaume-Uni)
(73) Titulaires :
  • ROYAL INFIRMARY OF EDINBURGH NHS TRUST
  • TOUCH EMAS LIMITED
(71) Demandeurs :
  • ROYAL INFIRMARY OF EDINBURGH NHS TRUST (Royaume-Uni)
  • TOUCH EMAS LIMITED (Royaume-Uni)
(74) Agent: GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP
(74) Co-agent:
(45) Délivré: 2006-02-28
(86) Date de dépôt PCT: 1995-03-10
(87) Mise à la disponibilité du public: 1995-09-21
Requête d'examen: 2002-02-21
Licence disponible: S.O.
Cédé au domaine public: S.O.
(25) Langue des documents déposés: Anglais

Traité de coopération en matière de brevets (PCT): Oui
(86) Numéro de la demande PCT: PCT/GB1995/000518
(87) Numéro de publication internationale PCT: WO 1995024875
(85) Entrée nationale: 1996-09-06

(30) Données de priorité de la demande:
Numéro de la demande Pays / territoire Date
GB9404830.3 (Royaume-Uni) 1994-03-12

Abrégés

Abrégé français

Prothèse (1) servant à constituer au moins un élément doigt (3) fonctionnant mécaniquement et possédant au moins un élément doigt (3) s'étendant généralement tangentiellement par rapport à une roue fixe à vis sans fin (4) sur un élément de support de la prothèse (1) et monté rotatif autour de l'axe (18) de ladite roue. L'élément doigt (3) possède un moteur d'actionnement (8) comportant une vis sans fin (5) s'étendant dans le sens de la longueur dudit élément (3) et s'engrenant dans les dents (11) de la roue à vis sans fin (4). Lorsqu'on utilise la prothèse (1), l'élément doigt (3) se déplace autour de la roue à vis sans fin (4), de façon à se rapprocher ou à s'éloigner d'un autre élément doigt (3) et/ou d'un doigt naturel, afin d'effectuer l'ouverture ou la fermeture de la main, quand le moteur (8) est en fonctionnement.


Abrégé anglais


A prosthesis (1) for providing at least one me-
chanically operable finger member (3), having at least
one finger member (3) extending generally tangentially
with respect to a fixed worm gear wheel (4) on a sup-
port body of the prosthesis (1) and mounted for rotation
about the worm gear wheel spindle (18). The finger
member (3) has a drive motor (8) with a worm (5) ex-
tending longitudinally of the finger member (3) and in
engagement with the gear teeth (11) of the worm gear
wheel (4). In use of the prosthesis (1), the finger mem-
ber (3) moves around the worm gear wheel (4) towards
or away from another finger member (3) and/or a natu-
ral finger for closing and opening of a hand grip when
the motor (8) is operated.

Revendications

Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


-8-
CLAIMS
1. A prosthesis for providing at least one mechanically
operable finger member, said prosthesis having at least one
said finger member extending generally tangentially with
respect to a fixed worm gear wheel means on a support body of
said prosthesis and mounted for rotation about the worm gear
wheel spindle, said finger member having a drive motor with a
worm extending generally longitudinally of the finger member
and in engagement with the gear teeth of said worm gear wheel
so that when said drive motor is operated, in use of the
prosthesis, said finger member moves around said worm gear
wheel towards or away from at least one of another finger
member and a natural finger for closing and opening of a hand
grip.
2. A prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein a root portion
of at least one said finger member provided with a drive
motor is connected by a linkage means to the root portion of
at least one other finger member mounted for pivotal movement
on said support body, said linkage means being formed and
arranged for transmitting drive to said other finger member
so as to pivotally move said other finger member towards or
away from said at least one finger member provided with a
drive motor during direct movement thereof by the drive motor
for closing and opening of a hand grip.
3. A prosthesis according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said
drive motor is a permanent magnet D.C. motor having a
substantially linear relation between torque and drive
current.
4. A prosthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 3
wherein said drive motor is coupled by the output shaft
thereof to a gearbox system whereby in use different torque -

-9-
output drive speed ratios may be selected from a range of
gearboxes with different ratios.
5. A prosthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 4 having
a plurality of finger members and provided with control means
formed and arranged so as to permit independence of movement
of the said finger members or groups of finger members.
6. A prosthesis according to claim 5 wherein said plurality
of finger members comprises a single thumb finger member
having a drive motor with high speed, low torque
characteristics and at least one other finger member having a
drive motor with low speed, high torque characteristics.
7. A prosthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 6 clad
with an overlay of aesthetically acceptable material having
an appearance generally similar to a normal hand appearance.

Description

Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


WO 95/24875 PCT/GB95/00518
- 1 -
HAND PROSTHESIS
The present invention relates to hand prostheses and in
particular to such prostheses with movable gripping fingers.
The design of such hand prostheses presents formidable
problems in achieving gripping light enough to handle
fragile objects and strong enough to provide a secure grip
to objects where it is desired to apply substantial forces.
These problems are further compounded by the limited spaced
available, especially within the fingers themselves, and
where it is required to provide for independent movement of
different fingers to a greater or lesser extent, and/or
varying the rate of movement of individual fingers.
A particular problem arises with the fitting of hand
prostheses in patients with relatively long hand stumps.
Conventional electrical hand prostheses use an electric
motor mounted in the body structure of the hand itself.
Some versions have the motor mounted axially parallel to the
long axis of the arm and others have the motor at 90 degrees
to this axis. A variety of transmission systems are used to
link motor and fingers e.g. lead screw and nut, or bevel and
spur gears. Without exception these types of hand
prosthesis require precise alignment between motor and
transmission system. This is usually achieved by locating
all the parts within a hand body consisting of an investment
casting or other moulded structure. Such an arrangement is
relatively cumbersome and the motor cannot be readily
accommodated within the limited space available in the main
body of the prosthesis attached to the patient's hand stump.
Another disadvantage is that patients with some residual
digits cannot have any functional restoration at all because
of the space constraints. The operational characteristics
of such devices also tend to be restricted e.g. allowing
only a single gripping pattern to be employed.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid or
minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

WO 95!24875 ~ PC"f1GB95/00518
2~$ -
- 2 -
The present invention provides a prosthesis for providing at
least one mechanically operable finger member, said
prosthesis having at least one said finger member extending
generally tangentially with respect to a fixed worm gear
wheel means on a support bod~~;o:f said prosthesis and mounted
for rotation about the worm.g~ar wheel spindle, said finger
member having a drive motor'with a worm extending generally
longitudinally of the finger member and in engagement with
the gear teeth of said worm gear wheel so that when said
drive motor is operated, in use of the prosthesis, said
finger member moves around said worm gear wheel towards or
away from another finger member and/or a natural finger for
closing and opening of a hand grip.
Thus the hand prosthesis of the present invention uses a
particularly compact form of finger drive which also can
allow improved operational flexibility.
As used herein the expression "finger member" includes a
"thumb member". Whilst it is possible to provide a useful
hand grip defined by just one movable finger member and one
fixed member, it is generally preferred to have a hand
prosthesis with a plurality of movable finger members, most
preferably with control means formed and arranged so as to
permit more or less, independence of movement of the finger
members or groups of finger members, e.g. to allow higher
speed lower torque movement of a "thumb" finger member, and
slower speed higher torque movement of the other finger(s),
and/or to permit the provision of different gripping
patterns with different combinations of individual/group
finger movement characteristics.
Conveniently a root portion of said at least one said finger
member provided with a drive motor is connected by a linkage
means to the root portion of at least one other (motor-less)
finger member mounted for pivotal movement on said support
body, said linkage means being formed and arranged for
transmitting drive to said other finger member so as to
pivotally move said other finger member towards or away from

~~849g~
WO 95/24875 .' , P.f T/GB95100518
v
._
said at least one finger member provided with a drive motor
during direct movement thereof by the drive motor for
closing and opening of a hand grip.
Whilst this kind of arrangement may have less power and
operational flexibility than dther forms of the invention in
which separate motors are used for different fingers, it
does have the advantage of requiring fewer motors and less
power consumption thereby providing a more economical
solution.
Various suitable motors having a relatively high power-to-
weight ratio are known in the art including permanent magnet
DC motors which have a substantially linear relation between
torque and drive current over a reasonably wide range which
facilitates control of the driving of the finger member.
Particularly suitable motors are available from Minimotor SA
of Switzerland, especially their motors which have a
diameter of around 8 to 17 mm. A further advantage of this
type of motor is the availability of a modular gearbox
system coupled to the output shaft of the motor which allows
different torque-output drive speed ratios to be selected
simply by choosing from a range of gearboxes with different
ratios. This has the advantage of facilitating the
provision, in a prosthesis, of different gripping patterns
by simply using different gearboxes in different finger
members.
In general it is preferred to have a faster moving lower
torque thumb finger member with slower moving higher torque
other finger members as this simplifies the provision of a
cosmetically acceptable sheathing or cladding of the
mechanical components of the prosthesis due to the reduced
a range of movement of the other finger members.
The compact form of drive motor and mounting thereof
substantially within the finger member being driven,
particularly when said drive motor is inside a thumb finger
member, allows for a reduction in finger size and hence a

WO 95124875 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/GB95/00518
- 4 -
lighter construction, which is particularly desirable in
application of the prosthesis to children. Moreover the
compactness allows fitting to longer stumps which include a
mobile wrist without any loss of wrist mobility and without
making the hand appear too long.
Further preferred features and advantages of the invention
will appear from the followingy~etailed description given by
way of example of some preferred embodiments illustrated
_, .
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is an end view of the principal components of the
operating mechanism of a hand prosthesis of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partly cut-away view of one finger member of
hand prosthesis using the mechanism of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3 (a) and (b) are perspective views of a second
embodiment of hand prosthesis of the invention; and
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the hand prosthesis shown in Figs.
3 (a) and (b) .
Fig. 1 shows the principal components of the operating
mechanism 1 of a hand prosthesis having a main body 2 which
is securely fixed in use to a patient's hand stump (not
shown) in generally known manner, and a plurality of finger
members 3. The main body 2 has mounted thereon a plurality
of fixed worm wheels 4 for engagement, each with a worm 5
mounted in the base 6 of a respective finger member 3 to
extend generally tangentially of the fixed worm wheel 4.
The worm 5 is mounted on the drive shaft 7 of a gearbox and
drive motor combination 8 extending longitudinally of the
finger member 3. The finger member 3 is pivotally connected
9 to the main body 2 for pivoting about the axis 10 of the
fixed worm wheel 4 so that when the motor 8 is actuated to
drive the worm 5, the worm travels around the circumference
11 of the fixed worm wheel 4. At the same time the distal
end 12 of the finger member 3 describes an arc indicated by
the arrows 13 for opening and closing of a hand grip.
The motor 8 is powered by small rechargeable Nickel Cadmium

WO 95/24875 8 4 (~ ~ ~ PCT/GB95100518
- 5 -
batteries 14 (shown schematically) which may be remotely
mounted e.g. in the 4th and 5th fingers (not shown) of the
prosthesis or in any suitable space between the stump (not
shown) and the prosthesis.
The motor 8 is controlled by means of switches 15 actuated
by either residual digit movement or by wrist motion. Two
switches may be used to control both directions of rotation
or alternatively one switch may, by being interfaced through
suitable electronic circuitry, be used to control both
directions in a sequential or toggled manner. In addition
to switches, pressure signals derived from force sensitive
resistor material or signals derived from the
electromyographic activity of residual muscle actions, may
be used as control signals.
The main body 2 of the prosthesis itself may conveniently be
in the form of a simple bar 16 with finger and thumb spigots
17, 18 extending therefrom. The pivotal mounting of the
finger members 3 is effected via lugs 19 which depend from a
generally tubular housing 20 in which are mounted the motor
8 and worm 5.
The components 2 of the prosthesis operating mechanism 1 can
be clad in an overlay 21 of silicone rubber or the like to
provide a more aesthetically acceptable appearance as
similar as practicable to a normal hand appearance, in
generally known manner.
Figs. 3 (a) & (b) and Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of
hand prosthesis and will be described with reference to the
embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and indicated by like
reference indicia with suffix 'a' added. The operating
mechanism la of a hand prosthesis has a main body 2_a (only
partially shown) which is securely fixed in use to a
patient's hand stump in generally known manner. The main
body 2a has mounted thereon a single fixed worm wheel 4_a for
engagement with a worm 5_a mounted in the base 6a of a thumb
finger member 3a to extend generally tangentially of the

WO 95/24875 ~ pCT~GB95100518
- 6 -
ffixed worm wheel 4a. The worm is mounted on the drive shaft
of a gearbox and drive motor combination 8a.
The thumb finger member 3a is pivotally connected 9a to the
main body 2_a for pivoting about the axis of the fixed worm
wheel 4a so that when the motor 8a is:.'.actuated to drive the
T '
worm 5a, the worm travels around th~'r~circumference lla of
the fixed worm wheel 4a. The mai~.::,body 2a_ has pivotally
mounted 22 thereon also a pair o~','finger members 23. The
finger members 23 have an inwardly depending lever 24
pivotally connected by a generally arcuate or cranked
linkage member 25 to a lug 19a which extends from the
housing 20a in which is mounted the motor 8a and the worm
5a. As may be seen from Fig. 4 the pivotal plane of the
thumb finger member 3a is inclined (generally by an inclined
angle a of around 55 to 60°) relative to that of the finger
members 23 to provide a more natural arrangement.
It will be seen from Figs. 3 (a) and (b) that when the motor
8a is actuated to drive the worm 5a, the worm travels around
the circumference lla of the fixed worm wheel whilst driving
the linkage member 25 against the inwardly depending lever
24 on the finger members 23 so as to transmit drive thereto
so as to pivotally move the finger members 23 towards or
away from the thumb finger member 3a for closing (Fig. 3
(b)) and opening (Fig. 3 (a)) of a hand grip.
As with the first embodiment described hereinbefore the
components of the second embodiment of prosthesis can be
clad in an overlay of silicone rubber or the like to provide
a more aesthetically acceptable appearance, in generally
known manner.
The compact form of finger drive and mounting thereof
substantially within the finger being driven thereby, as
well as the essential neutrality i.e. non-handedness of its
configuration, allow an essentially modular approach to the
construction of electrically operated hand prostheses. This
in turn leads to a number of advantages including one or

WO 95124875 ~ PCT/GB95/00518
more of reduced stockholding requirements as various
different prostheses, including left and right handed ones
and ones with different numbers of mechanical fingers may be
readily assembled from a small number of common components.
In addition different grip patterns can be readily achieved
by use of suitable controls with the independent finger
drives, with the 'further advantage that there is no need to
compromise between grip force and speed of operation or
movement.
The modularity and compactness of the units also allows
individual finger prostheses to be used e.g. in the case of
congenital deformities of the type where one or more
fingers, especially the middle fingers which are important
to effective prehension, are missing.

Dessin représentatif
Une figure unique qui représente un dessin illustrant l'invention.
États administratifs

2024-08-01 : Dans le cadre de la transition vers les Brevets de nouvelle génération (BNG), la base de données sur les brevets canadiens (BDBC) contient désormais un Historique d'événement plus détaillé, qui reproduit le Journal des événements de notre nouvelle solution interne.

Veuillez noter que les événements débutant par « Inactive : » se réfèrent à des événements qui ne sont plus utilisés dans notre nouvelle solution interne.

Pour une meilleure compréhension de l'état de la demande ou brevet qui figure sur cette page, la rubrique Mise en garde , et les descriptions de Brevet , Historique d'événement , Taxes périodiques et Historique des paiements devraient être consultées.

Historique d'événement

Description Date
Inactive : Périmé (brevet - nouvelle loi) 2015-03-10
Inactive : TME en retard traitée 2010-05-17
Lettre envoyée 2010-03-10
Lettre envoyée 2009-06-29
Inactive : TME en retard traitée 2009-05-06
Lettre envoyée 2009-03-10
Inactive : TME en retard traitée 2008-06-19
Lettre envoyée 2008-03-10
Lettre envoyée 2006-06-06
Lettre envoyée 2006-06-06
Lettre envoyée 2006-06-06
Lettre envoyée 2006-06-06
Inactive : Transfert individuel 2006-04-27
Inactive : CIB de MCD 2006-03-12
Inactive : CIB de MCD 2006-03-12
Inactive : CIB de MCD 2006-03-12
Inactive : CIB de MCD 2006-03-12
Accordé par délivrance 2006-02-28
Inactive : Page couverture publiée 2006-02-27
Préoctroi 2005-12-13
Inactive : Taxe finale reçue 2005-12-13
Lettre envoyée 2005-06-17
Un avis d'acceptation est envoyé 2005-06-17
Un avis d'acceptation est envoyé 2005-06-17
Inactive : CIB attribuée 2005-06-09
Inactive : Approuvée aux fins d'acceptation (AFA) 2005-05-02
Lettre envoyée 2005-04-18
Exigences de rétablissement - réputé conforme pour tous les motifs d'abandon 2005-04-06
Réputée abandonnée - omission de répondre à un avis sur les taxes pour le maintien en état 2005-03-10
Modification reçue - modification volontaire 2004-12-14
Inactive : Dem. de l'examinateur par.30(2) Règles 2004-07-14
Lettre envoyée 2004-06-03
Exigences de rétablissement - réputé conforme pour tous les motifs d'abandon 2004-05-18
Réputée abandonnée - omission de répondre à un avis sur les taxes pour le maintien en état 2004-03-10
Inactive : Renseign. sur l'état - Complets dès date d'ent. journ. 2002-03-06
Lettre envoyée 2002-03-06
Inactive : Dem. traitée sur TS dès date d'ent. journal 2002-03-06
Exigences pour une requête d'examen - jugée conforme 2002-02-21
Toutes les exigences pour l'examen - jugée conforme 2002-02-21
Lettre envoyée 2001-06-20
Exigences de rétablissement - réputé conforme pour tous les motifs d'abandon 2001-06-07
Réputée abandonnée - omission de répondre à un avis sur les taxes pour le maintien en état 2001-03-12
Demande publiée (accessible au public) 1995-09-21

Historique d'abandonnement

Date d'abandonnement Raison Date de rétablissement
2005-03-10
2004-03-10
2001-03-12

Taxes périodiques

Le dernier paiement a été reçu le 2005-04-06

Avis : Si le paiement en totalité n'a pas été reçu au plus tard à la date indiquée, une taxe supplémentaire peut être imposée, soit une des taxes suivantes :

  • taxe de rétablissement ;
  • taxe pour paiement en souffrance ; ou
  • taxe additionnelle pour le renversement d'une péremption réputée.

Veuillez vous référer à la page web des taxes sur les brevets de l'OPIC pour voir tous les montants actuels des taxes.

Titulaires au dossier

Les titulaires actuels et antérieures au dossier sont affichés en ordre alphabétique.

Titulaires actuels au dossier
ROYAL INFIRMARY OF EDINBURGH NHS TRUST
TOUCH EMAS LIMITED
Titulaires antérieures au dossier
DAVID JAMES GOW
Les propriétaires antérieurs qui ne figurent pas dans la liste des « Propriétaires au dossier » apparaîtront dans d'autres documents au dossier.
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Description du
Document 
Date
(aaaa-mm-jj) 
Nombre de pages   Taille de l'image (Ko) 
Dessin représentatif 1997-10-20 1 10
Description 1995-03-10 7 337
Page couverture 1995-03-10 1 15
Abrégé 1995-03-10 1 53
Dessins 1995-03-10 2 52
Revendications 1995-03-10 2 73
Revendications 2004-12-14 2 63
Dessin représentatif 2005-03-21 1 9
Abrégé 2005-12-21 1 53
Page couverture 2006-01-24 1 42
Courtoisie - Lettre d'abandon (taxe de maintien en état) 2001-04-09 1 182
Avis de retablissement 2001-06-20 1 171
Rappel - requête d'examen 2001-11-14 1 118
Accusé de réception de la requête d'examen 2002-03-06 1 180
Courtoisie - Lettre d'abandon (taxe de maintien en état) 2004-05-05 1 175
Avis de retablissement 2004-06-03 1 166
Courtoisie - Lettre d'abandon (taxe de maintien en état) 2005-04-18 1 174
Avis de retablissement 2005-04-18 1 165
Avis du commissaire - Demande jugée acceptable 2005-06-17 1 160
Courtoisie - Certificat d'enregistrement (document(s) connexe(s)) 2006-06-06 1 105
Courtoisie - Certificat d'enregistrement (document(s) connexe(s)) 2006-06-06 1 105
Courtoisie - Certificat d'enregistrement (document(s) connexe(s)) 2006-06-06 1 105
Courtoisie - Certificat d'enregistrement (document(s) connexe(s)) 2006-06-06 1 105
Avis concernant la taxe de maintien 2008-04-21 1 172
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2008-07-21 1 164
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2008-07-21 1 164
Avis concernant la taxe de maintien 2009-04-21 1 171
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2009-06-04 1 164
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2009-06-04 1 164
Avis concernant la taxe de maintien 2010-04-21 1 170
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2010-05-31 1 164
Quittance d'un paiement en retard 2010-05-31 1 164
PCT 1996-09-06 10 345
Taxes 2003-02-20 1 37
Taxes 1999-02-26 1 43
Taxes 1998-02-20 1 44
Taxes 2001-06-07 1 39
Taxes 2002-02-27 1 31
Taxes 2000-02-16 1 37
Taxes 2004-05-18 1 36
Taxes 2005-04-06 1 33
Correspondance 2005-12-13 1 32
Taxes 2006-03-09 1 35
Correspondance 2009-06-29 1 14
Taxes 1997-03-06 1 47