摘要:
A system for alleviating phantom limb pain of a patient having a limb stump is disclosed, said system comprising: a signal generator for producing signals for electrically stimulating selected sensory nerve fibres of a severed limb nerve, the signals approximating a pattern of sensations that would be received from a normal, innervated limb before it was amputated; means to cause the signal generator to produce the signals and to deliver them to the selected sensory nerve fibres in order to alleviate phantom limb pain, the selection of the electrical stimulation signals being based on feedback from the patient; and means for transmitting the signals to the selected sensory nerve fibres. The system is arranged such that the means for transmitting the signals to the selected sensory nerve fibres includes electrodes adapted for implantation in close proximity to the severed limb nerve and wherein each electrode is in close proximity to different sensory nerve fibres of the severed limb nerve.
摘要:
Loss or absence of sensibility in the hand, foot or other part of the body can constitute a severe handicap after injury or in disease. Also when hand prostheses are used following amputation, injuries lack of sensibility in the prostheses constitutes a major problem. The prevailing invention refers to a new principle for artificial sensibility by sense substitution (replacement of a lost sense function by utilization of an alternate sense). The primary aim is to, by using the hearing sense, achieve sensibility in hand prostheses or hands which have lost their sensibility by injury or disease. According to this principle vibrotactile stimuli to the fingers are registrated by sensors of microphone type, placed at finger level, the signals being processed and transformated into acoustic stimuli. By using this principle the patient can 'feel with the hearing sense' hereby utilizing the hearing sense to register and identify the surface, texture, density and shape of the item which is touched.
摘要:
An apparatus for providing a person with stimuli corresponding to an external operation on a sensor of a prosthetic device is used in conjunction with a prosthetic or sensory impaired limb. A lower limb prosthesis includes sensors on a sensor unit (820) located in a prosthetic foot (806), contacts (826-832) in the socket (810) producing stimuli felt on the residual limb, and an electronic unit (824) to adjust and control the magnitude of the stimuli. An upper limb prosthesis comprises a sensor (1718) located in the thumb (1714) of a prosthetic hand (1704), a vibrating motor (1712) generating sensations felt in the residual limb, and an electronic unit (1810) to control the vibrating motor. An apparatus for a sensory impaired limb providing a sense of feel to an impaired body part are constructed in a similar manner.
摘要:
Apparatus and methods for providing tactile sensation are provided. In one disclosed arrangement, there is provided a first magnet module comprising one or more magnetic elements. A mounting arrangement mounts the first magnet module to a human or animal body. A controller controls a tactile sensation applied by the first magnet module to the human or animal body by controlling a magnetic field applied to the first magnet module. The one or more magnetic elements are rotatably mounted and the controller controls the applied tactile sensation by rotating one or more of the magnetic elements using the applied magnetic field.
摘要:
A prosthetic arm apparatus including a plurality of segments that provide a user of the prosthetic arm apparatus with substantially the same movement capability and function as a human arm. The segments are connectable to one another and connectable to a prosthetic support apparatus that may be adorned by the user. Some segments may provide movement about more than one axis using a single actuator. The prosthetic arm apparatus may include a user interface incorporated therein and may include one or more communication systems for communicating with external devices. The prosthetic limb includes at least one antenna in connection with the controller for transmitting and receiving signals. The at least one antenna including the housing of the prosthetic limb segment as a radiating element. The prosthetic limb further includes a user interface integrally formed in the housing. The user interface including a status indicator for displaying information and having a flexible protective cover disposed around a portion of the housing and covering the user interface, the flexible protective cover including a translucent portion over the status indicator.
摘要:
The invention relates to a prosthetic finger (1) with a proximal member (10), a medial member (20) and a distal member (30) that are mounted pivotably on one another, and with a motor (40) which is arranged in the prosthetic finger (1) and which, via a gear mechanism, rotates the medial member (20) relative to the proximal member (10), said medial member (20) accommodating a longitudinally movable balance arm (90) which is connected via levers (91, 93) to the proximal member (10) and to the distal member (30).
摘要:
A system for alleviating phantom limb pain of a patient having a limb stump is disclosed, said system comprising: a signal generator for producing signals for electrically stimulating selected sensory nerve fibres of a severed limb nerve, the signals approximating a pattern of sensations that would be received from a normal, innervated limb before it was amputated; means to cause the signal generator to produce the signals and to deliver them to the selected sensory nerve fibres in order to alleviate phantom limb pain, the selection of the electrical stimulation signals being based on feedback from the patient; and means for transmitting the signals to the selected sensory nerve fibres. The system is arranged such that the means for transmitting the signals to the selected sensory nerve fibres includes electrodes adapted for implantation in close proximity to the severed limb nerve and wherein each electrode is in close proximity to different sensory nerve fibres of the severed limb nerve.
摘要:
This invention relates to a system and methods for relieving phantomlimb pain in amputees, and for providing an amputee with sensory feedback from a prosthetic limb (40). The system employs implantable multichannel, multi-chambered interface structures, namely, nerve cuffs (30). The implanted nerve cuffs have electrodes (14) which transmit electrical signals generated by a signal generator (12) to nerves (20), recruiting certain neurons to send sensory signals to the cerebral cortex, suggesting sensory sensations to the amputee. Such signals can arise directly from the signal generator, approximating the train of signals seen by the cortex in a normally innervated limb, or can originate from sensors (50a-c) in a prosthetic limb.