Artificial Tendon-Driven Prosthesis for Biomechanical Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic limbs are heavy, uncomfortable, and dependent on batteries, lacking proprioceptive feedback, which leads to over-reliance on vision and high rates of prosthesis abandonment.
Innovation Solution
Development of an artificial tendon-driven prosthesis system that integrates with the user's residual tendons, muscles, and bone, providing biomechanical movement and proprioceptive feedback, potentially eliminating the need for batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If electric-powered prostheses are used, then the prosthesis can provide powered movement and control, but the prosthesis becomes heavy and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the battery and electric motor components from the prosthesis system. Instead of using electric-powered actuation, the invention utilizes the user's own residual muscles and tendons to provide the actuation force, thereby eliminating the heavy power source while maintaining movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis is designed to be self-actuating through biological integration. The user's residual muscles and tendons serve as the power source, automatically providing movement without external power sources. The system harnesses the user's own biological resources to perform the work that would otherwise require electric motors
2Ease of operation
If electric sensors and batteries are used, then the prosthesis can be controlled, but the prosthesis lacks proprioceptive feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control system with the user's natural nervous system through biological integration. By connecting the prosthesis to residual nerves and muscles, the system combines artificial actuation with natural proprioceptive pathways, allowing the user to sense position and movement intuitively without separate electronic sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The biological integration creates natural feedback loops where the user's muscle contractions and tendon movements provide inherent proprioceptive information. The system utilizes the user's own physiological feedback mechanisms to sense prosthesis position and movement, eliminating the need for electronic sensors while restoring natural sensory awareness
3Duration of action of moving object
If the prosthesis is battery-powered, then continuous operation is possible, but the prosthesis requires frequent battery replacement or recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis eliminates the need for external power sources by utilizing the user's own biological energy reserves. The residual muscles and tendons provide continuous actuation capability without requiring battery replacement or recharging, as the system draws energy from the user's natural physiological processes
4Ease of operation
If complex electronic control systems are used, then precise control is achieved, but the prosthesis becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex electronic control systems, batteries, and sensors from the prosthesis. Instead of using electronic actuators and control circuits, the invention employs direct biological integration where the user's muscles and tendons provide both actuation and control, dramatically simplifying the system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The biological integration allows the user's nervous system to naturally control the prosthesis through existing neuromuscular pathways. The system leverages the user's own physiological control mechanisms rather than requiring external electronic control systems, achieving intuitive and precise control without added complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for an artificial tendon or muscle driven prosthesis that may include an articulating prosthesis with a set of actuation points; an artificial tendon system, the artificial tendon system being integrated with the articulating prosthesis and comprising an external tendon actuation interface coupled relative to at least one actuation point of the set of actuation points, and the artificial tendon system further comprising integration with a musculoskeletal-integrated internal artificial tendon; and an osseointegration abutment through which the artificial tendon system couples the external tendon actuation interface to the musculoskeletal-integrated internal artificial tendon integration and can implement an infection mitigation system.