Below-Elbow Prosthesis Harness with Pivot Arm Cable System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional below-elbow prosthesis harnesses require a shoulder or body harness, limiting range of motion and causing discomfort due to the need for additional upper body strength and physical movement, especially when opening the hook, and are cumbersome to wear.
Innovation Solution
A harness system for an upper extremity below-elbow prosthesis featuring a humeral cuff, medial and lateral pivot arms, and a cable system that automatically opens the hook during extension, eliminating the need for a shoulder or body harness and allowing full range of motion without requiring additional physical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shoulder or body harness is used to suspend the prosthesis, then the prosthesis can be supported on the user's body, but the range of motion is limited and the user experiences discomfort and confinement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the shoulder or body harness component from the prosthesis suspension system. Instead of using a traditional harness that goes over the shoulder or torso, the patent employs a harness that attaches directly to the socket and uses a cable system with anchors and a wheel mechanism to provide suspension and control, thereby removing the source of confinement and limited range of motion while maintaining reliable prosthesis support
2Ease of operation
If a shoulder or body harness is used to control the prosthesis, then cable control is achieved, but additional upper body strength and physical movement are required, especially when opening the hook
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a self-service mechanism where the cable system with anchors and wheel automatically opens the hook during the extension phase of arm movement. The harness and cable system are configured so that the natural motion of extending the arm generates the force needed to open the hook, eliminating the need for the user to consciously exert additional upper body strength or make deliberate physical movements to operate the hook
Solution Approach 2:
The harness system is pre-configured with cables, anchors, and a wheel mechanism that automatically performs the hook-opening action during extension. This preliminary arrangement of mechanical components ensures that the hook opens automatically as part of the extension motion sequence, before the user would need to consciously initiate a separate hook-opening action
3Reliability
If a shoulder or body harness is used, then the prosthesis can be suspended and controlled, but the harness is cumbersome to wear over or underneath a shirt
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the traditional shoulder or body harness component that creates wearability issues. Instead, it uses a streamlined harness system that attaches directly to the socket and employs a cable mechanism with anchors and a wheel, eliminating the need for bulky shoulder straps or body-wearing components that are cumbersome to wear over or under clothing
Data Source
AI summary
A harness for an upper extremity below-elbow prosthesis. The harness includes a humeral cuff having medial and lateral pivot arms configured to removably attach to the socket of a below-elbow prosthesis. The humeral cuff enables a user to suspend the prosthesis without the need of a shoulder strap/harness or body harness. A cable system is affixed to the pivot arms and includes a wheel coupling the pivot arms to the control arm of a hook of the below-elbow prosthesis, thereby enabling users to operate the hook by simple flexion and extension of their arm.