Prosthesis Tension Sensor Motor Assist Fatigue Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Body-powered prosthetic devices require patients to exert high forces against opposing forces, leading to early fatigue and health issues due to the need to constantly work against strong spring or rubber forces, which limits their usability.
Innovation Solution
A prosthesis device with a tensioning element fastened to a body harness that includes a sensor device to detect applied tensile forces and activate a motor to support the movement of a movable component, reducing the force required from the patient and providing direct feedback, similar to servo-assisted steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If strong springs or rubber rings are used to generate gripping force in body-powered prostheses, then the gripping force is increased, but the patient experiences early fatigue and health problems due to constantly working against high opposing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between passive mechanical operation (using body-powered tensioning elements) and active motor-supported operation based on detected force requirements. The sensor device monitors the tensile force on the tensioning element, and when excessive force is detected that would cause fatigue, the motor activates to provide supporting force, thereby extending the duration of comfortable use while maintaining high gripping force capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device continuously monitors the tensile force applied to the tensioning element and provides feedback to the control device. This feedback loop enables the system to detect when the patient is exerting excessive force and automatically activate the motor to provide assistance, preventing fatigue before it occurs and allowing sustained high-force gripping operations
2Force
If body-powered prostheses are used with strong opposing forces, then the gripping function is improved, but the patient's health is compromised due to the physical strain required to operate the device
Solution Approach 1:
The motor acts as an intermediary force generator that supplements the patient's body-powered input. When the sensor detects that the patient is exerting excessive force, the motor provides additional force through the tensioning element, sharing the load and reducing the harmful physical strain on the patient's body while maintaining the necessary high gripping force
3Ease of operation
If electric drives are used instead of body-powered prostheses, then the force required from the patient is reduced, but the direct proprioceptive feedback and controllability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid system combines the advantages of both body-powered and electric-driven prostheses into a single universal system. It maintains the direct mechanical connection and proprioceptive feedback of body-powered designs while incorporating electric motor support to reduce operating force requirements, achieving both ease of operation and sensory feedback simultaneously
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces patient fatigue by allowing the motor to assist in moving the prosthesis components, maintaining direct proprioceptive feedback and reducing the force needed to actuate the device, thereby extending its use and improving comfort.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor device assigned to the tensioning element detects the actuation of the tensioning element
Implementation Method 2
A motor assigned to the movable component is activated via the control device in order to drive the movable component or at least to support the intended movement of the movable component
Implementation Method 3
a tensioning element which is fastened to a body harness and which drives a movable component of the prosthesis device when a tensile force is applied
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthesis device having a tension element, fastened to a tensile force brace, which drives a movable component of a prosthesis device upon applying a tension force, wherein a sensor device is allocated to the tension element which detects the actuation of the tension element and activates a motor allocated to the movable component.