Arm prosthetic device

Abstract

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. Each segment of the plurality of segments provides a portion of the movement capability, enabling the plurality of connected segments connected to the harness mount to provide substantially the same movement capability as that lacking in the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prosthetic wrist assembly for imparting fixed path motion to a prosthetic hand assembly, the prosthetic wrist assembly comprising:
 an input support structure having a hand interface for coupling the hand assembly to the input support structure;   a wrist pivot axle passing through the input support structure and extending outwardly therefrom to engage the hand interface; and   a motor for driving the wrist pivot axle in rotary motion,   wherein rotary motion of the wrist pivot axle drives the hand interface to move the hand assembly along a fixed flexion-deviation movement path having a component of flexion about the wrist pivot axle and a component of deviation about a deviation axis.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 wherein the wrist pivot axle includes a flattened end portion at each end extending outwardly from the input support structure into the hand interface, and 
 wherein the hand interface includes first and second slider blocks slidably coupled to the flattened end portions of the pivot axle and adapted to attach the hand assembly thereto. 
 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising wherein the wrist interface includes first and second cam bearings attached to the input support structure about each flattened end portion of the pivot axle, the first and second cam bearings having first and second cam profiles formed therein defining the fixed flexion-deviation movement path. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 3  further comprising wherein each of the first and second slider blocks includes a cam follower engaging one of the first or second cam profiles. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising wherein the hand assembly is angled away from the wrist pivot axle. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 5  further comprising wherein the hand assembly is angled approximately 30 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A method for imparting fixed path motion to a prosthetic hand assembly using a prosthetic wrist assembly connected to the prosthetic hand assembly through a wrist pivot axle, the method comprising:
 receiving an input at a controller of a desired movement of the prosthetic hand assembly; and   actuating at least one motor of the prosthetic wrist assembly in response to the input to rotate the wrist pivot axle;   wherein actuation of the at least one motor drives the prosthetic hand assembly along a fixed flexion-deviation movement path having a component of flexion about a wrist pivot axle and a component of deviation about a deviation axis.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , additionally comprising providing first and second cam bearings having first and second cam profiles formed therein defining the fixed flexion-deviation movement path. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising following the first and second cam profiles with first and second cam followers during actuation of the at least one motor. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , additionally comprising angling the hand assembly away from the wrist pivot axle. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the hand assembly is angled approximately 30 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A prosthetic wrist assembly for imparting fixed path motion to a prosthetic hand assembly, the prosthetic wrist assembly comprising:
 an input support structure including first and second cam profiles defining the fixed flexion-deviation movement path;   a hand interface for coupling the prosthetic hand assembly to the prosthetic wrist assembly, the hand interface including first and second cam follower engaging the first and second cam profiles;   a wrist pivot axle pivotally coupled to the input support structure and extending outwardly therefrom to engage the hand interface; and   an actuator for driving the wrist pivot axle in rotary motion relative to the input support structure.   
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein rotary motion of the wrist pivot axle drives the hand interface to move the hand assembly along the fixed flexion-deviation movement path defined by the first and second cam profiles. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the fixed flexion-deviation movement path includes a component of flexion about the wrist pivot axle and a component of deviation about a deviation axis. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the wrist pivot axle includes a flattened end portion at each end extending outwardly from the input support structure into the hand interface, and   wherein the hand interface includes first and second slider blocks slidably coupled to the flattened end portions of the pivot axle and adapted to attach the hand assembly thereto.   
     
     
         16 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second cam profiles are formed in first and second cam bearings attached to the input support structure. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second cam bearings are attached to the input support structure about each flattened end portion of the pivot axle. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the hand assembly is angled away from the wrist pivot axle. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic wrist assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the hand assembly is angled approximately 30 degrees.