SBIR Phase I: PiezoElectric Actuation System for Upper Limb Prosthetics

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目开发了一种使用轻型压电驱动器的假肢手臂组件的新技术。将开发一种压电驱动器来驱动假手。现有的手臂假肢最多有三个动力自由度，但有时被认为对残疾人佩戴者来说太重、太吵。轻巧安静的压电致动器提供的功率重量比是电磁致动器的两倍以上，并且降低了设备的噪音。此外，压电驱动器固有的回锁消除了机械回锁的需要，机械回锁在驱动器停止时保持夹紧力。这项研究更广泛的影响是将这些致动器应用于其他假肢部件，用于那些经历上肢丧失的人（美国人口超过10万）。目前，仅在美国，估计每年就有2000个电子假肢被安装，在西欧也有相同的数量。这种新电机技术的改进可以极大地增加这个市场，为残疾人的独立性和功能性做出贡献。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project develops a new technology for prosthetic arm components, using a lightweight piezoelectric actuator. A piezoelectric actuator will be developed to drive a prosthetic hand. Available arm prostheses have up to three powered degrees-of-freedom, but are sometimes considered too heavy and noisy for their disabled wearers. Lightweight and quiet piezoelectric actuators offer power-to-weight ratios that are over twice that of electromagnetic actuators, and lower the noise of the device. Furthermore, the intrinsic back-lock of a piezoelectric actuator eliminates the need for a mechanical back-lock, which maintains pinch force when the drive is stopped. The broader impacts of this research are the application of these actuators to other prosthetic components for those experiencing the loss of upper limb (a population of over 100,000 Americans). At this time, an estimated 2,000 electric prostheses are fitted each year in the U.S. alone, with equivalent numbers in Western Europe. The improvements offered with this new motor technology could increase this market greatly, making contributions to the independence and functionality of this disabled population.