SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATOR SYSTEM FOR PROSTHETIC ELBOW

对于肘上截肢者来说，假体的主要问题之一是成本、重量和功能。在许多情况下，当患者决定是安装主动动力肘部系统还是被动肘部系统时，他们选择了后者，主要是因为这些问题。目前的电动假体成本过高。体重是舒适度的关键选择，这在一定程度上是通过努力程度和被动疲劳来衡量的。至于功能，对于一个主动的肘部，患者必须接受噪音造成的心理影响，才能获得更逼真的表现。本项目旨在设计一种比传统装置更便宜、更轻、更安静的肘部运动机构。通过使用形状记忆合金(SMA)等技术先进的材料，可以设计出性能优越的新型执行器。罗格斯大学已经通过罗格斯大学、计算机辅助工业生产力中心(CAIP)、强生公司和NovaCare等公司的资助开发了经过验证的概念。通过将这些概念与创新的工程相结合，更多的截肢者可以直接受益于在其他研究领域取得的巨大技术进步，从而提高他们的生活质量。拟议的商业应用：该致动器系统代表了新一代机器人和假肢系统的诞生。一旦为这个项目开发，它将被用于许多其他技术领域。由于材料和计算机的进步，工程师们可以开发出这样的运动系统，在提高和改善生活方面与人类更紧密地合作，并为人类服务。CyBotic Technologies的使命是将这项技术带入新的市场，这些市场可能会从这些进步中受益匪浅。

For above-the-elbow amputees, among the major concerns with a prostheses are cost, weight and functionality. In a number of cases where a patient is deciding whether to be fitted with an actively powered elbow or a passive elbow system, they chose the latter largely due to these issues. Current electric prostheses are cost prohibitive. Weight is a critical choice of comfort measured, in part, by level of exertion and passive fatigue. As to functionality, for an active elbow, a patient must accept the psychological effects resulting from noise for a more lifelike performance. This project intends to design an elbow motion mechanism that will be cheaper, lighter and quieter than the conventional devices. By using technologically advanced materials such as Shape Memory Alloys (SMA's), a new type of actuator can be designed with superior performance. Proven concepts have already been developed at Rutgers through funding from Rutgers University, Center for Computer Aids for Industrial Productivity (CAIP), Johnson & Johnson, and Novacare among others. By employing these concepts with innovative engineering more amputees can benefit directly from the tremendous technological advances made in other areas of research thereby enhancing their quality of life. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This actuator system represents a genesis of a new generation of robotics and prosthetic systems. Once developed for this project it will be used in many other areas of technology. Because of material and computer advances, engineers can develop such motion systems that will work more closely with and for man in enhancing and improving life. It is the mission of CyBotic Technologies to bring this technology into new markets which could greatly benefit from such advances.