A Prosthetic Shoulder with User-Controlled Flexion

描述（由申请人提供）：现有人工肩关节模块通过施加轻微摩擦阻力或通过在两种离散用户可选模式之一下操作来控制肱骨屈曲：自由摆动或完全锁定。在许多情况下，有限的功能迫使用户以特殊且可能令人尴尬的方式移动来操作他们的肩膀，而其他人则根本无法操作现有的设备。虽然上肢假肢的设计显然还有很大的改进余地，但这是一个利基市场，无法吸引重大技术进步所需的研发资金。ADA建议申请资金，以创造负担得起的，全功能的假肢肩膀是必要的。 在早期NIH资助的SBIR项目中，ADA开发了一种创新的夹持器驱动机制，当适当缩放时，该机制将精确地提供新基准肩关节模块所需的那些品质，包括：1）在自然功能范围内平滑和直观的操作[即，从自由摆动到完全锁定的用户控制的摩擦阻力]; 2）自动、自复位过载保护，用于用户安全;以及3）本体感受线缆致动和比例电子控制选项。 这个多阶段的SBIR项目理想地符合NIH的特殊招标的意图-残疾人新辅助技术的商业化。ADA第一阶段的具体目标是证明一个强大的、全功能的肩关节模块在技术上是可行的。在第二阶段，将通过广泛的人类受试者现场试验开发和验证可销售的设备;商业化将在第三阶段进行，在ADA下成立的新分拆公司PhysioNetics（r）下推出“积木”产品。这家新公司的目标是将最好的新辅助技术推向市场，以造福那些需要它们来实现和保持生活质量的男性和女性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Existing prosthetic shoulder modules control humeral flexion either by applying light frictional drag or by operating in one of two discrete user-selectable modes: free-swing or fully locked. In many cases, limited functionality forces users to move in peculiar and potentially embarrassing ways to operate their shoulders, while others cannot operate existing devices at all. Although there is clearly substantial room for improvement in the design of upper-limb prosthetics, it is a niche market that fails to attract the R&D funding needed for significant technical advances. ADA proposes to apply funding to create the affordable, full-function prosthetic shoulder that is needed. Under an earlier NIH-funded SBIR project, ADA developed an innovative gripper drive mechanism that, when scaled properly, will offer precisely those qualities needed for a new benchmark shoulder module, including: 1) smooth and intuitive operation over a natural spectrum of function [i.e., user-controlled frictional drag from free-swing up to fully locked]; 2) automatic, self-resetting overload protection for users' safety; and 3) proprioceptive cable actuation and proportional electronic control options. This multi-phase SBIR project ideally matches the intent of NIH's special solicitation - the commercialization of new assistive technologies for the disabled. ADA's specific Phase I goal is to show that a robust, full-function shoulder module is technically feasible. In Phase II, a marketable device will be developed and validated through extensive human subject field trials; commercialization will follow in Phase III with the launch of a "building block" product under PhysioNetics(r), a new spin-off company being formed under ADA. This new company aims to bring the best-possible new assistive technologies to market for the benefit of those men and women who need them to achieve and preserve their quality of life.