Massachusetts Institute of Technology

New England Medical Center

Michael J Rosen

Ivan J Baiges

Cheryl Goodenough-Trepagnier

A whole arm orthosis with plural degrees of freedom dampens limb tremors. A linkage mechanism permits movement of the forearm in a horizontal plane, as well as tilting of the forearm out of the horizontal plane. A sensor coupled to the joints of the linkage mechanism detects the angular velocity of rotation. A brake applies resistive torque to the joints in accordance with the angular velocity of rotation.

Whole-arm orthosis for steadying limb motion

Hand control devices are disclosed which provide for damping of vibrations and other unintended motion with three or more degrees of freedom. In one embodiment, a four degree of freedom damped hand control is illustrated, including a chamber filled with a viscous fluid, and a transmission which couples movement of a handle in the X, Y and Z directions and rotation in a .theta. direction about one of the axes to movements of one or more drag elements in the fluid. The hand control further includes a position-sensing and a rotation-sensing assembly for sensing the position of the handle relative to a reference frame and for generating electrical signals indicative of the position and angle.

Multiple degree of freedom damped hand controls

A computer-assisted method for prescribing communication devices for non-speaking patients which is objective, and is not device-limited and functions as an effective tool for clinicians prescribing communication devices. Because the method is not device-limited, it may also be used to test the effect of design changes in device characteristics which affect the fit of the device to the user and the communication rate achieved; and enables a direct comparison to be made among devices, based on scoring the user-device pair. The method comprises the compilation of data concerning client needs and preferences as well as the client cognitive and learning characteristics; assessing the patient's motor abilities for control of devices; assessing the characteristics of a variety of communication devices; and using a computer program and specially developed formulas to integrate, compare, and assess the results so as to arrive at a communication device best suited for the client's needs.

Method for selecting communication devices for non-speaking patients

A hand control capable of suppressing tremors and other unwanted vibrations is disclosed which incorporates viscous damping in two degrees of freedom to mechanically filter the forces applied by the user's hand. To suppress pathological intention tremors, the damping characteristics are chosen so as to selectively reduce the amplitude of movements at or above about 3 Hertz. The hand control includes a chamber filled with a viscous fluid, a position-sensing actuator assembly and a damping element connected to the actuator and disposed within the chamber to suppress involuntary movements of the actuator. The volume of the chamber, size of the damping element and viscosity of the fluid are chosen to achieve a damping constant of about 2 to 20 lbf-sec/ft., preferably from about 5 to about 15 lbf-sec/ft. The viscous fluid is preferably a silicone oil having a viscosity of about 300,000 to about 900,000 cstokes.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Michael J Rosen