The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2018
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2014
Applicant:
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (US);
Inventors:
Ray A. Lathrop, Nashville, TN (US);
Robert J. Webster, Nashville, TN (US);
Assignee:
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 90/50 (2016.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B 17/29 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2090/5025 (2016.02);
Abstract
Systems and method are described for counterbalancing the force required to deform a flexure joint. The system includes an elastically deformable flexure joint, a control joint, and an energy balance system. The control joint is mechanically linked to the flexure joint such that movement of the control joint causes a corresponding deformation of the flexure joint. The energy balance system provides a spring force to aid movement of the control joint and to overcome an elastic force required to deform the flexure joint.