PASSIVE MECHANICAL EXOSKELETON TO REDUCE HAND FATIGUE

摘要

A passive mechanical system comprising an unpowered exoskeleton to maintain static grip around an object via a tendon drive and ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism combines a passive cable retract and ratchet system with one or more cables acting as artificial tendons. When a user wishes to keep their hand in a specific position around an object, the ratchet system is engaged. A cable retract mechanisim keeps the artifical tendon taught at all times. The combination of these systems allows for the user to keep grip on objects without the need to input force over time thereby reducing fatigue.

主权项

1. A system for assisting hand operation, the system comprising:
(a) a tendon drive mechanism, comprising:
(i) one or more cables having a distal end configured to be coupled to a distal location on one or more fingers of a hand of a user;(ii) one or more guides configured to couple to the one or more fingers at one or more palmar locations corresponding to phalanges of the one or more fingers;(iii) the one or more guides configured to guide translation of the one or more cables upon flexion or extension of the one or more fingers; and (b) a ratchet mechanism coupled to the tendon drive mechanism, comprising:
(i) a spool configured to receive a proximal end of at least one of the one or more cables, the spool being passively biased and keep taught the receive at least one of the one or more cables upon flexion of the one or more fingers and selectively allow extension of the one or more fingers; and(ii) a locking mechanism coupled to the spool, the locking mechanism comprising a non-engaged orientation allowing flexion and extension of the one or more fingers and an engaged orientation allowing flexion while restraining extension of the one or more fingers such that the tendon drive mechanism and ratchet mechanism are operable to retain the hand in a selected grasping position.