Means for actuating artificial or disabled arm members

摘要

A means for actuating artificial or disabled arm members is described. The control mechanism may be either used to control the operation of an artificial hand or a prosthesis attached to a disabled arm. The prosthesis comprises a wrist-engaging portion having a rigid thumb portion extending therefrom and a finger-supporting portion also extending therefrom. The finger-supporting portion has sufficient flexural characteristics so that the supported fingers are normally held in a partially opened position. The artificial hand includes a substantially rigid thumb portion and a plurality of flexible finger members. The artificial hand is comprised of a single jointless material having springlike characteristics whereby the springlike characterstics of the hand will normally maintain the finger members in an open position relative to the thumb portion. A control apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of the fingers in both the prosthesis and artificial hand devices. A cable member extends from the finger-supporting portion of the prosthesis or the fingers of the artificial hand to a movable portion of the person's body. The control apparatus is operatively connected to the cable for opening the supported fingers, maintaining a fixed position of these supported fingers or closing the supported fingers upon the execution of a single impulse by the person.