Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2/68—Operating or control means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/26—Penis implants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2/54—Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
  • A61F2/58—Elbows; Wrists ; Other joints; Hands
  • A61F2/583—Hands; Wrist joints
  • A61F2/586—Fingers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F5/00—Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices; Anti-rape devices
  • A61F5/01—Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H3/00—Dolls
  • A63H3/04—Dolls with deformable framework
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2/54—Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
  • A61F2/58—Elbows; Wrists ; Other joints; Hands
  • A61F2/583—Hands; Wrist joints
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2/54—Artificial arms or hands or parts thereof
  • A61F2/58—Elbows; Wrists ; Other joints; Hands
  • A61F2/583—Hands; Wrist joints
  • A61F2/585—Wrist joints
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2002/5001—Cosmetic coverings
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2002/5007—Prostheses not implantable in the body having elastic means different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric insert
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
  • A61F2002/5016—Prostheses not implantable in the body adjustable
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2210/00—Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2210/0014—Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2210/00—Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2210/0014—Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
  • A61F2210/0019—Particular material properties of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
  • A61F2250/0018—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2250/00—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
  • A61F2250/0014—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
  • A61F2250/0042—Special features of prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis differing in shape-memory transition temperatures, e.g. in martensitic transition temperature, in austenitic transition temperature

Definitions

• the invention relates to a deformable, for example at least locally flexible, pivotal or torsionable structure, comprising a number of discrete or continuous connected and mutual movable elements, which elements are mutually connected by means of a metal positioning element in such a way that the structure maintains a deformation for example a bending or an axial rotation, caused by external forces, after the removal of said forces.
• Such a structure can be applied in artificial limbs, as prostheses, orthoses, implants and also in dolls
• the invention has in view to improve a known deformable structure in such a way that the number of possible deformations is not longer limited, at least not limited because of the limited number of deformation cycles of the positioning element or positioning elements.
• the invention offers a deformable structure of the said type, which shows the feature that each positioning element consists at least partially of a material which can be deformed without plastic deformation and which material is not subjected to reinforcement because the material endures under deformation a martensitic reorientation
• the memo ⁇ mttal has mainly a martensitic structure which allows very easy deformation up to a strain of 8%, without an elastic back spring effect
• the memory metal is used in this application at a temperature which is below the martensitic to austenitic transformation temperature range, otherwise this transformation will cause a change of the positioning element because of the memory effect of the material
• warming up of the material into the austenitic state can be used to restore the original positioning and postui e of the material if the positioning element has been deformed sevei ely and can not be bent back into its original state
• the positioning element w ill come back in the original position once programmed by the heat treatment When it is back at the environmental temperature the positioning element can be deformed easily again
• the memory metal can be one of a large number of types but the most practical are the so called binary Titanium-Nickel alloys or ternary alloys of Ti, Ni and a third element as for example Si, Cu, Zr, Hf Pd, Au, or Pt, in which the third element is responsible for an increase in the transformation temperature Such a metal will be in the martensitic state at l oom temperature All said
• the material In the deformed state, the material has an acceptable stability because the critical load, which results in reorientation of the martensite, is in ;he range of for example 50 to 150 MPa. External loads which are lower than this critical load only result in a small elastic deformation of the construction.
• An artificial prosthetic hand which is constructed on this basis, can be used to hold objects of different sizes by adjusting the shape of the hand with respect to the shape of the object, as for example the handle bar of a bicycle.
• prostheses for amputees also orthoses who serve to give an external support of human limbs in disorder, can be constructed on this basis.
• Another application is the construction of implants, who serve as an internal support or replacement for functions or parts of the human body
• Another application is the use in dolls in order to provide the dolls with joints or fingers or in general limbs, which can be adjusted in any desired position.
• the invention offers a good imitation of the human hand, by such an adaptation of the deformable structure and/or the elastic cover, that deformation is only possible at specific positions.
• the intermediate parts of the deformable structure must possess a different and larger stiffness, which can be provided in several different ways.
• the intermediate parts different materials can be used, or metal reinforcements can be added to the structure, placed in nearly located savings in the cover material. In that case the positioning elements can have the same uniform deformability, but nevertheless the combined structure will still be forced by external loads in a natural posture.
• the material only shows the property of repcatable deformability after being subjected to a heat treatment.
• the temperature of this treatment and its duration influences the final behaviour of the memory metal.
• the essence of the invention is that a positioning element is used, which is based on the large deformability of memory metal at the martensite-martensite transition, eventually in combination with an elastic deformable cover material.
• figure 1 a view of an arm with an orthosis, provided with positioning elements with memory metal;
• figure 2a a bendable rod
• figure 2b a view of a penis, provided with an adjustable internal rod, in an erected position
• figure 2c the same penis, but now in the rest position.
• figure 3 a hand prosthesis, provided with positioning elements, which can be put into any desired posture by external means;
• figure 4 a length cut through a finger prosthesis, provided with a deformable positioning wire
• figure 5 a cross section of a prosthetic finger
• figure 6 an example ⁇ f a positioning wire with variable geometry in length direction
• figure 7 an example of a positioning wire with variable stiffness in length direction.
• Figure 1 shows an arm 1 , of a patient with an external orthosis 2, which is attached to arm, wrist and fingers by means of bands 3.
• the bands further maintain the posture of a positioning wire 4, which is at least partly made of a memory metal, of which the external shape can be altered at will by means of bending or torsion
• Figure 2a gives an example of a bendable implantable rod 5, existing of an elastic cover 6 that surrounds a memory metal core wire 7. Such an element can be placed into the body to support a specific function.
• Figure 2b gives an example of a rod 5, that has been placed into the swell body of a penis 8, to remedy erection problems. With the hand the penis can be put into the erection position.
• Figure 2c gives the same penis 8, which now has been put into the rest position by means of bending rod 5 by hand.
• Figure 3 gives a hand prosthesis 9, existing of an elastic polymer cover 10 surrounding a framework made of the following parts: More or less rigid phalanges 12 are mounted on a bendable memory metal strip or wire 1 1.
• the memory metal elements 1 1 of the four fingers and the thumb come together into a common mounting block 13, which is completely surrounded by a cover 10.
• the place of the phalanges 12 on the elements 1 1 has been chosen in such a way, that the external shape of the hand prosthesis 9 looks as natural as possible, which is caused by the local bending of the memory metal elements that work as limbs
• Figure 4 gives an example of an alternative construction in a finger prosthesis 14, in which the place of bending is defined in a different way
• the polymer cover of memory metal element 15 has been made o ⁇ a material which has a stiffness that varies along the length direction
• the polymer cover 16 is i elativch rigid and thus it does not admit bending, even when the underlying memory metal is bendable
• the polymer cover can be elastically deformed easils which implies that in this way a finger has been made with a natural performance
• Figure 5 gives a cross section view A- A of the finger in figure 4, where the geometry of the memory metal element 15. embedded in the elastic polymer cover 1 7, has been chosen in such a way, that the stiffness along the axis of bending x-x is much smaller than along axis of bending v-y In this wav it is possible to pi event the possibility that the finger can be placed into an unnatural direction of bending
• Figure 6 gives a memory metal element 18, that got a variable stiffness in length direction by means of adaptation of the geometry Parts a and c are relatively stiff, but the central zone b has a different cross section and is therefore easier to bend In the central zone the memory metal can be either rolled to a smaller thickness, partial ground away or machined in a different way
• Figure 7 gives another embodiment of a memory metal element 19, with zones a and c, which are more rigid than central zone b, because in the central zone the temperature at which the heat treatment of the memory' metal has been executed differs from the heat treatment temperature of zones a and c If during the production process the memory metal is work hardened by cold working with a reduction of for example 20 %, the stiffness will be greater than in the case when it has been annealed The mechanism of reorientation of martensite variants can only work optimal after a heat treatment of the work hardened material By a proper choice of the annealing temperature and also the annealing time it is possible to achieve a variation of the stiffness at specific places in the memory metal element.
• the parts that have relatively stiff are not heat treated or eventually heat treated at a lower temperature or heat treated during a shorter period of time ( or a combination of lower temperature and shorter time ) than the parts, which have to be well deformable later. This can be achieved by clamping the part that has to be made bendable between two electrical connecting-terminals and then heat it by means of direct resistance heating.
• the temperature of the heated part can be checked with a thermocouple or a temperature indicator, which changes colour as soon as it reaches the desired temperature
• Another method of heat treatment is by means of a flame, hot air or a hot liquid.

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19760938

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (14)

Citations (5)

• 1995
  • 1995-04-26 NL NL1000225A patent/NL1000225C1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-04-25 AU AU54098/96A patent/AU5409896A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-04-25 WO PCT/NL1996/000182 patent/WO1996034211A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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