US 12,220,369 B2
Assistive device for patients with somatosensation deficiency
Thomas Sugar, Chandler, AZ (US); Luis Lopez, Tolleson, AZ (US); Lee Griffith, Gilbert, AZ (US); Robin Parmentier, Tempe, AZ (US); Saivimal Sridar, Mesa, AZ (US); Pham Huy Nguyen, Mesa, AZ (US); Jeremy Palmiscno, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Will Meredith, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ (US); and Dignity Health, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ (US); Dignity Health, San Francisco, CA (US); and Luis Lopez, Tolleson, AZ (US)
Filed on Apr. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/858,302.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/838,812, filed on Apr. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0337933 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. A61H 1/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61H 1/0288 (2013.01) [A61B 5/6825 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0247 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0252 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0261 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0103 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0153 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0157 (2013.01); A61H 2201/018 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1638 (2013.01); A61H 2201/165 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5056 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5061 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5092 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A soft wearable medical device for treatment of a somatosensation deficiency in a hand, comprising:
a glove assembly;
a force actuation system comprising a first bladder and a second bladder, the first bladder disposed in a palm of the glove assembly, wherein:
the first bladder is configured to displace a fluid in response to displacement of the first bladder, and
the second bladder in fluid communication with the first bladder via a tube assembly, the second bladder disposed proximate a forearm of a user when the glove assembly is placed on the hand of the user having the somatosensation deficiency in the hand;
a force indication system comprising a controller, a light array, and a plurality of force sensors, wherein each of the plurality of force sensors is disposed proximate a tip of a finger of the glove assembly, and wherein the light array is mounted to the glove assembly; and
an attachment strap, wherein the controller is housed in the attachment strap, and wherein the controller is operable to:
receive a force measurement from one of the plurality of force sensors;
command a light in the light array to illuminate a first color when the force measurement is below a first force threshold; and
command the light in the light array to illuminate a second color when the force measurement is above the first force threshold.