US 12,290,454 B2
Digital extenders with haptic feedback
Corinne Nawn, San Antonio, TX (US); Carlyn Abbott, San Antonio, TX (US); Caroline Campbell, San Antonio, TX (US); Sarah Robinson, Austin, TX (US); Robert Hood, San Antonio, TX (US); Christian Wahrmund, San Antonio, TX (US); and Andrea Afanador, San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US)
Appl. No. 16/755,711
Filed by The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/055779
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 13, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/075443, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/571,911, filed on Oct. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0196482 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61F 2/56 (2006.01); A61F 2/58 (2006.01); A61F 2/70 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61F 2/50 (2006.01); A61F 2/68 (2006.01); A61F 2/78 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/586 (2013.01) [A61B 34/76 (2016.02); A61F 2/588 (2013.01); A61F 2/70 (2013.01); A61B 1/00147 (2013.01); A61F 2002/502 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5061 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5063 (2013.01); A61F 2002/5084 (2013.01); A61F 2002/6827 (2013.01); A61F 2002/701 (2013.01); A61F 2002/7862 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical device configured for extending dexterous reach and sensing of a finger comprising:
a proximal attachment portion in the form of a hand mount, glove, wrist strap, or sleeve configured to receive and attach to a wrist or hand of a user;
a distal portion comprising a distal sensor, the distal portion having a maximum diameter of 0.01 to 5 cm; and
a digital extender portion having an extended length of 1 to 24 inches and a diameter of 0.01 to 5 cm that is configured to receive a finger of the user, the digital extender portion comprising a feedback element and at least one articulation, the digital extender portion is positioned between the distal portion and the proximal portion;
wherein the feedback element is connected to or in communication with the sensor, the feedback element is configured to be connected to or in communication with the user's fingertip during use providing physical extension of sensory capabilities of the user's fingertip.