Patents by Inventor Edward C. Grahn

Edward C. Grahn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Externally-powered hand prosthesis
    Patent number: 6921419
    Abstract: An externally-powered prosthesis mechanism usable with persons with amputations at or proximal to the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint, as well as persons with high-level amputations. The prosthesis mechanism includes a grasping mechanism including a mechanically operable finger member and a mechanically operable thumb member kinematically linked to the finger member such that the grasping mechanism is disposed in respective opened and closed configurations when the finger member is respectively moved away from and toward the thumb member. The prosthesis mechanism further includes a drive system extending tangentially with respect to the grasping mechanism and including a motor operatively connected to drive at least one planetary gear stage, which is operatively connected to drive the grasping mechanism to the opened configuration when the motor is driven in a first direction and further drive the grasping mechanism to the closed configuration when the motor is driven in a second opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Richard F. Weir, Edward C. Grahn
  • Externally-powered hand prosthesis
    Publication number: 20040117034
    Abstract: An externally-powered prosthesis mechanism usable with persons with amputations at or proximal to the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint, as well as persons with high-level amputations. The prosthesis mechanism includes a grasping mechanism including a mechanically operable finger member and a mechanically operable thumb member kinematically linked to the finger member such that the grasping mechanism is disposed in respective opened and closed configurations when the finger member is respectively moved away from and toward the thumb member. The prosthesis mechanism further includes a drive system extending tangentially with respect to the grasping mechanism and including a motor operatively connected to drive at least one planetary gear stage, which is operatively connected to drive the grasping mechanism to the opened configuration when the motor is driven in a first direction and further drive the grasping mechanism to the closed configuration when the motor is driven in a second opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Richard F. Weir, Edward C. Grahn