Patents by Inventor Grigore C. Burdea

Grigore C. Burdea 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).

  • Patent number: 5429140
    Abstract: A rehabilitation system employs a force feedback system, such as a force feedback glove, to simulate virtual deformable objects. Prior to rehabilitation, the patient places his or her hand in a sensing glove which measures the force exertable by the patient's digits. Information from the sensing glove is received by an interface and transmitted to a computer where the information can be used to diagnose the patient's manual capability. The computer generates rehabilitation control signals for a force feedback glove. The patient places his or her hand in the force feedback glove and attempts to bring the digits together as though grasping the virtual object. The force feedback glove resists the squeezing movement of the digits in a manner that simulates the tactile feel of the virtual object. The force exerted by the fingers of the patient is fed back to the computer control system where it can be recorded and/or used to modify future rehabilitation control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignees: Greenleaf Medical Systems, Inc., Grigore C. Burdea, Noshir Langrana
    Inventors: Grigore C. Burdea, Noshir A. Langrana
  • Patent number: 5354162
    Abstract: An actuator system provides force feedback to a master support. A first, second and third digit support are connectable by a finger mount to the thumb, index and middle, and ring digits, respectively. First, second, third and fourth actuators comprising pneumatic cylinders extend between the first, second, third and fourth digit supports and an "L" shaped palm support mountable on the palm of the glove. Sensors are mounted to the pneumatic cylinders to provide electrical signals on the positioning of the fingers. The signals are forwarded by a stand alone feature to a host computer. The host computer computes the positioning of the finger and provides feedback through interface to the first, second and third actuators. Azimuthal mounts connect the first, second, third and fourth actuators to the palm support for increased movement of the digits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Rutgers University
    Inventors: Grigore C. Burdea, Daniel Gomez
  • Patent number: 5143505
    Abstract: An actuator system provides force feedback to a dextrous master glove. A first, second and third digit support are connectable by hook and loop fasteners to the thumb, index and middle digits of the glove, respectively. First, second and third actuators comprising pneumatic cylinders extend between the first, second and third digit supports and an "L" shaped palm support mountable on the palm of the glove. Sensors mounted on the back of the glove provide electrical signals that are interpreted by a glove interface and forwarded to a host computer. The host computer computes the movement of the glove and provides feedback through a digital-to-analog circuit, and an actuator interface to the first, second and third actuators. Sphere joints connect the first, second and third actuators to the palm support. Each sphere joint includes an air passageway that communicates with the pneumatic force feedback cylinders in the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Rutgers University
    Inventors: Grigore C. Burdea, Jiachen Zhuang
  • Patent number: 5113424
    Abstract: Apparatus for taking dental x-rays used in performing subtraction radiography, includes an appliance for holding a dental x-ray film at a fixed position with respect to the teeth of a person, the appliance including a dental mold for holding the appliance in a fixed position on the teeth of the person, and a connecting member for holding the x-ray film in a fixed position relative to the teeth of the person and being mounted to the mold such that the x-ray film is positioned in the mouth at a set position; a magnetic source mounted at a fixed position in a room for producing a time-varying low frequency magnetic field; a magnetic sensor for sensing the magnetic field and for producing an output signal in response thereto, the magnetic sensor being mounted to the connecting member so as to be fixed in position relative to the x-ray film; an x-ray source for exposing the x-ray film; a robot manipulator having at least five degrees of freedom for moving the x-ray source in relation to the x-ray film, and having
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignees: University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers University
    Inventors: Grigore C. Burdea, Stanley M. Dunn, Paul J. Desjardins
  • Patent number: 5004391
    Abstract: An electronic position sensor and a pneumatic microactuator form a portable robot master that may be operated by the fingers of a user's hand in the same, natural manner that the user would normally grasp an object to be finger manipulated. The master requires only two contact points to secure its ends to the user's fingers and to be manipulated by the user. The master includes a compact, hand-held unit that fits within the space defined by the user's palm and fingers, and functions as a position controller for a robot having a dextrous hand. The position sensor includes a linear variable differential transformer having an output signal that is proportional to the distance between the user's fingers, i.e. the two contact points, that are used to manipulate the master. A force feedback system, including the pneumatic micro-actuator, senses forces exerted by end effectors on the robot hand and causes a corresponding force to be exerted by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Rutgers University
    Inventor: Grigore C. Burdea