| Products |
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The
products that we design and manufacture fall into two categories; Animation Control
Systems (ACS), The ACS components mount inside the prosthesis and control all the functions of the arm such as, interpreting signals from the patient, controlling the hand and wrist, battery charging and energy management. |
| The PCU devices are basically a "window into the prosthesis". They communicate with the ACS via a wireless communications link to gather data from the arm and display it. The prosthetist can also use the PCU to diagnose the prosthesis and to "fine-tune" the operating parameters to match the patient. |
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| Animation Control Systems |
| The ACS family of
control systems monitor and control all functions related to the operation of the hand and
wrist. These microcomputer based systems interpret patient commands, determine the best
method of operating the hand or wrist to match the command, and then drive the hand or
wrist in a energy efficient manner. Unique methods of interpreting the patient sensors
allows the system to adapt to virtually any patient signals. Various control strategies called TASCs (Techniques, Algorithms, and Strategies of Control) are preprogrammed in the ACS and are used to custom fit the prosthesis operation to the patient. |
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| For example, a patient with
minimal myoelectric signals may start off in the VOAC (Voluntary Open Automatic Close)
TASC, then as the patient signal levels increase, the system will be moved to VOVC
(Voluntary Open Voluntary Close) with on/off control. Further progression of the patient
would lead to TASCs that have proportional control and ultimately allow hand and wrist
operation. The ACS family is designed to use the battery energy as efficiently as possible. Many proprietary methods of hardware and software functions are used to implement the energy control. The ACS is designed and optimized to operate with lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries only. All members of the ACS family use radio telemetry to transfer information to and from the prosthesis. A device called the PCU (Prosthesis Configuration Unit) can display data from the prosthesis in real-time. Adjustments can be made to the arm configuration while the patient is wearing the prosthesis. There are no restrictive wires or cables connected to the arm. |
| The ACS series is currently
available in two models, the ACS-1000 and the ACS-1010. The ACS-1000 module is round and mechanically designed to snap into the wrist of a prosthesis designed for the OB System 2000 child hand. A plug-in adapter with gold plated connections (shown upper right) allows direct contact to the slip-ring contacts on the hand. Another adapter plugs into the front of the module (shown lower right) to allow it to connect to many other child and adult hands and wrists. |
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The ACS-1010 module has all the features as the module above except it is a thin, flat module. This configuration may be better suited for patients that have longer arms and limited space in the forearm. The module was designed to reduce cable management in the arm by placing the connections for the battery, PSD's and charger on one end of the module, and placing the hand and wrist connector on the other end. This module also adapts to child and adult hands and wrist rotators. |
| Battery Technology |
| Animated Prosthetics pioneered the use of rechargeable lithium battery chemistry in the field of prosthetics. We started testing these batteries in 1994 as part of a search for newer technology to complement the ACS design. The rechargeable lithium batteries proved to be the best choice primarily because they have two to four times more energy for a given size and weight than technologies such as nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride. |
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| These batteries do not have the
dreaded "memory effect" and can be recharged at any point of discharge. The
recharge time for a fully discharged battery is typically 2 to 3 hours. Each time the charge cycle starts, the ACS performs an analysis of the battery to determine the proper method of charging. A precision charge is applied to the battery to make sure it will always have the optimal charge. This will allow the battery to perform properly daily and achieve its overall life. The ACS even shuts off the battery if it detects a problem that would waste energy or otherwise damage the battery. Circuitry inside the battery provides automatic protection from external problems that the ACS can't control that could physically damage the cells. When the problem is corrected, the circuitry will reset to allow normal operation. |
| To charge the battery, you simply
plug the connector from the power source (supplied with the ACS) into the charging port
mounted in the prosthesis. The charging port contains two indicator lamps. The amber
colored lamp confirms that there is valid power connected to the port. The green lamp is
used to display the battery charge status and for diagnostic purposes. There are currently four sizes of batteries available. Now you can match the size, weight and energy to the prosthesis and patient. |
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| Prosthesis Configuration Units |
| The PCU (Prosthesis Configuration Unit) is truly unique to our system. This device allows the medical professional to "see" what is happening inside the prosthesis, in real time, while the patient is wearing the arm. All parameters relating to the operation of the arm can be monitored and adjusted from the PCU. A digital wireless communications link allows the PCU to communicate with the prosthesis up to fifty feet away. This allows the patient to use the prosthesis in a normal manner without restrictive wire and cables connected to the prosthesis. |
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| No programming knowledge is
required to operate the PCU. All functions are accessed through simple menu driven
screens. Two models of the PCU are currently available, PCU-705 and PCU-700. PCU-705 PCU-700 |
©
Copyright 1999-2000 Animated Prosthetics, Inc. |
