Hand-held Orthopedic Electronic Interface Device and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

An orthopedic cursor control device that supports a user's hand, or other controlling anatomy, in a functionally neutral posture. The device has a motion sensor housed in a base, a mound attached to the top of the base and an optional carpal support attached to the base. The surfaces of the base, mound and optional carpal support together support a user's hand, or other controlling anatomy, in the functionally neutral, or other appropriate, posture. The mound conforms to an interior portion of the user's hand when in a grasping configuration. An inner surface of the carpal support conforms to, and supports, the user's wrist in the functionally neutral posture. The carpal support extends beyond a distal end of the user's ulna bone when the user grasps the cursor control device. The functionally neutral posture has, at the distal end, the user's radial bone substantially vertically above their ulna bone.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 : An electronic interface device, comprising:
 a motion sensor housed in a support structure, said motion sensor being functionally connected, via one or more user operated actuators attached to said support structure, and operable from an outer surface of said support, to control a location of an electronically generated indicia on a display device functionally connected to said computer.   
     
     
         2 : The device of  claim 1  wherein one of said user operated actuators may be toggled between a first position in which said electronically generated indicia on said display device moves substantially in a similar motion, in a second plane corresponding substantially to a plane of said display device, to said movement of said motion-sensor in a first plane and wherein in a second position said electronically generated indicia is substantially independent of said movement of said motion-sensor in a first plane. 
     
     
         3 : The device of  claim 1  wherein one of said user operated actuators may be clicked, and wherein on said click said electronically generated indicia on said display device moves to a predetermined position substantially on a plane of said display device. 
     
     
         4 : The device of  claim 3 , wherein said predetermined place is substantially a center of said display screen. 
     
     
         5 : The device of  claim 1  wherein one of said user operated actuators may be clicked, and wherein on a first click said electronically generated indicia on said display device moves to a first predetermined position substantially on a plane of said display device, and on a second click said electronically generated indicia on said display device  4  moves to a second predetermined position substantially on a plane of said display device. 
     
     
         6 : The device of  claim 1  wherein one of said user operated actuators may be clicked, and wherein on a single click said electronically generated indicia on said display device moves to a first predetermined position substantially on a plane of said display device, and on a double click said electronically generated indicia on said display device  4  moves to a second predetermined position substantially on a plane of said display device. 
     
     
         7 : An electronic interface device, comprising:
 a support structure shaped to support a user's hand in a substantially functionally neutral posture.   a motion sensor housed in said support, said motion sensor being functionally connected, via one or more user operated actuators attached to said support, and operable from an outer surface of said support, to control a location of an electronically generated indicia on a display device functionally connected to said computer; and   a pinkie cradle, comprising a concave shaped rest, rigidly attached to said support and sized and position so as to act as a rest for a portion of a user's small finger when said user's hand is positioned in said functionally neutral position on said support structure.