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A Structured Rehabilitation Protocol for Improved Multifunctional Prosthetic Control: A Case Study
Published on: November 6, 2015
Control of multifunctional prosthetic hands by processing the electromyographic signal
M Zecca1, S Micera, M C Carrozza
1ARTS Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pontedera, Italy.
Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering
|May 13, 2003
Summary
Current prosthetic hands lack natural control and sensory feedback. This review examines electromyographic (EMG) signal control methods for artificial hands and explores future advancements in prosthetic control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- The human hand possesses high dexterity with numerous degrees of freedom (DoFs), complex sensory feedback, and efficient motor control.
- Current prosthetic hands offer limited functionality and lack sensory feedback, failing to replicate natural hand capabilities.
- Existing control methods for prosthetic hands, including electromyographic (EMG) and harness systems, typically allow control of only two DoFs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review traditional methods for controlling artificial hands using EMG signals.
- To discuss the limitations of current prosthetic hand control strategies.
- To explore potential future developments in prosthetic hand control.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on EMG-based prosthetic hand control.
- Analysis of traditional control techniques in clinical and research settings.
- Discussion of emerging control strategies for advanced prosthetic devices.
Main Results:
- Traditional EMG-based methods for prosthetic hand control are limited, often restricting users to controlling only two DoFs.
- Despite advancements, current prosthetic hands do not provide the sensory feedback crucial for natural manipulation.
- Significant challenges remain in achieving intuitive and multi-DOF control for artificial hands.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for improved control strategies to enhance the functionality of prosthetic hands.
- Future research should focus on developing more sophisticated control systems that allow for natural, multi-DOF movement and incorporate sensory feedback.
- Advancements in EMG signal processing and machine learning hold promise for more intuitive prosthetic hand control.
