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Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
Development of an implantable myoelectric sensor for advanced prosthesis control
Daniel R Merrill1, Joseph Lockhart, Phil R Troyk
1Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research, Santa Clarita, CA, USA. danm@aemf.org
Artificial Organs
|March 5, 2011
Summary
Implantable myoelectric sensors offer intuitive control for prosthetic hands. This new system allows simultaneous control of multiple prosthetic hand and wrist movements, improving dexterity for amputees.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroprosthetics
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Modern prosthetic limbs lack intuitive, multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) control.
- Surface electromyography (EMG) systems offer limited control due to signal interference from multiple muscles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an implantable myoelectric sensor system for intuitive prosthetic limb control.
- To overcome the limitations of surface EMG for advanced prosthetic functionality.
Main Methods:
- Chronically implanted EMG sensors were developed for residual muscles in amputees.
- Each sensor was designed to detect a single principal component of EMG, isolating muscle activation signals.
- Animal testing and a first-in-human proof-of-principle study were conducted.
Main Results:
- Implantable sensors provided independent signal sources for controlling individual prosthetic effectors.
- The system demonstrated inter-day signal repeatability.
- A human subject intuitively and simultaneously controlled two DOFs in a hand and wrist prosthesis.
Conclusions:
- Implantable myoelectric sensors represent a significant advancement in prosthetic control.
- This technology promises more natural and functional control of upper limb prostheses.
- Further clinical trials are warranted to validate the system's efficacy and safety.
