Feasibility of a biomechatronic EPP Upper Limb Prosthesis Controller.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Neuroprosthetics

Background:

• Extended Physiological Proprioception (EPP) offers advanced control for upper limb prostheses.
• Current EPP systems often involve unaesthetic external components like cables and linkages.
• There is a need for more integrated and aesthetically pleasing prosthetic control solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and safety of an implantable controller topology for Biomechatronic Extended Physiological Proprioception (EPP) Upper Limb Prosthesis Controllers.
• To assess if this novel topology can retain the advantages of EPP while mitigating its inherent disadvantages.
• To lay the groundwork for future development of seamless and functional upper limb prostheses.

Main Methods:

• Design and conceptualization of an implantable controller topology.
• Evaluation of the proposed topology's safety and feasibility through initial assessments.
• Comparative analysis of the novel topology against existing EPP systems.

Main Results:

• Initial findings indicate that the proposed implantable topology is both safe and feasible.
• The novel controller successfully maintains the core advantages associated with EPP.
• The design eliminates the need for unaesthetic external cables and mechanical linkages inherent in current EPP systems.

Conclusions:

• The implantable Biomechatronic EPP Upper Limb Prosthesis Controller topology is a viable and promising advancement.
• This approach offers a significant improvement in aesthetics and integration for upper limb prosthetics.
• Further research and development are warranted to fully realize the potential of this technology.