Portable haptic device for lower limb amputee gait feedback: Assessing static and dynamic perceptibility

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Lower limb amputees experience reduced mobility and increased fall risk due to loss of joints and sensory pathways.
• Prosthetic devices aim to restore function but often lack sensory feedback, leading to high visual dependency.
• Haptic feedback offers a potential solution to enhance limb position awareness during ambulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a wireless wearable skin stretch haptic device for lower limb amputees.
• To assess the perceptibility of haptic stimuli during static and dynamic conditions.
• To investigate the influence of stretch magnitude on sensory perception.

Main Methods:

• A wireless wearable skin stretch haptic device was designed for the thigh region.
• The device's movement profile was characterized.
• Preliminary testing was conducted with able-bodied participants and an above-knee amputee in static and dynamic modes.

Main Results:

• Perceptibility of haptic stimuli increased with greater stretch magnitude.
• Higher stretch magnitudes were required for accurate perception during walking compared to static standing.
• Increased muscle movement and motor skill demands during walking likely contributed to the need for higher stimulus intensity.

Conclusions:

• The developed haptic device shows promise for providing sensory feedback to lower limb amputees.
• Haptic feedback can enhance awareness of limb position, potentially improving gait stability.
• Further research is needed to optimize device parameters for effective use during dynamic activities like walking.