Robust Simultaneous and Proportional Myoelectric Control Scheme for Individuals with Transradial Amputations.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Commercial myoelectric prostheses require high accuracy and clinical viability for successful adoption.
• Current control schemes face limitations due to non-stationarities like varying contraction levels and unintended muscle activations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel simultaneous and proportional control scheme with frequency division technique (SPEC-FDT).
• To address limitations in existing myoelectric prosthesis control, enhancing robustness against non-stationary conditions.

Main Methods:

• Developed and implemented the SPEC-FDT for myoelectric prosthesis control.
• Evaluated the SPEC-FDT with 20 able-bodied participants and 4 individuals with transradial amputations.
• Participants performed two-degrees-of-freedom virtual wrist movement tasks (flexion/extension, rotations, combined).

Main Results:

• The SPEC-FDT achieved a completion rate (CR) exceeding 90% for both able-bodied and clinical participants.
• This represents a significant improvement over the conventional technique's CR of 68%.
• Demonstrated high accuracy and robustness of SPEC-FDT across participant groups.

Conclusions:

• The SPEC-FDT offers a robust and accurate myoelectric control scheme.
• This technique enhances prosthetic hand functionality for users with transradial amputations.
• SPEC-FDT shows significant potential for clinical viability in myoelectric prostheses.