Performance of Two Different Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Approaches for Improving Myoelectric Prosthetic Control.
Summary
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) offers improved myoelectric prosthesis control. Nerve-to-nerve surgery provides superior EMG signal quality compared to nerve-to-muscle for TMR applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) creates neural-machine interfaces for advanced myoelectric prosthesis control.
- Two clinical protocols exist: nerve-to-muscle and nerve-to-nerve sutures.
- The optimal protocol for clinical use remains undetermined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comparatively investigate the efficacy of two TMR surgical protocols.
- To evaluate the performance of each protocol in reconstructing electromyography (EMG) signals.
- To determine which TMR protocol yields superior EMG signal characteristics.
Main Methods:
- An animal model was used to compare nerve-to-muscle and nerve-to-nerve TMR protocols.
- In the nerve-to-muscle model, the ulnar nerve was sutured to the biceps brachii muscle.
- In the nerve-to-nerve model, the ulnar nerve was anastomosed to the musculocutaneous nerve.
Main Results:
- EMG signal amplitudes increased over time in both TMR protocols.
- Nerve-to-nerve TMR demonstrated significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio and centroid frequency.
- Nerve-to-muscle TMR showed lower signal quality compared to nerve-to-nerve.
Conclusions:
- Both TMR protocols can generate additional EMG signals for myoelectric control.
- The nerve-to-nerve surgical protocol is superior to nerve-to-muscle for reconstructing high-quality EMG signals.
- Nerve-to-nerve TMR shows promise for enhanced prosthetic control with better signal characteristics.
