Grip control and motor coordination with implanted and surface electrodes while grasping with an osseointegrated prosthetic hand
Journal article, 2019
Methods: In this study, we investigated the control resolution and coordination exhibited by subjects with transhumeral amputation who were implanted with epimysial electrodes and an osseointegrated interface that provides bidirectional communication in addition to skeletal attachment (e-OPRA Implant System). We assessed control resolution and coordination in the context of routine and delicate grasping using the Pick and Lift and the Virtual Eggs Tests. Performance when utilizing implanted electrodes was compared with the standard-of-care technology for myoelectric prostheses, namely surface electrodes.
Results: Results showed that implanted electrodes provide superior controllability over the prosthetic terminal device compared to conventional surface electrodes. Significant improvements were found in the control of the grip force and its reliability during object transfer. However, these improvements failed to increase motor coordination, and surprisingly decreased the temporal correlation between grip and load forces observed with surface electrodes. We found that despite being more functional and reliable, prosthetic control via implanted electrodes still depended highly on visual feedback.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that incidental sensory feedback (visual, auditory, and osseoperceptive in this case) is insufficient for restoring natural grasp behavior in amputees, and support the idea that supplemental tactile sensory feedback is needed to learn and maintain the motor tasks internal model, which could ultimately restore natural grasp behavior in subjects using prosthetic hands.
Epimysial
Electromyography (EMG)
Prosthetic control
Osseointegration
Implanted electrodes
Author
Enzo Mastinu
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering
Francesco Clemente
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSUP)
Paolo Sassu
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Oskar C. Aszmann
Medical University of Vienna
Rickard Brånemark
University of Gothenburg
Bo Håkansson
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering
Marco Controzzi
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSUP)
Christian Cipriani
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSUP)
Max Jair Ortiz Catalan
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
17430003 (eISSN)
Vol. 16 1 49Subject Categories
Physiotherapy
Medical Engineering
Other Materials Engineering
Embedded Systems
Signal Processing
DOI
10.1186/s12984-019-0511-2