Translation of Soft sEMG Electrode Limb Suspension System and Volitional Control of Robotic Prostheses for Clinical Impact
Abstract
The current state of art for controlling prosthetic knee components is to utilize onboard sensors to measure movement of the user and make decisions for how the knee should behave to best assist the user. While this paradigm works well for many situations, there are also many limitations. The controller of the knee needs data to analyze before a decision of how the knee should perform can be completed. This can result in poor transitions between different types of movement, for example, the controller will need some new data to indicate that the user has transitioned from walking on flat ground to going up stairs. While many prosthetic knees use the movement of the hip to flex and extend the prosthetic knee, some prosthetic knees have powered flexion and extension. While powered knee systems can lessen the need for the patient’s hip to drive knee motion, the current controllers in these knees do not allow the user to take full advantage of the knee’s power. Since these knees can flex and extend without motion of the user, it is possible for them to activate when the user is seated or stationary. However, a new control input is required for users to take advantage of these capabilities of powered knee systems. Patient muscle contractions are a promising solution for improving the control and enabling direct patient activation of the prosthetic knee. Previously, the Department of Defense and other federal agencies have invested considerable resources toward understanding the use of muscle contractions to control prosthetic limbs. The proposed project is a culmination of this investment with the goal of translating this previous work into new commercial products that directly benefit military Service Members. The proposed project addresses the FY22 PRORP CTRA focus area of Prostheses and Orthoses, specifically the development and clinical translation of innovative prosthetic devices targeted to enhance whole person performance of transfemoral amputees. The outputs of this work will be a production-like version of a powered knee with muscle contraction enhanced control schemes, a new device for acquiring skin surface muscle signals in a weight bearing environment, and research outcomes from a multicenter study. Immediately following this award, transfemoral prosthesis patients are expected to benefit from new technologies that enable them to more directly interact with the prosthesis. This includes a new prosthetic liner that can non-invasively detect surface muscle contractions and transfer that signal to a new powered knee system. It is expected that this combination of technologies will create more stability, better control, and greater synergy between user and prosthesis. Patients with this technology will also be able to activate their prosthesis when seated or stationary allowing them to utilize their device in situations they previously were not able to due to technology limitations. The research outcomes from this work will also help with the planning of future clinical trials. The new technologies from this award will also enable future technology advancements for other assistive devices such as prosthetic hips, prosthetic ankles, lower extremity orthotics, and exoskeletons. Many of these technologies have similar control challenges, which could be improved through the addition of muscle contraction input. Improvements in protective armor and medical practices have increased combat injury survival rates. Thus, the number of service personnel surviving with amputations has increased with current estimates exceeding 1,700 surviving amputees, many of whom have sustained more than one limb amputation. While a primary goal of many military personnel having an amputation is to lead normal, productive lifestyles, an important secondary goal is the potential to return to active-duty status and continue their military service. Critical to regaining normal lifestyles and even returning to active duty is
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310847
Entities
People
- Matthew Wernke
Organizations
- United States Army
- Willow Wood (United States)