Vibromyographic quantification of voluntary isometric contractile force in the brachioradialis

Brain-machine and muscle-machine bio-sensing methods for gesture intent acquisition in upper-limb prosthesis control: a review

This paper presents a review of a number of bio-sensing methods for gesture intent signal acquisition in control tasks for upper-limb prosthesis. The paper specifically provides a breakdown of the control task in myoelectric prosthesis, and in addition, highlights and describes the importance of the acquisition of a high-quality bio-signal. The paper also describes commonly used invasive and non-invasive brain and muscle machine interfaces such as electroencephalography, electrocorticography, electroneurography, surface electromyography, sonomyography, mechanomyography, near infra-red, force sensitive resistance/pressure, and magnetoencephalography. Each modality is reviewed based on its operating principle and limitations in gesture recognition, followed by respective advantages and disadvantages. Also described within this paper, are multimodal sensing approaches, which involve data fusion of information from various sensing modalities for an enhanced neuromuscular bio-sensing source. Using a semi-systematic review methodology, we are able to derive a novel tabular approach towards contrasting the various strengths and weaknesses of the reviewed bio-sensing methods towards gesture recognition in a prosthesis interface. This would allow for a streamlined method of down selection of an appropriate bio-sensor given specific prosthesis design criteria and requirements. The paper concludes by highlighting a number of research areas that require more work for strides to be made towards improving and enhancing the connection between man and machine as it concerns upper-limb prosthesis. Such areas include classifier augmentation for gesture recognition, filtering techniques for sensor disturbance rejection, feeling of tactile sensations with an artificial limb.

Interfaces with the peripheral nervous system for the control of a neuroprosthetic limb: a review

The field of prosthetics has been evolving and advancing over the past decade, as patients with missing extremities are expecting to control their prostheses in as normal a way as possible. Scientists have attempted to satisfy this expectation by designing a connection between the nervous system of the patient and the prosthetic limb, creating the field of neuroprosthetics. In this paper, we broadly review the techniques used to bridge the patient's peripheral nervous system to a prosthetic limb. First, we describe the electrical methods including myoelectric systems, surgical innovations and the role of nerve electrodes. We then describe non-electrical methods used alone or in combination with electrical methods. Design concerns from an engineering point of view are explored, and novel improvements to obtain a more stable interface are described. Finally, a critique of the methods with respect to their long-term impacts is provided. In this review, nerve electrodes are found to be one of the most promising interfaces in the future for intuitive user control. Clinical trials with larger patient populations, and for longer periods of time for certain interfaces, will help to evaluate the clinical application of nerve electrodes.