Robotic prostheses Prosthesis

robots can used generate objective measures of patient s impairment , therapy outcome, assist in diagnosis, customize therapies based on patient s motor abilities, , assure compliance treatment regimens , maintain patient s records. shown in many studies there significant improvement in upper limb motor function after stroke using robotics upper limb rehabilitation. in order robotic prosthetic limb work, must have several components integrate body s function: biosensors detect signals user s nervous or muscular systems. relays information controller located inside device, , processes feedback limb , actuator (e.g., position, force) , sends controller. examples include surface electrodes detect electrical activity on skin, needle electrodes implanted in muscle, or solid-state electrode arrays nerves growing through them. 1 type of these biosensors employed in myoelectric prostheses.

a device known controller connected user s nerve , muscular systems , device itself. sends intention commands user actuators of device, , interprets feedback mechanical , biosensors user. controller responsible monitoring , control of movements of device.

an actuator mimics actions of muscle in producing force , movement. examples include motor aids or replaces original muscle tissue.

targeted muscle reinnervation (tmr) technique in motor nerves, controlled muscles on amputated limb, surgically rerouted such reinnervate small region of large, intact muscle, such pectoralis major. result, when patient thinks moving thumb of missing hand, small area of muscle on chest contract instead. placing sensors on reinervated muscle, these contractions can made control movement of appropriate part of robotic prosthesis.

a variant of technique called targeted sensory reinnervation (tsr). procedure similar tmr, except sensory nerves surgically rerouted skin on chest, rather motor nerves rerouted muscle. recently, robotic limbs have improved in ability take signals human brain , translate signals motion in artificial limb. darpa, pentagon’s research division, working make more advancements in area. desire create artificial limb ties directly nervous system.

robotic arms

advancements in processors used in myoelectric arms has allowed developers make gains in fine tuned control of prosthetic. boston digital arm recent artificial limb has taken advantage of these more advanced processors. arm allows movement in 5 axes , allows arm programmed more customized feel. i-limb hand, invented in edinburgh, scotland, david gow has become first commercially available hand prosthesis 5 individually powered digits. hand possesses manually rotatable thumb operated passively user , allows hand grip in precision, power , key grip modes.

another neural prosthetic johns hopkins university applied physics laboratory proto 1. besides proto 1, university finished proto 2 in 2010. in 2013, max ortiz catalan , rickard brånemark of chalmers university of technology, , sahlgrenska university hospital in sweden, succeeded in making first robotic arm mind-controlled , can permanently attached body (using osseointegration).

an approach useful called arm rotation common unilateral amputees amputation affects 1 side of body; , essential bilateral amputees, person missing or has had amputated either both arms or legs, perform tasks of daily living. involves inserting small permanent magnet distal end of residual bone of subjects upper limb amputations. when subject rotates residual arm, magnet rotate residual bone, causing change in magnetic field distribution. eeg signals electroencephalogram, test detects electrical activity in brain using small flat metal discs attached scalp, decoding human brain activity used physical movement, used control robotic limbs. essential being provides more lively affect robotic limb, giving oneself control on part if own.

robotic legs

robotic legs have been developed: argo medical technologies rewalk example or recent robotic leg, targeted replace wheelchair. marketed robotic pants .