An elbow extension neuroprosthesis for individuals with tetraplegia

P. E. Crago*, W. D. Memberg, M. K. Usey, M. W. Keith, R. F. Kirsch, G. J. Chapman, M. A. Katorgi, E. J. Perreault

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the triceps to restore control of elbow extension was integrated into a portable hand grasp neuroprosthesis for use by people with cervical level spinal cord injury. An accelerometer mounted on the upper arm activated triceps stimulation when the arm was raised above a predetermined threshold angle. Elbow posture was controlled by the subjects voluntarily flexing to counteract the stimulated elbow extension. The elbow moments created by the stimulated triceps were at least 4 N·m, which was sufficient to extend the arm against gravity. Electrical stimulation of the triceps increased the range of locations and orientations in the workspace over which subjects could grasp and move objects. In addition, object acquisition speed was increased. Thus elbow extension enhances a person's ability to grasp and manipulate objects in an unstructured environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalIEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Funding

Manuscript received June 17, 1997; revised September 4, 1997. This work was supported by the Rehabilitation Research and Development Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, by the NIH under Training Grant T32-GM07535, the NIH Clinical Research Center at MetroHealth Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University under Grant M01 RR00080–31M. P. E. Crago is with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA. W. D. Memberg, M. W. Keith, R. F. Kirsch, and E. J. Perreault are with the Rehabilitation Engineering Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109 USA M. Usey is currently with Raytheon E-Systems, Plano, TX 75704 USA. G. J. Chapman is currently with Caterpillar Inc., Metamora, IL 61548 USA. M. A. Katorgi is currently with Delco Inc., Carmel, IN 46032 USA. Publisher Item Identifier S 1063-6528(98)02216-2.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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