Non-weight-bearing neural control of a powered transfemoral prosthesis

Levi J. Hargrove*, Ann M. Simon, Robert Lipschutz, Suzanne B. Finucane, Todd A. Kuiken

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lower limb prostheses have traditionally been mechanically passive devices without electronic control systems. Microprocessor-controlled passive and powered devices have recently received much interest from the clinical and research communities. The control systems for these devices typically use finite-state controllers to interpret data measured from mechanical sensors embedded within the prosthesis. In this paper we investigated a control system that relied on information extracted from myoelectric signals to control a lower limb prosthesis while amputee patients were seated. Sagittal plane motions of the knee and ankle can be accurately (>90%) recognized and controlled in both a virtual environment and on an actuated transfemoral prosthesis using only myoelectric signals measured from nine residual thigh muscles. Patients also demonstrated accurate (∼90%) control of both the femoral and tibial rotation degrees of freedom within the virtual environment. A channel subset investigation was completed and the results showed that only five residual thigh muscles are required to achieve accurate control. This research is the first step in our long-term goal of implementing myoelectric control of lower limb prostheses during both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing activities for individuals with transfemoral amputation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number62
JournalJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Funding

This work was supported by the US Army’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) contract WW81XWH-09-2-0020.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation
  • Health Informatics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Non-weight-bearing neural control of a powered transfemoral prosthesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this