Can an Array of Micro-electrodes Implanted in a Human Nerve Record Neural Signals and Provide Sensory Feedback Useful for Controlling a Prosthetic Device?
University of Utah
Summary
The investigators will investigate the device feasibility of human peripheral nerves and muscles recording and stimulation using percutaneous Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (pUSEAs) implanted into residual peripheral arm nerves and EMG electrodes implanted in the residual muscles of patients with limb amputations in order to determine the ability of the HAPTIX (Hand Proprioception and Touch Interfaces) System to control an upper-extremity prosthesis, and to provide a sense of cutaneous touch and muscle proprioceptive feedback to the amputee.
Description
The investigators will assess the functional capability of microelectrode slanted arrays with a large number of electrodes implanted into peripheral nerves of patients with upper-limb transradial amputations. The investigators hypothesize that recording neural signals from individual electrodes will provide selective motor information that is adequate to allow control over artificial limbs with many moving parts, i.e., wrist, and individually moving digits. These studies will also investigate to what extent microstimulation can provide sensory feedback from a prosthetic limb. The HAPTIX Syste…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * at least 18 years of age and less than 65 years of age * unilateral and bilateral traumatic or elective upper extremity amputations at the transradial level Exclusion Criteria: * incarceration * pregnancy * inability to consent * psychiatric comorbidity * medical conditions that significantly increase the risk of adverse effects of general anesthesia
Interventions
- Devicepercutaneous Utah Slanted Electrode Arrays (pUSEAs)
Microelectrode slanted arrays with a large number of electrodes will be surgically implanted into peripheral nerves of patients with limb amputations.
Location
- The University Orthopaedic CenterSalt Lake City, Utah