A regenerative peripheral nerve interface allows real-time control of an artificial hand in upper limb amputees

Philip P Vu; Alex K Vaskov; Zachary T Irwin; Phillip T Henning; Daniel R Lueders; Ann T Laidlaw; Alicia J Davis; Chrono S Nu; Deanna H Gates; R Brent Gillespie; Stephen W P Kemp; Theodore A Kung; Cynthia A Chestek; Paul S Cederna

doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aay2857

A regenerative peripheral nerve interface allows real-time control of an artificial hand in upper limb amputees

Sci Transl Med. 2020 Mar 4;12(533):eaay2857. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay2857.

Authors

Philip P Vu¹, Alex K Vaskov², Zachary T Irwin¹, Phillip T Henning³, Daniel R Lueders³, Ann T Laidlaw³, Alicia J Davis⁴, Chrono S Nu¹, Deanna H Gates^{1

2

5}, R Brent Gillespie^{2

6}, Stephen W P Kemp⁷, Theodore A Kung⁷, Cynthia A Chestek^{8

2

9

10}, Paul S Cederna^{8

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
² Robotics Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁴ University of Michigan Hospital Orthotics and Prosthetics Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁵ School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁷ Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
⁸ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. cchestek@umich.edu cederna@med.umich.edu.
⁹ Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
¹⁰ Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Abstract

Peripheral nerves provide a promising source of motor control signals for neuroprosthetic devices. Unfortunately, the clinical utility of current peripheral nerve interfaces is limited by signal amplitude and stability. Here, we showed that the regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) serves as a biologically stable bioamplifier of efferent motor action potentials with long-term stability in upper limb amputees. Ultrasound assessments of RPNIs revealed prominent contractions during phantom finger flexion, confirming functional reinnervation of the RPNIs in two patients. The RPNIs in two additional patients produced electromyography signals with large signal-to-noise ratios. Using these RPNI signals, subjects successfully controlled a hand prosthesis in real-time up to 300 days without control algorithm recalibration. RPNIs show potential in enhancing prosthesis control for people with upper limb loss.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amputees*
Artificial Limbs*
Electromyography
Hand
Humans
Peripheral Nerves
Upper Extremity

Grants and funding

R01 NS105132/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States