Sensory feedback and motor control of robotic prostheses

Important results from the project

The purpose of this project was to provide a functionally unprecedented limb replacement for people who had suffer from amputations. This project has combined neuromuscular interfaces for neural control with direct skeletal attachment via osseointegration to create a clinically viable technology that patients can use in their daily life. Meaning that for the first time, patients can actually benefit from implanted neuromuscular interfaces to control their artificial arm and overcome functional challenges in activities of the daily living.

Expected long term effects

This project resulted in clinically viable technology for the control of bionic arms with artificial sensory feedback. An embedded system was developed for advanced control with neurostimulation capabilities that provides intuitive sensory perception. Regulatory and manufacturing challenges have been overcome to initiate an official clinical trial. Robust, intuitive and precise neural control along with near natural sensory feedback is now available for Swedish nationals within a clinical trial which results will provide the necessary evidence for its commercialization.

Approach and implementation

This project was a truly multidisciplinary collaboration between industry, academic and medical institutions. Integrum realized the technical developments in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, and medical related matters were investigated closely with Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Integrum also collaborated with international partners in Europe and USA. The overall project was divided in 7 work-packages (WP): WP1-2 sensory feedback, WP3-4 neural control, WP5 electromechanical coupling, WP6 home-training system, and WP7 clinical trial.