Multi-Modal Fingertip Sensors for Prosthetic Hand Control and Feedback

用于假手的多模态指尖传感器 控制和反馈 项目总结/摘要 拟议项目的目标是开发一个强大的，多模式的假肢指尖传感器-点触摸 - 其1）具有专利的多模式传感能力，包括接近度、接触和力的测量 以及2）可以使用半自主控制算法来增强肌电控制方法。该点触摸 是Point Designs产品路线图中的下一个产品，该路线图始于Point Digit，一个完整的手指机械 假肢自2017年Point Digit商业推出以来，已向更多用户提供了1200多个数字。 470多名患者通过我们广泛的学术和商业研究合作，我们发现了一个 有机会利用我们的多模态假肢指尖传感器，以改善肌电 控制假手为了满足对指尖传感器的频繁要求，我们将完成 通过这次融资机会开发Point Touch。该项目的完成将导致 多模态指尖传感器，专门设计用于增强现有的肌电控制方法， 恢复触觉的基础。 上肢截肢患者的护理需要高度个性化的方法。修复师和 职业治疗师与每位患者一起工作，使用任何 组件和技术可在公开市场上获得。通常，这个系统的瓶颈是 临床上可靠的假体部件的可用性，这些假体部件可以由假体师容易地获得，以提供 最佳假肢系统 如今，假手已经麻木了。它们不向用户提供体感反馈。但我们知道 手提供的感觉信息对我们的灵巧能力至关重要。许多研究小组 已经在外周神经接口的开发方面取得了很大进展，并且已经开始了几次人体内 世界各地的审判。然而，目前的商业假手不能测量与 不受约束的外部环境;有短期和长期的临床需求， 假肢指尖 在第1阶段工作中，我们建议1）执行用户需求评估，然后通过以下方式进行验证： 机械测试，以及2）使用创新的接近度增强现有肌电控制技术， 点触摸的力感应能力。这一点触摸技术的短期实施 将改善肌电控制技术，并减轻假肢手使用者的认知负担。的 第一阶段的工作将建立在一个更大的第二阶段项目，该项目将测试点触摸及其算法 在具有外周神经接口的患者的临床试验中的能力。这些努力将建立 点触摸作为假肢手指技术的领先候选人，准备商业化， 外周神经接口和触觉的恢复。

Multi-Modal Fingertip Sensors for Prosthetic Hand Control and Feedback PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The goal of the proposed project is to develop a robust, multi-modal prosthetic fingertip sensor – the Point Touch – which 1) has a patented multi-modal sensing capability including measurement of proximity, contact, and force and 2) can augment myoelectric control methods using semi-autonomous control algorithms. The Point Touch is the next product in Point Designs’ product road map, which began with the Point Digit, a full finger mechanical prosthesis. Since the commercial launch of the Point Digit in 2017, over 1200 digits have been delivered to more than 470 patients. Through our extensive academic and commercial research collaborations we uncovered an opportunity to utilize our multi-modal prosthetic fingertip sensor to improve myoelectric control of prosthetic hands. To answer the frequent request for a fingertip sensor, we will complete the development of the Point Touch through this funding opportunity. Completion of this project will result in a multi-modal fingertip sensor specifically designed to augment existing myoelectric control methods and lay a foundation to restore the sense of touch. The care of people with upper limb amputations requires a highly individualized approach. Prosthetists and occupational therapists work with each patient to provide a personalized medical solution using whatever components and technologies are available on the open market. Very often, the bottleneck in this system is the availability of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system. Today, prosthetic hands are numb. They provide no somatosensory feedback to the user. However, we know that the sensory information provided by the hand is critical to our dexterous capabilities. Many research groups have made great progress in the development of peripheral nerve interfaces and have begun several in-human trials around the world. However, current commercial prosthetic hands cannot measure the interactions with the unconstrained external environment; there are short- and long-term clinical needs for commercially viable prosthetic fingertips. In this Phase 1 effort we propose to 1) perform a User Needs assessment followed by verification through mechanical tests, and 2) enhance existing myoelectric control techniques using the innovative proximity and force sensing capabilities of the Point Touch. This short-term implementation of the Point Touch technology will improve myoelectric control techniques and reduce cognitive burden for users of prosthetic hands. The Phase 1 effort will build towards a larger Phase II project which will test the Point Touch and its algorithmic capabilities in a clinical trial of patients with peripheral nerve interfaces. Combined, these efforts will establish the Point Touch as the leading candidate of prosthetic finger technology to be ready for the commercialization of peripheral nerve interfaces and the restoration of the sense of touch.