INTRANEURAL MICRO-STIMULATION FOR PROSTHETIC SENSATION

这项拟议中的研究旨在开发一种方法， 通过假肢来增强触觉。 这一努力 通过使用慢性植入多通道， 微电极阵列选择性激活个体感觉传入 为了唤起比以前更自然的触觉感知， 使用更粗糙的袖带或其他电极接口证明。 的 研究包括三项主要活动： 1)现有的多电极可插入装置将被修改， 刺激外周神经轴突，并在动物中进行测试，以验证 设计和植入过程。 动物研究将包括 体感诱发电位分析;对条件反射的反应 行为模式和组织相容性。 刺激选择性， 阈值稳定性和随时间推移的神经损伤将从 那个禽兽问题研究 2)在最初的动物实验之后，我们将在动物体内植入电极阵列。 上肢截肢者受试者进行慢性评价。 与这些 我们将优化刺激模式和参数， 最大化诱发感知的自然性。 差异性 接触、轻触、滑动、持续力和分级皮肤力 将被寻求。其他信息将从这些 研究将是位置，大小和稳定性的诱发"幻影" 感觉和洞察力的可塑性的个人的 慢性电刺激前后的感觉系统 切断的神经 3)该项目的结果将是可行性的示范 以及进行微刺激来替代感觉的需要 在假肢和设计规格的实施， 永久有效的微刺激系统。

The proposed research seeks to develop means to provide amputee patients with enhanced tactile sensation from their prostheses. This effort builds on previous work by using a chronic implanted multichannel microelectrode array to selectively activate individual sensory afferents in order to evoke more natural tactile percepts than has previously been demonstrated using more gross cuff or other electrode interfaces. The research comprises three main activities: 1) An existing multielectrode insertable device will be modified for stimulation of peripheral nerve axons and tested in animals to verify the design and implantation procedure. The animal studies will include analysis of somatosensory evoked potentials; responses to a conditioned behavioral paradigm; and histocompatibility. Stimulus selectivity, threshold stability, and neural damage over time will be evaluated from the animal. studies. 2) Following the initial animal work, we will implant electrode arrays in upper extremity amputee subjects for chronic evaluation. With these subjects we will optimize the stimulation patterns and parameters to maximize the naturalness of the evoked percepts. Differential qualities of contact, light touch, slippage, sustained force and graded skin force will be sought. other information that will be obtained from these studies will be the location, size and stability of the evoked "phantom" sensations and insight regarding the plasticity of the individual's sensory system before and following chronic electrical stimulation of the amputated nerves. 3) The outcome of this project will be a demonstration of the feasibility and desirability of performing microstimulation for sensory replacement in prostheses and design specifications for the implementation of permanent and effective microstimulation systems.