Motor Unit Drive (MU Drive) for Prosthetic Control

拟议的第二阶段SBIR项目将开发一种独特的基于电机单元（MU）的控制系统（MU Drive™）。 它使用非侵入性和实时测量的神经放电来驱动上肢假肢。我们的相位 我的努力成功地证明了技术的优点和可行性，证明MU发射可以 从表面肌电记录实时测量并用于提供比例控制信号 其实质上改进了目前用于肌电控制的基于幅度的方法。在第二阶段，我们将 与假肢服务提供商的领先专家合作，将我们的概念验证推进到 功能原型控制系统，当测试与国家的最先进的假肢手， 同时，协调控制手腕，手和手指在4个自由度;并在某种程度上， 响应迅速，精确，与预期的努力成比例。研究和发展战略 将针对三个目标：1）改进MU Drive™算法，以实现同时、协调、多程度的 自由控制; 2）开发和集成MU Drive™传感器/微控制器系统，用于 假肢接受腔;以及3）在用例场景下评估MU Drive™控制系统。MU Drive™ 算法将得到增强，以提供至少4个自由度的协调控制（通过直接 将MU发射行为的模式映射到功能性假肢运动）、可重复功能（通过 实现自适应MU跟踪算法）和响应性能（通过减少处理 最小化总延迟的时间）。将开发新的MU Drive™传感器/微控制器系统， 通过设计可替换的接触嵌入式硅树脂电极接口在假肢接受腔中使用， 实现生物相容性半导体传感器封装，并封装多层微型 DSP微控制器支持板载MU Drive™控制算法。MU Drive™控制原型 该系统将首先在经桡动脉截肢受试者中进行测试，同时控制桌面假体 （n=15）评估运动选择时间、完成时间、平滑度和完成率等 相对于标准肌电接口的性能度量。最终的MU Drive™控制系统将 完全集成到适合（n=5）经桡截肢者的体戴式假体中，并在使用过程中进行评价- 使用一系列功能测试的案例场景，包括：箱块测试（BBT），南安普顿手 评估程序（SHAP）、肌电控制能力评估（ACMC）和矫形器 和假体用户调查-上肢功能状态（OPUS-UEFS）。可交付的MU Drive™ 控制系统的设计将与目前的假肢指导模型完全兼容， 采购、现行保险报销政策和现有最先进的假肢 技术，通过克服 现有设备的缺点，而没有植入式解决方案的相关健康成本或风险。

The proposed Phase II SBIR project will develop a unique motor unit (MU) based control system (MU Drive™) that uses neural firings measured noninvasively and in real-time to drive an upper-limb prosthesis. Our Phase I effort successfully proved the technical merit and feasibility by demonstrating that MU firings can be measured from surface myoelectric recordings in real-time and used to provide a proportional control signal that substantially improves upon present amplitude-based methods for myoelectric control. In Phase II we will collaborate with leading experts across prosthetic service providers to advance our proof-of-concept into a functioning prototype control system that, when tested with state-of-the-art prosthetic hands, delivers simultaneous, coordinated control of the wrist, hand and fingers in 4 degrees-of-freedom; and in a manner that is responsive, precise and proportionally related to the intended effort. The research and development strategy will target three aims: 1) improve the MU Drive™ algorithms for simultaneous, coordinated, multi-degree-of- freedom control; 2) develop and integrate the MU Drive™ sensor/microcontroller system for use in a prosthetic socket; and 3) evaluate the MU Drive™ control system under use-case scenarios. The MU Drive™ algorithms will be enhanced to provide coordinated control of at least 4 degrees-of-freedom (by directly mapping patterns of MU firing behavior to functional prosthetic movements), repeatable functionality (by implementing adaptive MU tracking algorithms), and responsive performance (by reducing the processing time to minimize the overall delay). A new MU Drive™ sensor/microcontroller system will be developed for use within a prosthetic socket by designing replaceable contact-embedded silicone electrode interfaces, implementing biocompatible semi-conductive sensor encapsulation, and packaging a multi-level miniature DSP microcontroller to support on-board MU Drive™ control algorithms. The prototype MU Drive™ control system will be initially tested among trans-radial amputee subjects while controlling a table-top prosthesis (n=15) to evaluate the motion selection time, completion time, smoothness, and completion rate among other performance metrics relative to standard myoelectric interfaces. The final MU Drive™ control system will be fully-integrated into a body-worn prosthesis fitted to (n=5) trans-radial amputees and evaluated during use- case scenarios using a battery of functional tests including: Box and Blocks Test (BBT), Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP), Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) and the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey - Upper Extremity Functional Status (OPUS-UEFS). The deliverable MU Drive™ control system will be designed with full-compatibility with the current prosthetist-directed model of procurement, current insurance reimbursement policies and with existing state-of-the-art prosthesis technology to provide immediate broad-based appeal among prosthetists and amputees by overcoming the shortcomings of existing devices without the associated health costs or risks of implantable solutions.