A Hybrid Neural-Machine Interface for Volitional Control of a Powered Lower Limb Prosthesis

项目摘要 所提出的工作的目标是开发一个强大的混合神经机接口（NMI）， 结合大脑和肌肉信号，以改善下肢假肢装置的整体控制， 日常生活活动。在美国，截肢每年影响超过600，000人，并且是主要的 导致截肢者日常生活活动变得困难或不可能的身体残疾原因。 当前下肢假肢的局限性与有限的意志控制、减少的活动性、 以及慢性步态异常，这与能量消耗增加导致的疲惫有关， 增加跌倒的风险，以及完整和截肢的骨和关节退行性疾病。在这 在一项研究中，来自残肢和完好下肢的EMG信号和来自皮层的EEG信号被利用， 解码健全个体和经股骨的各种运动模式之间的转换 截肢者，并提供在皮质，肌肉和运动水平的运动在全球的理解， 截肢者具体而言，利用时域和频域特征来创建预测算法 能够提前识别即将到来的地形转变。在下肢截肢者中， 转化为动力下肢假肢的意志控制，允许在 各种运动条件。高水平的控制预计将导致 活动和步态的整体改善。先前的研究已经证明了EEG或EMG的可行性 基于NMIs的矫形器和假肢设备;然而，迄今为止还没有研究将EEG和EMG整合在一起， 动力下肢假肢的NMI。这项研究的动机是需要探索先进的神经控制 用于直观控制假肢的源。 该项目与NIH的使命和目标、脑倡议和NIH的蓝图直接一致 通过扩大神经科学，人类，健康和健康的基础知识计划;通过利用 创新的研究策略;并最终通过发展一个 先进的医疗技术。此外，通过这项工作开发的技术具有影响 在治疗许多神经系统疾病和损伤方面， 中风后的神经康复本项目的创新之处在于采用多模态的新方法 神经信号和运动协同作用作为解释下肢运动的框架。的 科学的影响是通过更好地理解下肢运动后的神经相关性来实现的。 截肢对患者的直接临床意义可以通过改善步态直接衡量 性能和行走信心，从而增加流动性和降低跌倒，疲惫， 骨和关节疾病

Project Summary The goal of the proposed work is to develop a robust hybrid neural-machine interface (NMI), combining brain and muscle signals, to improve overall control of a lower limb prosthetic device during activities of daily living. Limb amputation affects over 600,000 individuals annually in the US, and is a major cause of physical disability that causes activities of daily living to become difficult or impossible for the amputee. The limitations of current lower-limb prostheses are associated with limited volitional control, reduced mobility, and chronic gait abnormalities, which have been linked to exhaustion from increased energy expenditure, increased risk of falling, and degenerative bone and joint disorders in both the intact and amputated limb. In this study, EMG signals from both residual and intact lower limbs and EEG signals from the cortex are leveraged to decode transitions to and from various modes of locomotion modes in able-bodied individuals and transfemoral amputees, and to provide a global understanding of movement at the cortical, muscular, and kinematic level in amputees. Specifically, time and frequency domain features are leveraged to create a prediction algorithm capable of identifying upcoming terrain transitions in advance. In lower limb amputees, this hybrid NMI paradigm translates to volitional control of a powered lower-limb prosthesis, which allows for seamless transitions between various movement conditions. The high-level of control is expected to result in significant increases in level of activity and overall improvements in gait. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of EEG or EMG based NMIs for orthotic and prosthetic devices; however, no study to date has integrated EEG and EMG in a NMI for powered lower limb prostheses. This study is motivated by the need to explore advanced neural control sources for intuitive control of artificial limbs. This project aligns directly with the Mission & Goals of the NIH, the Brain Initiative, and NIH’s Blueprint Program by expanding fundamental knowledge of neuroscience, human, health and wellness; by utilizing an innovative research strategy; and ultimately returning the knowledge to the public through the development of a highly advanced medical technology. Furthermore, the technology developed through this work has implications beyond the amputee population in the treatment of many neurological conditions and injuries, such as in neurorehabilitation after stroke. The innovation of this project lies in the novel approach of using multimodal neural signals and movement synergies as a framework for interpreting movement of the lower limb. The scientific impact is realized by a greater understanding of the neural correlates of movement after lower-limb amputation. The direct clinical significance for the patient can be measured directly through improved gait performance and walking confidence, leading to increased mobility and a reduced risk of falling, exhaustion, and bone and joint disorders.