New Research on Neurological Signals to Control Lower-Limb Prostheses

Researchers from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, and the University of Houston, Texas, have joined forces on a new, four-year, $1.2 million collaborative project to use neurological signals to control lower-limb prostheses and create a prototype device. Their work is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

In recent years, researchers have developed powered prosthetic devices that use internal motors to improve the motion of the artificial limb. The goal of the NSF project is to improve the connection between the prosthesis and the person using it with sensors to pick up the neuromuscular control signals from residual muscles in the area where the prosthesis is connected to its user. The aim is to develop an algorithm that translates those neuromuscular signals into machine language that will control the powered prosthesis—making it easier for the user to move seamlessly from standing up, to walking across the room, to climbing the stairs.

The team also plans to build a prototype powered prosthesis that incorporates the new technology and will be exploring ways to use neurological signals from the brain to control prosthetic legs.

This is important for patients who have little or no residual muscle in the area of the missing limb because that lack of muscle makes it difficult to pick up neuromuscular signals. In those cases, signals picked up directly from the brain may be able to control the prosthesis.