Control of multi-functional prosthetic hands
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparative study of advanced real-time prosthetic hand control techniques
IRAS ID
215927
Contact name
Kianoush Nazarpour
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Loss of the hand has a huge impact upon individuals, their families and society at large. Use of prosthetic hands can improve the quality of life of amputees dramatically and contribute to their independence and more effective inclusion in the society.
Advanced multi-functional prosthetic hands are typically controlled using the electrical activity of muscles, that is, the electromyography (EMG) signals which is recorded non-invasively from the surface of the skin. Electromyography is a well-known technique to quantify the muscular function and it has been widely used in both academia and NHS, e.g. by neurophysiologists in diagnosis of motor-neuron disease.
The activity of muscles can be mapped to prosthesis function with four major mathematical algorithms [described in A12] developed by the investigator team and other laboratories around the world over the past twenty years. However none of these methods have entered clinical research. One main reason, on top of technical complexities, has been that these mathematical algorithms are usually tested in isolation with a small number of volunteers.
This study will invite people with hand or partial-hand hand loss to take part in a trial in which they experience performing a particular task: picking up and placing common household objects, using a commercial prosthesis, controlled with different algorithms. The main research question will relate to the performance participants can achieve, given their muscle function and amputation type or the congenital condition.
Results of this research project will pave the way for first generations of "plug and play" upper-limb intelligent prostheses. These devices will offer "ready-to-go" and "wearer-independent" features. Such features are desirable in the clinical environment where expertise and time for fine-tuning engineering innovation may have lower priority than offering high-quality care to service users.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SW/0347
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion