Brain-controlled prosthetic limb trialled on humans

The APL scientists and engineers developed the underlying technology under DARPA’s ’Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009’ programme, a four-year effort to create a prosthetic arm that would eclipse the World War II-era hook-and-cable device used by most amputees.

The Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) offers 22 degrees of motion, including independent movement of each finger, in a package that weighs about 9lb (the weight of a natural limb). Providing nearly as much dexterity as a natural limb, the MPL is designed to respond to a user’s thoughts.

’We’ve developed the enabling technologies to create upper-extremity prosthetics that are more natural in appearance and use − a truly revolutionary advancement in prosthetics,’ said APL’s Michael McLoughlin, the programme manager. ’Now we are ready to test it with humans to demonstrate that the system can be operated with a patient’s thoughts and that it can provide that patient with sensory feedback, restoring the sensation of touch.’

The team will develop implantable micro-arrays used to record brain signals and stimulate the brain. They will also conduct experiments and clinical trials to demonstrate that the implantable neural interfaces can safely and effectively control a prosthesis, and optimise arm-control and sensory-feedback algorithms that enable dexterous manipulation through the use of the limb.