Interfacing the body's own sensing receptors into neural prosthesis devices

摘要: Functional Electric Stimulation (FES) is today available as a tool in muscle activation used picking up objects, standing and walking, controlling bladder emptying, for breathing. Despite substantial progress over nearly three decades of development, many challenges remain to provide more efficient functionality FES systems. The most important these an improved control the activated muscles. Instead artificial sensors feedback, new developments electrodes do long-term reliable recordings from peripheral nerves emphasize use bodys own sensors. These are already installed optimised through millions years natural evolution. This paper presents recent results on system using electrical stimulation motor produce movement feedback signals that can replicate some functions spinal cord its communication with brain. We have nerve signal recorded cutaneous two different human applicationsc (1) replace external heel switch correction spastic drop foot by peroneal stimulation, (2) restoration hand grasp sensory fingertip. For function, sacral root stimulator useful emptying bladder. To decide when stimulate, we at present carrying out experiments pigs cats cuff pelvic roots record neural information afferents. potentially be inhibit unwanted contractions trigger thereby emptying. Future research will show whether cuffs other types reliably extract large number receptors body improve expand clinical