Electromyographic devices : the link between patient and prosthetic

Currently 25-50% of all prosthetic limbs are rejected by the user because they turn out to be more of a burden than a blessing, and approximately 29% of limb loss victims experience some symptom of significant depression. In this paper, our focus will be the method of signal transduction within the electromyographic (EMG) interface of a prosthetic hand. EMG is required to carry out tasks such as motor control and sensory perception in a way that feels analogous to the user’s original hand. The EMG interface works through electrodes placed on the surface of the skin and aligned with the forearm flexor and extensor muscles. The electrode detects action potentials from the nervous system through varying degrees of muscle flexion, then delivers a signal to the prosthetic, generating an action ranging from wrist rotation to gripping objects. The interface also receives stimuli from the prosthetic, which it returns to the electrode as a new electrical stimulus to be relayed to the brain as a sensation. A specific example of EMG technology explored in this paper is the Mobius Bionics LUKE arm, the first prosthetic arm to be approved by the FDA. This technology will open new avenues for engineers and researchers to learn how the human brain interacts with muscles, and therefore allows us to design artificial limbs that truly mirror the human body. Through this analysis, we hope to demonstrate the ways in which EMG interface technology in prosthetics can relieve amputees of their stress and pain, and thereby offer them hope, independence, and a higher quality of life. Key Words— Electrode, Electromyography, Interface, Limb loss, LUKE arm, Motor control, Prosthetic ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND THE ERA OF ADVANCED PROSTHETICS In the United States alone, there are about 1.7 million people living with limb loss, and 185,000 additional amputations occur each year according to the journal Amputee Coalition [1]. Due to this vast number of amputees, interest in prosthetics has also increased and what was once science fiction is now becoming a reality. Over the course of the past few decades, the field of rehabilitation engineering has begun to flourish, with many incredible technological advancements being created. Bioengineers are striving to develop a prosthetic limb that can function as capably as a natural limb – one that will be able to grasp objects with varying tension while allowing the user to feel sensation. Electromyographic (EMG) devices, products that measure and interpret the brain’s electrical signals through muscle tissue, offer an opportunity to make this improvement a reality. Currently, prosthetics merely serve to allow some semblance of a normal life; they are often solid metal bars without any form of neural control. Without sensation or function, current prosthetics often lead to disappointment and disuse, sometimes causing the users to develop depressive symptoms. EMG is a promising concept due to the growing research on the human nervous system the basis of EMG technology. The goal of EMG devices is to create a prosthetic limb that amputees will be eager to use by increasing comfort, increasing control, and generating sensation. The engineers behind the design of EMG technology seek to provide a sustainable advancement within the field of rehabilitation engineering, specifically for prosthetic limbs. EMG will allow amputees to lead the same lives that they did before the amputation, revolutionizing the field of rehabilitation engineering and prosthetic devices, reversing the negative effects of limb loss. THE FOUNDATIONS OF EMG TECHNOLOGY IN FOREARM PROSTHETIC DEVELOPMENT Redefining the Prosthetic The field of rehabilitation engineering seeks to develop better and more efficient methods and models to give injured and disabled people their lives back. Prosthetic devices make up one of the largest components of the field, including not just limbs, but also cochlear implants and bionic eyes. For decades, the general design of a prosthetic limb has remained relatively constant, with most improvements being applied to the materials of the limbs to make them stronger, more durable, more comfortable, and more cost-effective. The first prosthetic limbs, made from wood, date back as far as 300