Technologies to Train Myoelectric Prosthesis Users for Optimal Functional Outcomes

Myoelectric prostheses can help service members and civilians that have acquired or congenital limb loss restore function. Substantial training is required to allow individuals to take full advantage of their prosthesis. Unfortunately, currently available training tools are expensive, non-motivating, manufacturer specific and typically must remain in the clinic. One goal of this proposal is to build off of our Phase 1 success and further advance our technologies toward the clinic. We will create hardware improvements to create multiple form factors that will capture the cross section of amputee users. In addition, we plan to create a mobile-device based GUI to enhance the capabilities of our system and implement the spectrum of virtual training methods to create entertaining and functional training systems. We aim to create a manufacturer agnostic, affordable, portable and motivating system that can be used both in and out of the clinic and has the capability of interfacing with current state of the art control schemes. Finally, we will perform a human subjects study to guide the development of our product but also provide data on the effects of training with our systems on prosthesis performance as measure through a battery of functional outcomes measures.