Multi-Modal Fingertip Sensors for Prosthetic Hand Control and Feedback

Multi-Modal Fingertip Sensors for Prosthetic HandControl and FeedbackPROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The goal of the proposed project is to develop a robust, multi-modal prosthetic fingertip sensor – the Point Touch – which 1) has a patented multi-modal sensing capability including measurement of proximity, contact, and force and 2) can augment myoelectric control methods using semi-autonomous control algorithms. The Point Touch is the next product in Point Designs’ product road map, which began with the Point Digit, a full finger mechanical prosthesis. Since the commercial launch of the Point Digit in 2017, over 1200 digits have been delivered to more than 470 patients. Through our extensive academic and commercial research collaborations we uncovered an opportunity to utilize our multi-modal prosthetic fingertip sensor to improve myoelectric control of prosthetic hands. To answer the frequent request for a fingertip sensor, we will complete the development of the Point Touch through this funding opportunity. Completion of this project will result in a multi-modal fingertip sensor specifically designed to augment existing myoelectric control methods and lay a foundation to restore the sense of touch. The care of people with upper limb amputations requires a highly individualized approach. Prosthetists and occupational therapists work with each patient to provide a personalized medical solution using whatever components and technologies are available on the open market. Very often, the bottleneck in this system is the availability of clinically sound prosthetic components that can be readily sourced by the prosthetists to provide an optimal prosthetic limb system. Today, prosthetic hands are numb. They provide no somatosensory feedback to the user. However, we know that the sensory information provided by the hand is critical to our dexterous capabilities. Many research groups have made great progress in the development of peripheral nerve interfaces and have begun several in-human trials around the world. However, current commercial prosthetic hands cannot measure the interactions with the unconstrained external environment; there are short- and long-term clinical needs for commercially viable prosthetic fingertips. In this Phase 1 effort we propose to 1) perform a User Needs assessment followed by verification through mechanical tests, and 2) enhance existing myoelectric control techniques using the innovative proximity and force sensing capabilities of the Point Touch. This short-term implementation of the Point Touch technology will improve myoelectric control techniques and reduce cognitive burden for users of prosthetic hands. The Phase 1 effort will build towards a larger Phase II project which will test the Point Touch and its algorithmic capabilities in a clinical trial of patients with peripheral nerve interfaces. Combined, these efforts will establish the Point Touch as the leading candidate of prosthetic finger technology to be ready for the commercialization of peripheral nerve interfaces and the restoration of the sense of touch.PROJECT NARRATIVE Approximately 60,000 people live with major upper limb amputations in the United States and amputation of the hand can cause physical, psychosocial, and economic damage to an individual. Research teams are developing neural interfaces to restores the sense of touch, but there is a void of durable and reliable fingertip sensors to measure the interactions of the prosthetic devices. In this project, Point Designs LLC proposes to develop and commercialize a robust, multi-modal fingertip sensor that can be installed on commercially available prosthetic hands for advanced control techniques and the future restoration of the sense of touch.