Wearable stimulator for upper and lower limb somatotopic sensory feedback restoration.

IF 4.9
Roberto Paolini, Riccardo Collu, Laura Tullio, Andrea Demofonti, Alessia Scarpelli, Francesca Cordella, Massimo Barbaro, Loredana Zollo
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Abstract

Neuroprostheses capable of providing Somatotopic Sensory Feedback (SSF) enables the restoration of tactile sensations in amputees, thereby enhancing prosthesis embodiment, object manipulation, balance and walking stability. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) represents a primary noninvasive technique for eliciting somatotopic sensations. Devices commonly used to evaluate the effectiveness of TENS stimulation are often bulky and main powered. However, current portable TENS devices frequently fall short of key functional requirements, particularly in terms of stimulation parameter ranges that are insufficient to reliably evoke somatotopic sensations in either upper and lower limb applications. Moreover, they typically do not support real-time independent channels programming and wireless communication. This work introduces a compact, wearable stimulator, including its external casing, with a total weight of 64 g and dimensions of 70 % 40 % 35 mm, designed to deliver SSF in both upper and lower limb applications. The device was validated through bench testing and human trials involving 20 healthy participants, by comparing the intensity, qualitative characteristics, and referred area of the elicited sensations with those produced by a benchmark. The stimulator reliably delivered the required parameters on a skin-like capacitive-resistive load and elicited somatotopic sensations consistent with the benchmark device and prior somatotopic feedback studies. The proposed stimulator provides non-invasive somatotopic sensory feedback for both upper and lower limbs. Its portability and modular design address key limitations of current commercial and research-grade TENS systems, enabling future studies on the functional benefits of sensory feedback in prosthetic control.

用于上肢和下肢体位感觉反馈恢复的穿戴式刺激器。
能够提供体位感觉反馈(SSF)的神经假肢能够恢复截肢者的触觉,从而增强假肢的体现、物体操纵、平衡和行走稳定性。经皮神经电刺激(TENS)是一种主要的无创技术,用于引发体位感觉。通常用于评估TENS刺激效果的设备通常体积庞大且主要由电源供电。然而,目前的便携式TENS设备经常达不到关键的功能要求,特别是在刺激参数范围方面,不足以在上肢和下肢应用中可靠地唤起体位感觉。此外,它们通常不支持实时独立频道编程和无线通信。这项工作介绍了一种紧凑的可穿戴刺激器,包括其外部外壳,总重量为64克,尺寸为70% - 40% - 35毫米,旨在为上肢和下肢应用提供SSF。该装置通过台架测试和20名健康参与者的人体试验进行了验证,通过比较诱发感觉的强度、定性特征和参考区域与基准产生的感觉。该刺激器在类似皮肤的容阻负载上可靠地传递所需参数,并引发与基准装置和先前的躯体反馈研究一致的躯体感觉。所提出的刺激器为上肢和下肢提供非侵入性的躯体感觉反馈。它的便携性和模块化设计解决了当前商业和研究级TENS系统的关键限制,使未来的假肢控制感官反馈的功能优势研究成为可能。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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