Recording of Electric Signal Passing Through a Pylon in Direct Skeletal Attachment of Leg Prostheses With Neuromuscular Control

Abstract

Direct recordings were made of electrical signals emanating from the muscles in a rabbit’s residuum. The signals were transmitted via wires attached on one end to the muscles, and on the other to an external recording system. The cable was held in a titanium tube inside a pylon that had been transcutaneously implanted into the residuum’s bone. The tube was surrounded by porous titanium cladding to enhance its bond with the bone and with the skin of the residuum. This study was the first known attempt to merge the technology of direct skeletal attachment of limb prostheses with the technology of neuromuscular control of prostheses, providing a safe and reliable passage of the electrical signal from the muscles inside the residuum to the outside recording system.

The Use of a Bone-Anchored Device as a Hard-Wired Conduit for Transmitting EMG Signals From Implanted Muscle Electrodes

“…In this model, we passed the electrode wire underneath the flange, removing the need for an additional hole in the cortex to transmit the wire, as described in a previous study [12]. As HA is osseoconductive, bone can grow along the surface of the stem right up to the flange area ( fig.…”

“…Pitkin [12] reported on the use of a titanium pylon boneanchored device as a conduit to take signals from internal microelectrodes through the skin barrier in a rabbit. The pylon was inserted into the tibia, and an additional hole was bored, through which wires exited the medullary canal.…”

“…The combination of bio-signal recording and direct skeletal attachment was first reported by Pitkin [12]. In a single, acute, recording session it was shown that EMG signals could be recorded from a sedated rabbit amputation model using silverplated wire electrodes.…”

Muscle activity during stance phase of walking: Comparison of males with transfemoral amputation with osseointegrated fixations to nondisabled male volunteers

“…Subjects A2 and A3 extended their hips until just before toe-off, whereas subjects A1, A4, and A5 were still extending their hip joints at toe-off. The median maximum hip extension was 16 to 18.7). In the coronal plane, the Table 2.…”

“…The OF increases the feasibility of a continuous interface between musculotendinous tissue and the prosthesis through its internal interaction with human tissue. Microprocessor-controlled systems involve transmitting signals from sensors intrinsic to the prosthesis (e.g., accelerometers, load cells, and gyrometers) or physiological sensors (signals emanating from muscles and nerves) to a microcomputer that modifies movement of the prosthetic device [1,16]. The advantage of incorporating sensors detecting signals from nerves or muscles is that they may convey information regarding the subject's movement control strategy.…”