The use of an adjustable electrode housing unit to compare electrode alignment and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality

Head, John; Howard, David; Hutchins, Stephen W; Kenney, Laurence; Heath, Glyn Harvey; Aksenov, A.Yu.

doi:10.1177/0309364614545417

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…However, this means electrodes in myoelectric devices are often looser immediately following socket delivery, which can affect levels of control and prosthesis functionality. This is one reason why functionality and comfort [21,22], two properties commonly associated with paediatric prosthesis rejection, [23,24,16], are often intrinsically linked.…”

Section: Socket Fitmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research at Salford University proposes a more user-friendly alternative to the standard method of simply inserting myoelectric electrodes into fixed housings within the socket walls. Unlike the standard method, where the electrode contacts are intrinsically tied to the mechanics and fit of the entire socket, the contact pressure and alignment of control electrodes in Salford's design can be adjusted independently [37,22]. The child focussed version of this system is being developed as part of the Starworks project.…”

Section: Salford Universitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Child prosthetics – a perspective

Dyson

Wheeler

Langley

et al. 2020

Control of Prosthetic Hands: Challenges and Emerging Avenues

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Research into myoelectric upper-limb prosthetics has focussed on algorithmic approaches to decoding muscle signals. A cursory search of PubMed indicates that the ratio of upper-limb myoelectric papers focussed on prosthesis control to those which mention children is approximately twenty to one. Of those papers which mention children, only a subset focus on paediatric upper-limb prostheses. A similar ratio exists between control algorithms publications and research on myoelectric upper-limb sockets. These disparities are likely to reflect differences in the barriers to entry for various types of research, and the overall time commitments necessary to obtain and validate sufficient data for publication.The majority of information surrounding myoelectric upper-limb prosthetics for children is anecdotal. This reflects the fact that active upper-limb prosthetics is a relatively small field, both clinically and academically, of which paediatrics is an even smaller section. As the overall area is small, technical research, whether performed in academia, commercial enterprises or by non-profits, very rarely reaches or involves the clinical teams necessary to validate developments and evidence efficacy.This chapter summarises conversations between researchers working in healthcare and academia linked through membership of the Starworks network, a UK National Institute for Health Research initiative to accelerate the translation of child prosthetics research into daily use. Specifically, it aims to unpack challenges identified by the network and critically analyse the current 'state of the art' in relevant upper limb myoelectric prostheses areas, informed by multiple perspectives. Each section outlines an area of emerging influence over the past decade which is likely to remain influential over the next. It begins with a brief introduction to the Starworks Network and concludes with recommendations from the authors.

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Section: Socket Fitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Salford Universitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Child prosthetics – a perspective

Dyson

Wheeler

Langley

et al. 2020

Control of Prosthetic Hands: Challenges and Emerging Avenues

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The socket acts as the interface between the body and prosthesis, facilitating load bearing ( 1 ) and proprioception in lower-limb devices. In myoelectric prostheses, the socket houses electrodes which allow the transmission of control signals ( 10 ). Despite functional differences between upper and lower limb prostheses, the key factors affecting user acceptance and function are similar ( 11 ), with discomfort and diminished prosthesis control being the leading causes of abandonment and dissatisfaction ( 11 , 12 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Limited Prosthetic Socket Documentation: A Researcher Perspective

Olsen

Turner

Chadwell

et al. 2022

Front. Rehabilit. Sci.

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The majority of limb prostheses are socket mounted. For these devices, the socket is essential for adequate prosthetic suspension, comfort, and control. The socket is unique among prosthetic components as it is not usually mass-produced and must instead be custom-made for individual residual limbs by a prosthetist. The knowledge of what constitutes “good” socket fit is gained by expert prosthetists and technicians over years of experience, and rarely documented. The reliance on tacit knowledge makes it difficult to standardize the criteria for a well-fitting socket, leading to difficulties understanding the impact of socket fit. Despite its importance, the workflow for socket fitting is often overlooked in literature. Due to the customized nature of sockets, if information is provided in literature, generally only the type of socket and suspension mechanism is noted, with information regarding the fitting and manufacturing processes omitted. In this article, the concerns, issues and consequences arising from lack of upper and lower limb socket documentation are discussed from a researcher perspective, supported by healthcare professionals and socket fabrication specialists. Key changes are proposed to the way socket manufacturing and evaluation are documented to assist future research.

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“…10 Lack of control, poor reliability and discomfort are key causes of abandonment of myoelectric prostheses. 5,[11][12][13][14][15][16] Traditional socket designs are not optimised to accommodate the weight of additional hardware or to prevent loss of contact between the EMG sensors and their target muscle groups. 3 Restricted space within most sockets generally only allows for one or two clinicalstandard electrodes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 19 Adjustable electrode housings have been trialled in an attempt to assist myoelectric control with existing sockets. 15 However, there are no known novel socket styles designed specifically to optimise EMG control, and research into this topic is scarce. 16 In contrast, several designs have emerged with the aim of improving biomechanical stability, most notably those featuring longitudinal compression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Trans-Radial Longitudinal Compression Influence Myoelectric Control?

Olsen

Day

Dupan

et al. 2022

Can. Prosthet. Orthot. J.

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BACKGROUND: Existing trans-radial prosthetic socket designs are not optimised to facilitate reliable myoelectric control. Many socket designs pre-date the introduction of myoelectric devices. However, socket designs featuring improved biomechanical stability, notably longitudinal compression sockets, have emerged in more recent years. Neither the subsequent effects, if any, of stabilising the limb on myoelectric control nor in which arrangement to apply the compression have been reported. METHODOLOGY: Twelve able-bodied participants completed two tasks whilst wearing a longitudinal compression socket simulator in three different configurations: 1) compressed, where the compression strut was placed on top of the muscle of interest, 2) relief, where the compression struts were placed either side of the muscle being recorded and 3) uncompressed, with no external compression. The tasks were 1) a single-channel myoelectric target tracking exercise, followed by 2), a high-intensity grasping task. The wearers’ accuracy during the tracking task, the pressure at opposing sides of the simulator during contractions and the rate at which the limb fatigued were observed. FINDINGS: No significant difference between the tracking-task accuracy scores or rate of fatigue was observed for the different compression configurations. Pressure recordings from the compressed configuration showed that pressure was maintained at opposing sides of the simulator during muscle contractions. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal compression does not inhibit single-channel EMG control, nor improve fatigue performance. Longitudinal compression sockets have the potential to improve the reliability of multi-channel EMG control due to the maintenance of pressure during muscle contractions. Layman's Abstract Most prosthetic limbs are attached to the body using a rigid, cup-like socket shaped to each individual limb. Prosthetic arms attached to a residual forearm are called trans-radial prostheses, and bionic hands and grippers, formally referred to as myoelectric devices, are types of attachments which can be affixed to trans-radial prostheses. The sockets used in conjunction with myoelectric devices today pre-date the clinical introduction of myoelectric devices, and therefore are not optimised to facilitate signal transmission. Newer socket styles have emerged, with the aim of improving comfort and stability, notably those featuring areas of longitudinal compression running parallel to the underlying bone structures. However, longitudinal compression sockets have not been researched for their effects on critical aspects influencing the reliability of myoelectric control. Hence, this study investigates the effect of longitudinal compression on key factors influencing a wearers’ ability to control their myoelectric device. In twelve able-bodied participants, the following three factors were observed: 1) a wearers’ ability to complete a simple on-screen target tracking task whilst wearing a longitudinal compression socket simulator, 2) whether pressure at opposing sides of the socket simulator is maintained during muscle contractions, and 3) whether the longitudinal compression affects the rate at which the forearm fatigues during a short duration, high intensity gripping task. The results from the study showed longitudinal compression of the forearm does not significantly impact a wearers’ ability to complete a simple target-tracking task, or the rate at which the forearm fatigues. However, some benefit to myoelectric control may be achieved due to the maintenance of pressure using this type of socket. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/37963/29734 How To Cite: Olsen J, Day S, Dupan S, Nazarpour K, Dyson M. Does trans-radial longitudinal compression influence myoelectric control? Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2022; Volume 5, Issue 2, No.2.https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v5i2.37963 Corresponding Author: Jennifer Olsen,Intelligent Sensing Laboratory, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, UK.E-Mail: j.olsen@newcastle.ac.ukORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9076-3092

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The use of an adjustable electrode housing unit to compare electrode alignment and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality

Cited by 8 publications

References 15 publications

Child prosthetics – a perspective

Child prosthetics – a perspective

The Impact of Limited Prosthetic Socket Documentation: A Researcher Perspective

Does Trans-Radial Longitudinal Compression Influence Myoelectric Control?

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