Vibrotactile Feedback Improves Foot Placement Perception on Stairs for Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users

Rokhmanova, Nataliya

doi:10.1109/icorr.2019.8779518

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast to our approach that interfaces with remaining nerves in the residual limb to generate somatosensations directly referred to the missing foot, methods that utilize electro-or vibro-cutaneous input have attempted to provide indirect feedback regarding the status of the missing lower limbs 34,[63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70] . However, only a few studies have examined the functional outcomes of such sensory substitution techniques with LLAs 34,67,71 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory neuroprosthesis improves postural stability during Sensory Organization Test in lower-limb amputees

Charkhkar

Christie

Triolo

2020

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To maintain postural stability, unilateral lower-limb amputees (LLAs) heavily rely on visual and vestibular inputs, and somatosensory cues from their intact leg to compensate for missing somatosensory information from the amputated limb. When any of these resources are compromised, LLAs exhibit poor balance control compared to able-bodied individuals. We hypothesized that restoring somatosensation related to the missing limb via direct activation of the sensory nerves in the residuum would improve the standing stability of LLAs. We developed a closed-loop sensory neuroprosthesis utilizing non-penetrating multi-contact cuff electrodes implanted around the residual nerves to elicit perceptions of the location and intensity of plantar pressures under the prosthetic feet of two transtibial amputees. Effects of the sensory neuroprosthesis on balance were quantified with the Sensory Organization Test and other posturographic measures of sway. In both participants, the sensory neuroprosthesis improved equilibrium and sway when somatosensation from the intact leg and visual inputs were perturbed simultaneously. One participant also showed improvement with the sensory neuroprosthesis whenever somatosensation in the intact leg was compromised via perturbations of the platform. These observations suggest the sensory feedback elicited by neural stimulation can significantly improve the standing stability of LLAs, particularly when other sensory inputs are depleted or otherwise compromised. Individuals with lower limb amputation face challenges in maintaining their balance when navigating uneven terrains or encountering perturbations during walking 1-3. The fear of falling and decreased balance confidence are prevalent among lower limb amputees (LLAs) 2,4 , which are important factors in their mobility and participation in social activities 4-8. Compared to individuals without lower limb loss, LLAs have slower walking speeds, possibly because of decreased gait stability and the need for increased conscious attention while walking on uneven or changing terrains 1. In a survey of community-dwelling LLAs, more than 50% reported that they had fallen at least once in the past year 4,9. Amputees typically place more trust in the intact limb, which results in overuse and destructive long-term consequences, such as osteoarthritis of the intact knee and/or hip 10. Decreased loading on the affected limb can also lead to osteopenia and subsequent osteoporosis. With the growing number of people who lose limbs due to vascular diseases or trauma, it is important to develop assistive technologies that improve standing stability in this population. Three main sensory systems, the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory, contribute to stable posture during stance 11,12. Theses inputs are integrated and processed in the central nervous system which generates appropriate movement strategies and motor commands to maintain postural stability 13,14. However, when any of the sensory inputs are absent or inaccurate, the CNS adjusts the gains for each ...

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory neuroprosthesis improves postural stability during Sensory Organization Test in lower-limb amputees

Charkhkar

Christie

Triolo

2020

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The disadvantage of TMR is that this method cannot provide sensory feedback to the amputee [11]. Sensory feedback can be restored, however, by means of invasive techniques or non-invasive techniques, such as electrotactile [37,38] and vibrotactile [39,40] stimulations [41]. Several reports have been published using implanted electrodes to stimulate the residual sciatic nerve with feedback from the prosthesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of Phantom Limb Pain and Improved Proprioception through a TSR-Based Surgical Technique: A Case Series of Four Patients with Lower Limb Amputation

Gardetto

Baur

Prahm

et al. 2021

JCM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Four patients underwent targeted sensory reinnervation (TSR), a surgical technique in which a defined skin area is first selectively denervated and then surgically reinnervated by another sensory nerve. In our case, either the area of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve or the saphenous nerve was reinnervated by the sural nerve. Patients were then fitted with a special prosthetic device capable of transferring the sense of pressure from the sole of the prosthesis to the newly wired skin area. Pain reduction after TSR was highly significant in all patients. In three patients, permanent pain medication could even be discontinued, in one patient the pain medication has been significantly reduced. Two of the four patients were completely pain-free after the surgical intervention. Surgical rewiring of existing sensory nerves by TSR can provide the brain with new afferent signals seeming to originate from the missing limb. These signals help to reduce phantom limb pain and to restore a more normal body image. In combination with special prosthetic devices, the amputee can be provided with sensory feedback from the prosthesis, thus improving gait and balance.

show abstract

“…For other potential future work, our framework provides a foundation for building wearable haptic devices which are not necessarily limited to the fingers. In its current form, Haplets can be placed on other parts of the body with minimal adjustments for rapid prototyping haptic devices, such as the forearm, temple, and thighs (Cipriani et al, 2012;Sie et al, 2018;Rokhmanova and Rombokas, 2019;Peng et al, 2020). With some modifications, namely to the number of motor drivers and firmware, Haplets can also be used for rendering a larger number of vibrotactile actuators at once, which could be used to create haptic displays around the wrist or on the forearm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haplets: Finger-Worn Wireless and Low-Encumbrance Vibrotactile Haptic Feedback for Virtual and Augmented Reality

Preechayasomboon¹

2021

Front. Virtual Real.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We introduce Haplets, a wearable, low-encumbrance, finger-worn, wireless haptic device that provides vibrotactile feedback for hand tracking applications in virtual and augmented reality. Haplets are small enough to fit on the back of the fingers and fingernails while leaving the fingertips free for interacting with real-world objects. Through robust physically-simulated hands and low-latency wireless communication, Haplets can render haptic feedback in the form of impacts and textures, and supplements the experience with pseudo-haptic illusions. When used in conjunction with handheld tools, such as a pen, Haplets provide haptic feedback for otherwise passive tools in virtual reality, such as for emulating friction and pressure-sensitivity. We present the design and engineering for the hardware for Haplets, as well as the software framework for haptic rendering. As an example use case, we present a user study in which Haplets are used to improve the line width accuracy of a pressure-sensitive pen in a virtual reality drawing task. We also demonstrate Haplets used during manipulation of objects and during a painting and sculpting scenario in virtual reality. Haplets, at the very least, can be used as a prototyping platform for haptic feedback in virtual reality.

show abstract

Vibrotactile Feedback Improves Foot Placement Perception on Stairs for Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users

Cited by 20 publications

References 30 publications

Sensory neuroprosthesis improves postural stability during Sensory Organization Test in lower-limb amputees

Sensory neuroprosthesis improves postural stability during Sensory Organization Test in lower-limb amputees

Reduction of Phantom Limb Pain and Improved Proprioception through a TSR-Based Surgical Technique: A Case Series of Four Patients with Lower Limb Amputation

Haplets: Finger-Worn Wireless and Low-Encumbrance Vibrotactile Haptic Feedback for Virtual and Augmented Reality

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About