Peripheral Neural Interface via Nerve Regeneration to Distal Tissues

Exclusively Licensed

At least partial function of a human limb is restored by surgically removing at least a portion of an injured or diseased human limb from a surgical site of an individual and transplanting a selected muscle into the remaining biological body of the individual, followed by contacting the transplanted selected muscle, or an associated nerve, with an electrode, to thereby control a device, such as a prosthetic limb, linked to the electrode. Simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from a device includes mechanically linking at least one pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, wherein a nerve innervates each muscle, and supporting each pair with a support, whereby contraction of the agonist muscle of each pair will cause extension of the paired antagonist muscle. An electrode is implanted in a muscle of each pair and electrically connected to a motor controller of the device, thereby simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from the device.

Researchers

Hugh M Herr / Matthew Carty / Rick Casler / Ronald Riso / Katherine Song

Departments: Program in Media Arts and Sciences, Media Lab
Technology Areas: Biomaterials & Bioelectronics: Tissue Repair / Biotechnology: Biomedical Devices & Systems, Tissue Engineering
Impact Areas: Healthy Living

  • peripheral neural interface via nerve regeneration to distal tissues
    United States of America | Granted | 12,245,956
  • peripheral neural interface via nerve regeneration to distal tissues
    United States of America | Granted | 9,474,634
  • peripheral neural interface via nerve regeneration to distal tissues
    United States of America | Granted | 10,898,351
  • peripheral neural interface via nerve regeneration to distal tissues
    United States of America | Pending

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