Our goal is to temporarily implant the following groups for 540 +/- 30 days:
1. Forearm FAST electrodes
1. Five human partial hand amputees (amputated at the level of the hand) with 2 FAST electrodes in the ulnar nerve and 2-5 FAST electrodes in the median nerve. 2. Five human hand and forearm amputees (amputated at the level of the forearm) with 2 FAST electrodes in the ulnar nerve and 2-5 FAST electrodes in the median nerve . 2. Arm FAST electrodes
1. Five human partial hand amputees (amputated at the level of the hand) with 2 FAST electrodes in the ulnar nerve and 2-5 FAST electrodes in the median nerve. 2. Five human hand and forearm amputees (amputated at the level of the forearm) with 2 FAST electrodes in the ulnar nerve and 2-5 FAST electrodes in the median nerve. 3. Five human hand, forearm and arm amputees (amputated at the level of the arm) with 2 FAST electrodes in the ulnar nerve and 2-5 FAST electrodes in the median nerve.
Male or female, age 18 and older, of any race or ethnicity
Able and willing to sign Consent
Able and willing to participate in all study activities including implantation, testing and explantation of the study device.
Able to communicate effectively in English without an interpreter
None
Single group
Fast electrode
Other interventionImplant temporary Fast electrodes and record the nerve signals that control delicate finger motions and play back the nerve signals that give the hand feelings of touch and movement.
Motor Assessment
We will ask you to attempt to perform hand movements and positions. The movement trials will consist of simultaneous volitional movements and positioning of both the uninjured/sound limb and the injured/amputated "phantom" limb done. This allows us to have a physical record of exactly what movement is being attempted by the amputated limb. We will record nerve and muscle electrode activity during all of the movement trials. During some movement trials, we will stimulate the LIFE neural electrodes while recording from implanted vs. surface adhesive vs. percutaneous needle muscle electrodes
Sensory Assessment
We will also perform sensory detection and discrimination trials. Here, you will be asked to report if you detect any sensation during microstimulation (delivering very small electrical signals) via LIFE electrodes. If you do have a sensory perception, you will be asked to describe the quality and strength of the perception, e.g. location, touch, vibration, temperature. You may also be asked to fill out standardized sensory/pain assessments during microstimulation and after microstimulation is turned off. Other stimulation trials that may be done will include single or multiple electrode stimulation to see if subjects can perceive multiple sensory percepts simultaneously. Blinded trials may be done to determine if the subjects are actually perceiving the same percept for a given stimulation paradigm. Other trials may include modulating the stimulation parameters to determine if the sensory percept changes characteristics with varying stimulation paradigms.
Sensory-Motor Integration
After determining your sensory detection and discrimination parameters, we will ask you to repeat standardized assessments using the existing myoelectric partial hand prosthesis. Microstimulation via LIFE electrodes will be paired with motion or contact during task performance in order to determine whether providing evokes sensation during prosthesis use improves task-based performance.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lead sponsor
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Collaborator
Nerves Incorporated, Inc.
Collaborator
Arizona State University
Collaborator
University of Minnesota
Collaborator
