Prosthetic devices: Challenges and implications of robotic implants and biological interfaces

Abstract

Although among designs of prosthetics there have been some successes in the design of functional robotic implants, there remain many issues and challenges concerned with the failure to meet the 'ideal' requirements of a satisfactory prosthetic. These 'ideals' require the device to be easy to control, comfortable to wear, and cosmetically pleasing. Because the literature on prosthetics and robotic implants are voluminous, this review focuses on four topics to determine key challenges and opportunities underlying these interdisciplinary research areas: firstly, an artificial hand as a biomimetic; secondly, prosthetic implants (electromyography signals and control); thirdly, prosthetic implants and tissue reactions to the material(s) of implants; fourthly, how inflammatory responses of cells and tissues surrounding implanted sensors interfere with the signal transmission of such sensors. This review also notes the importance of the biological interfaces that robotic implants and other prosthetic devices are in contact with and how an improved knowledge of pathophysiological changes at such biological interfaces will lead to improved and more biocompatible designs of prosthetics. This review concludes with the vision that, to develop a design that satisfies the above 'ideals', an interdisciplinary team of biomedical and tissue engineers, and biomaterial and biomedical scientists is needed to work together holistically and synergistically.

Pressure signature of forearm as predictor of grip force

“…This biomimetic paradigm necessitates both an interface for the extraction of neuromotor signatures from within the residuum [1][2][3][4][5] and a high-fidelity grip force control for proportional grasping in near real time [2,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. The goal of this study was to critically evaluate force myography (FMG) as a representation of dynamic grip force for proportional control.…”

Feasibility of controlling prosthetic hand using sonomyography signal in real time: Preliminary study

“…For example, it is believed that considerable attention is required to control EMG-based prostheses, often resulting in fatigue [4][5]. It is also difficult for SEMG to detect the activities of deep muscles because the deep muscle EMG may be attenuated and/or mixed with the superficial muscle EMG at the skin surface [4,[6][7]. Furthermore, the lack of proprioceptive feedback is one of the major disadvantages for SEMG-based control [2,[3][4][5].…”

Exposure to titanium dioxide and other metallic oxide nanoparticles induces cytotoxicity on human neural cells and fibroblasts

“…Such applications include the use of silicon, titanium, iron, and other metallic oxide nanoparticles, thereby increasing the occupational and other environmental exposure of these nanoparticles to humans and other species (Lai et al 2007a). Nevertheless, the health effects of exposure of humans and other species to metallic oxide nanoparticles have not been systematically investigated as their impact on the environment has not been under the scrutiny of regulatory control (Oberdorster et al 2005;Lai et al 2007b).…”

“…Exposure of Syrian hamster embryo fi broblasts to ultrafi ne TiO 2 particles (Յ20 nm) resulted in micronuclei and apoptosis in those cells (Rahman et al 2002) and TiO 2 nanoparticles (40 nm) also induced cytotoxicity in rat liver cells (Hussain et al 2005). Nevertheless, the effects of TiO 2 nanoparticles on human or non-human mammalian neural cells are largely unknown (Lai et al 2007a(Lai et al , 2007b.…”

“…Thus, metallic oxide nanoparticles could reach the brain via these two routes. Again, the putative cytotoxic effects of such nanoparticles on neural cells have not been elucidated (Lai et al 2007a(Lai et al , 2007b.…”