I hope all interested in prosthetic developments saw this week’s 60 Minutes…if not, below is a link to the video.  Jon Kuniholm, the Duke biomedical engineer featured in the story, is a Given Limb board member and we are all proud of his team’s accomplishments.  In fact, Peter Truskey, whose summer work at Duke was reported in this blog, was part of the team focused on the arm that was featured by Jon on the show.  Peter’s work was funded by another Given Limb board member.

 http://www.cbs.com/primetime/60_minutes/video/video.php?cid=927554855&pid=k9ZHLvJ5VysMnDVZurp9S3UPlYaOloDm&play=true&cc=0

As of now, the student on the myoelectric signal processing project has written software to classify and analyze the data. He is still working out a few bugs in the data analysis, but so far the processor is mostly able to classify and recognize classes of data….which, translated, means it is able to identify electrical “signatures” for different types of arm movements.  Additionally, the team has written the software for showing the data in real time. The next step, in addition to finishing up some final parts of the software, is to connect the signal processing to a real signal. Using a beagle board (like the guts of a mini computer …no screen or keyboard, just the innards needed to “drive” an arm or a hand), the team will be able to hook up live electrodes and test out the processor with some real data. Stay tuned!

One of the great things about the myoelectric signal processor project is that it is all “open source,” which means others can have access to the software to collaborate and make improvements.  In order to keep the software open source, all of the signal processing is being performed in the commonly used software Javascript.  Data analysis is being performed to measure the range and repeatability of the measurements (for the truly data-savvy out there, the student is using a Linear Descriminant Analysis (LDA), as well as using a Gaussian statistical model). Additionally, the signal processor will be able to plot out the  voltages being recorded by the electrodes in real time. This plot is similar to an electrocardiogram signal and will show voltages versus time. This will be useful because it will allow the team to see the voltage reactions from different movements and it will also allow them to make sure that the electrodes and circuit board are properly connected and all voltages are being recorded.

The student has been working on the signal processing aspect of the myoelectric arm project. The role of the signal processing is to collect live data from a circuit board that is connected to the electrodes placed on the person’s arm.  First the person is guided through a series of hand motions while the device is attached. These include certain types of grips or movements like pointing. The data comes in as voltages which are then run through a series of algorithms or programs to classify the data. Once the data is classified then the subject should be able to move their hand more freely and the signal processor will recognize certain classes of movement.  Next post will be more about how the information from this research will be shared.

Duke student engineer Peter Truskey has continued to work the “myopen” project this summer with Given Limb board member, Jon Kunihom, as mentor.  In mid-July they attended a conference where they demonstrated the project and what they had completed to that point. Up until the conference, Peter continued to work on the software for the collection and analysis of the data. The software was written into Javascript so that it was completely open source and would be available to anybody to make changes to it. Since they returned from the conference, however, they have shifted their focus onto making a prototype of the board they been designing. The board is the centerpiece of the project and is where the  electrodes that collect the electromyograms (EMGs) will connect. The board will collect the analog data and using the software, process it and output a signal. Peter has been helping them with some final pieces of the board recently so that it can be prototyped. Some of the main issues they have been focusing on is what components to use.  They have been designing several similar prototypes with certain parts being varied. They should be ready to make these prototypes shortly, and once they are made, they can test them to determine the final design.  What this all means is that technology is now one step closer to creating a higher functioning myoelectric arm.  Stay tuned.

The July issue of Gourmet Magazine had a great article by J.J. Goode about her trials and tribulations in her endeavors to cook meals—lovingly—everything from peeling potatoes to removing hot dishes from the oven to opening a bottom of wine, the articles gives a good inside view of the challenges of cooking with one arm—To view the article, click this link:

http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/07/single-handed-cooking

We have had so many questions from people who need prosthetic limbs and have no way to pay for the,  We have been told that most health insurance will cover prosthetic limbs, but only basic limbs (i.e., not running legs, or prosthetics for special purposes.)  However, we have also been told that there are foundations and hospitals that will help.  One of our readers (Cody’s father) tells us that Shriners Hospitals will provide care to children, regardless of ability to pay, and that the Challenged Athletes Foundation has grants available to cover equipment and travel for those who wish to resume athletic activity.  We have also been told that the Amputee Coalition of America will help pay for prosthetic limbs for those in need.

As always, we welcome other suggestions and ideas, and would be pleased to pass them on to our readers!

As board members for Given Limb, we are constantly interested in and monitoring what is happening on the forefront of research in both mechanical and myoelectric prosthetics.  One interesting project, which is ongoing at Duke University, is based on the electrical signals generated by skin and muscle cells in our body.  A student is working to design a device capable of collecting skin surface electromyographic signals (electrical signals generated by the cells) from the arm and then process the data and deliver it to a host device.  The host device is basically a computer, which could be anything from the operator of a prosthetic arm to a video game controller.  More information on the project can be found at:
 http://openprosthetics.wikispot.org/Open_Myoelectric_Signal_Processor.