Mind-controlled prosthetic leg

A group of neuroscientists, surgeons, engineers, and prosthetists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago has developed a bionic breakthrough for amputees. The newly invented prosthetic leg uses similar technology to that of the arm prosthetics; but this bionic leg is completely controlled with brain signals. All the wearer has to do is imagine the motion he/she wants to do, and the prosthetic carries out the motion.

Levi Hargrove, the lead scientist for this project at RIC, helped create this technology that uses neural signals to improve the functionality of bionic legs. He stated, “This new bionic leg features incredibly intelligent engineering. It learns and performs activities unprecedented for any leg amputee, including seamless transitions between sitting, walking, ascending and descending stairs and ramps and repositioning the leg while seated.”

Image via Associated Press

The new prosthetic leg has sensors and electrodes that read signals in people’s thighs and analyze the reinnervated nerves. Nerve signals from the damaged muscle that previously went to the ankle are now redirected into the hamstring muscles above the knee.The muscle and nerve contractions are observed, and then the movements in the bionic knee and ankle joints are carried out. 

With this same prosthetic, a computer processes the leg’s data that is picked up by the sensors, and then the mechanical leg carries out the body's command. The external computer shows and calculates the signals the wearer's brain is sending. Since muscle signals are analyzed instead of robotic sensors, the system is safer than traditional prosthetics.

Image via RIC

Within the next three to five years, these legs will be available to amputees. Currently, the bionic leg is still in the lab for testing purposes, and has so far been successfully used by a select test-group. The cause at RIC is supported by the U.S. Army, as they have funded the project with an $8 million grant.

Story via CNN, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago