Revolutionizing Prosthetics: Devices for Neural Integration

230 INTRODUCTION The main goals of the Revolutionizing Prosthetics (RP) effort focus on the development of high-dexterity upper-limb prostheses and controlling the prostheses by decoding signals expressing the intent of a prosthesis user. The injury suffered by the prosthesis user ultimately defines the source of these biological signals. For example, long transradial amputation patients (a belowelbow amputation) still have all of their forearm muscles, which are responsible for flexing and extending each individual finger. In this case, electromyography (EMG) electrodes (electrodes that capture electrical activity from the muscles) placed on the surface of the forearm can be used to acquire the myoelectric activity, which can in turn be processed, decoded, and transmitted for real-time control of the prosthesis. In the case of a shoulder disarticulation patient, the technique is similar but is implemented differently. This is because shoulder disarticulation subjects typically undergo a surgical procedure known as targeted muscle reinnervation.1 The RP project has been at the forefront of these procedures, which were led by Dr. Todd Kuiken of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. nterfacing with the human body to extract signals that capture a subject’s