There are cases where amputations significantly challenge people in their day-to-day activities. While many innovations aim to address this issue, robotic prosthetics have introduced hope among amputees. However, these technologies have often lacked natural movements over time, giving a more robotic feel. This is where an innovation by MIT researchers comes into play. Their New Prosthetic Leg Technology, controlled by the user’s nervous system, provides more natural control over the leg instead of relying on pre-programmed movements.
This new approach requires a special surgical procedure known as the Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI). This procedure reconnects the muscles in the remaining part of the amputated limb, helping patients feel where their prosthetic leg is in space, thus providing “proprioceptive” feedback. In a study with seven patients who had this surgery, researchers found that these patients could walk faster, avoid obstacles, and climb stairs more naturally compared to those with traditional amputations. Key aspects of this technology include natural control, reduced pain and muscle atrophy, Proprioceptive Feedback, and broad applicability.
Above, you can find a demonstration of this technology, where a person wearing this new prosthetic leg climbs and descends stairs. You can see that the motion is clear and natural, making it difficult to tell it is an artificial limb.
The neural feedback technology represents a significant advancement in prosthetic limbs, leveraging the body's nervous system for more natural and effective control. This innovation improves the quality of life for amputees by enabling natural movement and proprioception. With ongoing research, these technologies promise to become even more sophisticated and user-friendly, seamlessly integrating with the human body to restore movement and confidence in daily activities.
