Florin Istudor, David-Cătălin Dragomir, Costin Andrei Brătan, Monica Dascălu, Octaviana Datcu, Enhancing Prosthesis Functionality Using FPGA Control Logic, ICSAAM 2023, Zakynthos, Greece
ABSTRACT
To contribute to the important research field aiming to offer patients with amputated limbs a life as close as possible to the one lived prior to the operation, this paper presents the implementation and testing of the control block for a forearm prosthesis equipped with DC motors and pressure Velostat sensors. The control block is synthesized on a FPGA platform to ensure a controllable method of movement of the fingers and the possibility of incorporating haptic feedback into the algorithm. The five types of movement that the prosthesis can execute due to new algorithms are illustrated, the goal of the project being attained. Compared to previous microcontroller-based implementation, the FPGA platform enhances the functionality of the prosthesis due to the parallel operation of all fingers.
Eleni Zingkou, Asimina Kolianou, Georgios Pampalakis, Georgia Sotiropoulou, Examination of the biocompatibility of stainless steel 316l against the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, 23rd Panhellenic Chemistry Conference Athens, Greece Sept 2024
Subject:
Stainless steel (SS) 316l is a popular biomaterial commonly used as an implant in cardiovascular and orthopaedic surgery and in dentistry. Here, its biocompatibility was investigated against neuronal cells, a critical feature for the construction of neuronal electrodes. We examined the ability of SS 316l to support the growth of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and their differentiation induced with 10 μM retinoic acid, according to established protocols. Various parameters were monitored, such as cellular morphology (quantification of neurite extension, neurite body etc) and the expression of neuronal differentiation markers.
Conclusions:
1) Stainless steel 316l is resistant in PBS that contain physiological concentrations of Cl-, as expected for biomedical grade materials. This is consistent to the presence of Mo that is added to inhibit pit corrosion due to Cl-.
2) Neuroblastoma cells can easily attach and differentiate on the “naked” SS 316l surface. Nevertheless, the neurite length was shorter on SS 361l compared to the length of the neurites developed on tissue culture plastic.
3) SS 361l can be used in applications that implicate attachment with neural cells, e.g., for the construction of neural stimulation electrodes.
Ionescu, O.N.; Franti, E.; et al. System of Implantable Electrodes for Neural Signal Acquisition and Stimulation for Wirelessly Connected Forearm Prosthesis, Biosensors 2024, 14, 31
Abstract
There is great interest in the development of prosthetic limbs capable of complex activities that are wirelessly connected to the patient’s neural system. Although some progress has been achieved in this area, one of the main problems encountered is the selective acquisition of nerve impulses and the closing of the automation loop through the selective stimulation of the sensitive branches of the patient. Large-scale research and development have achieved so-called “cuff electrodes”; however, they present a big disadvantage: they are not selective. In this article, we present the progress made in the development of an implantable system of plug neural microelectrodes that relate to the biological nerve tissue and can be used for the selective acquisition of neuronal signals and for the stimulation of specific nerve fascicles. The developed plug electrodes are also advantageous due to their small thickness, as they do not trigger nerve inflammation. In addition, the results of the conducted tests on a sous scrofa subject are presented.
Keywords: plug electrodes; selective acquisition; nerve pulses; forearm prosthesis; neural control