Neural Controlled Prosthetics Nerve ConnectionNeural Controlled Prosthetics Nerve Connection

By: Victoria DanielsonBy: Victoria DanielsonNeural Controlled Prosthetics Nerve ConnectionNeural Controlled Prosthetics Nerve Connection

By: Victoria DanielsonBy: Victoria Danielson

NervesNervesNervesNervesTo move a limb, your brain sends a signal down your spinal cord to your peripheral To move a limb, your brain sends a signal down your spinal cord to your peripheral

nervous system where the signal is sent to the muscles needed to move that limb.nervous system where the signal is sent to the muscles needed to move that limb.

When a nerve is severed it does not function properly and can be grown with the help When a nerve is severed it does not function properly and can be grown with the help

of scaffolding.of scaffolding.

This scaffolding has a porous surfaceThis scaffolding has a porous surface

with pores no larger than 79 micronswith pores no larger than 79 microns

in diameter.in diameter.

The scaffolding is rolled into a The scaffolding is rolled into a

cylindrical shape that allows the cylindrical shape that allows the

nerve bundle to grow almost perfectly and connect to the prosthetic.nerve bundle to grow almost perfectly and connect to the prosthetic.

The nerves are an important piece to the puzzle, allowing prosthetics to pick up their The nerves are an important piece to the puzzle, allowing prosthetics to pick up their

signals and give patients the ability to move their prosthetic limb.signals and give patients the ability to move their prosthetic limb.

ScaffoldingScaffoldingScaffoldingScaffolding

The scaffolding is made out of dimethicone, a silicon-based organic The scaffolding is made out of dimethicone, a silicon-based organic

polymer.polymer.

Using an organic polymer made it possible for the scaffolding to be Using an organic polymer made it possible for the scaffolding to be

biocompatible; It is also flexible and has the ability to conduct biocompatible; It is also flexible and has the ability to conduct

thousands of nerve impulses across its membrane at any given time.thousands of nerve impulses across its membrane at any given time.

This method allows the nerves to connect directly to the prosthetic is This method allows the nerves to connect directly to the prosthetic is

a safe and friendly way.a safe and friendly way.

Strain gauges are installed into the prosthetic that the voltage to the Strain gauges are installed into the prosthetic that the voltage to the

motor drop and allows the wearer to flew his muscle harder to motor drop and allows the wearer to flew his muscle harder to

compensate by having the arm increase the voltage. This allows the compensate by having the arm increase the voltage. This allows the

wearer to learn how to lift objects with confidence.wearer to learn how to lift objects with confidence.

Fiber OpticsFiber OpticsFiber OpticsFiber OpticsResearchers at Southern Methodist University are looking into using fiber Researchers at Southern Methodist University are looking into using fiber optics to connect the nerves to the limboptics to connect the nerves to the limb

The fiber optics, with a spherical sensor, can carry 10 times as much The fiber optics, with a spherical sensor, can carry 10 times as much information making the limb able to move in a more natural way; the sensor information making the limb able to move in a more natural way; the sensor picks up the signal fired from the brain, the sensor then changes shape, picks up the signal fired from the brain, the sensor then changes shape, altering the fiber optic cables causing a light signal to be sent to the altering the fiber optic cables causing a light signal to be sent to the computer chip.computer chip.

Once the signal is received by the computer chip, the computer chip would Once the signal is received by the computer chip, the computer chip would then tell the limb to move in the desires motion.then tell the limb to move in the desires motion.

One interface involves physical wires that connect to the nerve endings.One interface involves physical wires that connect to the nerve endings.

This is problematic because it has limited mobility and involves wires This is problematic because it has limited mobility and involves wires being fed in and out of the body making it dangerous.being fed in and out of the body making it dangerous.

The other interface is electrodes that are implanted directly into the nerves.The other interface is electrodes that are implanted directly into the nerves.

This interface does not last more than 6 months due to corrosion and This interface does not last more than 6 months due to corrosion and tissue death around the implant.tissue death around the implant.

Work CitedWork CitedWork CitedWork Cited

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