Neural interfaces are devices capable of enabling our central (brain or spinal cord) or peripheral (peripheral nerves) nervous system to communicate with electronic devices that can carry out complex tasks or actions, usually completed, at the physiological level, by our muscle-osteoarticular system.

In the case of the LifeHand project, these interfaces were used to move the cybernetic hand prosthesis. Specifically, the tf-LIFE electrodes were selected as the means through which the patient’s brain and peripheral nerves were able to send and receive information to and from the hand prosthesis, without using any muscle or sensory organ.

The thin-film LIFE electrodes were selected for their specific features, which are:

• Possibility to obtain multiple recording/stimulation channels;
• Miniaturized size (two filaments of 10 µm x 220 µm);
• Easy to implant;
• Biocompatibility (demonstrated in previous experiments on animals).