Third experimental phase after LifeHand2: researchers focused on developing a system of sensors and algorithms applicable to any advanced upper limb prosthesis. Partnership with the INAIL Prosthesis Center where the patient will be selected to connect the limb controllable by the brain and capable of restoring tactile sensations without the need for cables to external computers. The plant, expected within the first few months of 2016, will be able to remain active for more than the 30 days allowed in previous trials. Project presented during the University Research Week.
A system of sensors and algorithms capable of making a bio-mechatronic upper limb prosthesis increasingly 'intelligent' and 'dexterous', to give the wearer the possibility of perceiving the consistency of the objects touched, controlling their movements via neural channels and, above all, of modulate grip strength and manipulation accuracy, reacting in real time to any 'clumsy' moves, such as the sliding of a bar of soap while washing: it is the new frontier of bio-robotics for the upper limb, illustrated today in the Aula Magna of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, on the occasion of the annual Research Day of the University.
The event is included in the wider Research Week, which began on June 30 and continues until tomorrow, in which seminars and seminars have been scheduled workshop on the most interesting scientific results achieved by the researchers of the Campus Bio-Medico in 2014 and on the prospects for future projects. There testing of the new robotic hand system, expected within the first few months of 2016, is the fruit of collaboration of the Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma with the INAIL Prosthesis Center of Budrio (BO).
“It's not, actually, a real new 'bionic hand' - explains the Prof. Eugenio Guglielmelli, Pro-Rector for Research of the Bio-Medico Campus – ma a complex set of hardware and software that make it possible to increase the intelligence of upper limb prostheses, controlling their motors in a more refined way. This will make it possible to modulate the inputs of the brain to make all five fingers of the hand move at will at the same time, just some or even just one finger ". He was recently at the INAIL Prosthesis Center inaugurated a joint laboratory for the improvement of new prostheses. Right in this space the volunteer patient will be selected who will undergo, at the Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital, the neurosurgical intervention of implantation of neural interfaces (electrodes) in the nerves of the amputated limb, 'connecting' his own nervous system with the sensors of the new artificial hand.
PPR2 (Research Prosthetics Project 2), official name of the project, is coordinated by the Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems Research Unit of the Bio-Medico Campus, with the clinical support of the Orthopedics, Neurology and Physiatry Units of the University Hospital and is developed in synergy with INAIL.
“The new upper limb prosthetic system will continue to deliver tactile sensation – Guglielelli adds –, but compared to LifeHand2, after an initial adjustment phase, to do so it will no longer need to be connected to a computer via external cables from which to send the impulses picked up by the electrodes to the brain and, in the other direction, to send the movement intentions from the brain to the prosthesis. The algorithm will be managed directly 'on board' the hand, through electronic chips the size of a credit card". In addition, the prosthesis can be connected to the amputee's arm for a longer period of time than the 30 days allowed in previous trials by health authorities and the University Ethics Committee.
This experimentation is a further step towards biomechatronic upper limb prostheses that perfectly reproduce the dexterity and functionality of the natural hand. Within the project, in particular, the ability to carry out fine grips and to manipulate commonly used objects in cyclical tasks will be tested, such as turn a key, roll a ball in the palm, 'point' with a finger on a tablet to open an app or 'browse' pages on a website. Without forgetting the social purpose: to allow an ever-increasing number of work-related injuries to recover the good functionality of the 'lost' limb, aiming to bring the 'chronic', i.e. definitive, implantation goal as soon as possible . To confirm the importance of this theme are the official data provided by the Ministry of Health, according to which every year in Italy there are over 3 thousand cases of congenital malformations or amputations of the upper limbsmost of which occur in the workplace.
“Thanks to the collaboration between the researchers of the Campus Bio Medico University of Rome and INAIL – has ofchiarato the President ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Felice Barela it is possible to take an important step forward, which opens up new life prospects for the many injured people at work and for anyone who has suffered the amputation of an upper limb. The possibility of manipulating objects, writing, using a PC or a smartphone with an artificial limb was science fiction only a few years ago and becomes reality with translational research projects like these, which involve different professionals: doctors, bio-engineers, experts of electronics. A contamination of knowledge on which our University has always focused, starting from the training of young people, to get to the research activity in our laboratories, up to the realization of projects that lead to direct applications with partners who share these objectives, such as INAIL ”.
“Thanks also to this collaboration – underlines the President of INAIL, Massimo De Felice the Institute further strengthens its commitment to the search for technologically advanced solutions which its clients can benefit from. The excellence of the Bio-Medico Campus in the field of scientific innovation is destined to integrate effectively with the application experience gained by our Prosthesis Center on the front of prosthetics and rehabilitation".
During the Research Day ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma was also presented HELP (Adaptive Multimodal Interfaces to Assist Disabled People in Daily Activities), a European project that sees the University at the forefront of the development of multimodal, adaptive and modular interface systems, tailored to the specific needs of the individual user for the control of upper limb exoskeletons, particular external structures created to 'surrogate' human mobility in the event of severe disability. AIDE, in particular, aims to promote the recovery of functions such as manipulation of objects, cooking, writing and more in patients confined to wheelchairs.
Alongside that, they have been five other studies presented conducted by professors and researchers of the University, which have produced significant scientific publications: an electronic system capable of early 'sniffing' particular chemical elements revealing the onset of lung cancer; experimental results on factors implicated in liver tissue remodeling for liver cancer; new clinical applications of blood components for non-transfusional use; research on the functional properties of fructans in the management of inflammatory bowel disorders; a study on critical infrastructure management.
