Mechanoneural interfaces for prosthetic control

Abstract

Mechanoneural Interfaces (MIs) and methods of forming MIs are provided, including cutaneous mechanoneural interfaces (CMIs) and proprioceptive mechanoneural interfaces (PMIs). A CMI includes a device in operative arrangement with a muscle actuator to stimulate muscle contraction, the muscle actuator disposed in a substantially circumferential configuration about a skin flap that includes a native or regenerative neurovascular structure of an amputated body segment. A PMI includes an actuator mechanically linked to a muscle end organ and configured to apply a force to the muscle end organ, the actuator including a synthetic actuator or a biological muscle actuator. The muscle end organ is of an agonist-antagonist muscle pair and can include at least one of a native or regenerative neurovascular structure. CMIs and PMIs can each further include a controller configured to provide a stimulation signal or operate an actuator based on a signal received from a sensor of a prosthetic device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.