Systems and methods for controlling a prosthetic based on amplified nerve signals

A method comprising:

• receiving, with an implant device having processing circuitry and communication circuitry, electrical signals from a plurality of free tissue grafts surgically attached to nerves of a subject, wherein the electrical signals are received through a plurality of bipolar electrode pairs, each having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, that are implanted inside of the plurality of free tissue grafts and in electrical communication with the plurality of free tissue grafts, the plurality of free tissue grafts being surgically attached to the subject such that the plurality of free tissue grafts are entirely surrounded by and in direct contact with non-grafted tissue of the subject, the plurality of free tissue grafts being autografts of tissue that is harvested from the subject, devascularized, and deinnervated prior to being surgically attached to the subject;
• processing, with the processing circuitry, the received electrical signals;
• generating, with the processing circuitry, processed signal data;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting, with the communication circuitry, the processed signal data to a prosthetic controller;
• wherein:
• portions of the nerves have reinnervated the plurality of free tissue grafts subsequent to the plurality of free tissue grafts being surgically attached to the nerves;
• the electrical signals from the plurality of free tissue grafts have a voltage amplitude of greater than or equal to about 150 microvolts;
• and
• the prosthetic controller is configured to control a prosthetic device based on the processes signal data wirelessly transmitted from the processing circuitry of the implant device.

A system comprising:

• a computing device having processing circuitry configured to receive electrical signals from a plurality of free tissue grafts surgically attached to nerves of a subject, wherein the electrical signals are received through a plurality of bipolar electrode pairs, each having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, that are implanted inside of the plurality of free tissue grafts and in electrical communication with the plurality of free tissue grafts, the plurality of free tissue grafts being surgically attached to the subject such that the plurality of free tissue grafts are entirely surrounded by and in direct contact with non-grafted tissue of the subject, the plurality of free tissue grafts being autografts of tissue that is harvested from the subject, devascularized, and deinnervated prior to being surgically attached to the subject, the processing circuitry being further configured to process the received electrical signals, generate processed signal data, and to transmit the processed signal data to a prosthetic controller;
• wherein:
• portions of the nerves have reinnervated the plurality of free tissue grafts subsequent to the plurality of free tissue grafts being surgically attached to the nerves;
• the electrical signals from the plurality of free tissue grafts have a voltage amplitude of greater than or equal to about 150 microvolts;
• the prosthetic controller is configured to control a prosthetic device based on the processes signal data transmitted from the processing circuitry of the computing device;
• the plurality of bipolar electrode pairs are connected to electrical leads that extend outside of the subject and are connected to the computing device located outside of the subject, the computing device being in communication with the prosthetic controller.