Interview With a Student Researching Brain Controlled Interface

How long have brain-computer interfacing devices been used in humans?

• The first experiments with BCI were in 1973 by Jacques Vidal. He wrote a paper called "Toward Direct Brain-Computer Communication" 

How does a brain-interface device work?

•  A BCI works by picking up brain signals, which are in the form of electrical impulses, with very sensitive wires or electrodes. Brain impulses form patterns called brain waves, which can be detected with appropriate equipment. Differentiating between the tiny impulses and background energy requires advanced software and/or hardware filtering. Once the brainwave patterns are detected, a program can translate the data into a usable form, such as "turn on". A specific brainwave pattern corresponds to a single command. Basic BCIs can detect only one or two patterns, but advanced modern BCIs can detect hundreds. For example, a recent BCI machine connected to a paralyzed woman's brain allowed her to control a robotic arm with seven degrees of motion. 

What are some of the hurdles that occur when trying to make a brain-computer interface prosthetic?

• One of the biggest hurdles is accurately detecting the brain signals needed to activate a specific command. For the highest accuracy, an invasive surgery plants electrodes directly into the patient's brain. For less accurate applications, the user can simply wear a headset keyed to their brain profile. Differentiating between the brain states requires very sensitive equipment and robust filtering algorithms. 

what do you believe further developing this technology will one day allow us to do?

• Further developing this technology will allow us to control computers and machines with only our minds. It could become the primary input device for all PCs in the future. No more mouse and keyboard, just a BCI headset. We could also communicate "telepathically" by making a BCI connected to some sort of communication device. This project is actually in the works under the DARPA-funded program "Silent Talk". We could link a BCI to a powered robotic suit to give handicapped people the ability to walk, or give soldiers increased carrying capacity and strength. 

Interview With a Prosthetics User

What limb do you have a prosthesis for?

• The lower left arm below the elbow 

What are the benefits of using an advanced prosthetic hand as opposed to previous forms/versions?

• All of the fingers articulate so you can actually hold things and grip things with more ease. Also the thumb can be articulated and moved so you have all the things that required dexterity and you can do them now. If you used to want to grab something facing in a different direction than your hand you had to bend your whole body until your hand was facing it but now you can just turn the wrist fully around if you need to. 

Whats something that people take for granted that you can now do thanks to your advanced prosthetic that you couldn’t do before?

• Clapping, with the old hand you couldn’t move the thumb so you couldn’t really clap but now that you can move the thumb out of the way you can get that clapping shape in the hand and actually clap. 

Are there things that you still cant do with an advanced prosthetic?

• Of course, one of the main things being lifting heavy objects because its not actually bolted into you there is a certain amount of weight you can hold with it before it comes off, also there is limited grip strength in the hand so some things will just slip right out of your hands if they’re too smooth like a bag of chips when your pull to open it.

Podcast for Robotic Prosthetics

here is a podcast where I discuss how prosthetics can help a person return to normal day-to-day life

3D Printing Prosthetics

As I have previously mentioned in one of my posts 3D printing can be used to create prosthetic devices, I wanted to take a moment to further go into detail on that and look at a few examples of just what sort of prosthetic devices have been already printed and used. But I want to also take a look at some of the less commonly thought of prosthetics as well, most people when thinking of prosthetics only think of arms or legs however prosthesis are devices used to replace any lost body part. In this case we will be looking at an example where a 3D jaw prosthesis was made as well as a 3D face prosthesis.

In 2011 an 83-year-old woman had her entire lower jaw replaced with a 3D printed replica.[1] This was created by layers of titanium being built up and a laser used to fuse the correct particles together in a process called laser sintering.[1] This shows that not only can you 3D print something with a different material that is more suited for structural load bearing components, such as prosthesis for bones, but that prosthesis themselves can be used to replace any structural component in the body.

In 2009 Eric Moger underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his face however due to the aggressiveness of the tumor half of his face also had to be removed, bone structure and all. Using 3D printing doctors were able to reconstruct a prosthetic face for him that allowed him to regain a human appearance, you can view a video of this here but warning it is very graphic and not for the squeamish.[2]

[1] How a 3D-Printed Jaw Let a Woman Eat Again. Gizmodo. February 26, 2012. Jamie Condliffe. http://gizmodo.com/5882549/how-a-3d+printed-jaw-let-a-woman-eat-again
[2] How 3D Printing Gave This Man His Life (and Face) Back. Gizmodo. April 1, 2013. Ashley Feinberg. http://gizmodo.com/5993147/how-3d-printing-gave-this-man-his-life-and-face-back

How to Obtain a Prosthetic Device

If you are in need of a prosthetic device due to an amputation surgery and wish to obtain one there are several steps you must take in order to find, obtain, and maintain the use of the device. However it is important to remember that the amount of time it will take will vary from person to person and any and all decisions should be discussed with your doctor.

Step one:

• Contact your doctor and inform them you wish to obtain a prosthetic for your residual limb.[1]

Step two:

• Have a cast taken of your residual limb to be used in creating the “check socket” for the prosthesis.[1]

Step three:

• Check fit and alignment of prosthesis with the “check socket”.[1]

Step four:

• Receive and be fitted with final prosthesis and prosthetic socks.[1]

Once you have contacted your doctor and begun the process of obtaining and using a prosthesis they will further walk you along the steps and procedures required. This list is very brief summary of the steps involved in getting one. To further clarify a “check socket” will be a clear plastic mold of your residual limb that will be used as a guide to take note of any final changes that need to be made before it is finalized. Prosthetic socks are socks made for your residual limb to be worn underneath the prosthesis; these will help prevent irritation and discomfort. To further explore the steps that will be required and see where this information came from please visit the American Orthopedics Prosthetic Timeline.[1]

[1]Timeline for Getting your Prosthesis, American Orthopedics. http://www.amerortho.com/forms/Prosthetic_Time_Line.pdf

Allowing for Greater Control of Prosthetic Devices

As I previously mentioned in one of my posts we will be able to one day fully control and articulate robotic devices such as prosthetics by thought alone, however to achieve these affects with modern technology requires invasive surgery with implanting receptors in the brain. Until technology advances to a point where this method becomes less dangerous some companies have started working around it looking for ways to give more control to the masses. One such company to do so is UK-based prosthetic developers Touch Bionics and their bionic hands that are, in part, controlled by an iPhone app.[1]

The i-Limb Ultra Revolution from Touch Bionics allows for several pre-programmed grip patterns to be activated using the app.[1] This is of great significance to amputees who previously could not or did not have prosthetics capable of performing the grip patterns. Now by using the app people with the prosthetics can use the preset grips to perform tasks that previously could not be completed because they lacked the fine dexterity required to do so. To further their freedom in regaining complete functionality in their limbs it is also possible to create custom grip patterns that can be access from the same app so that the user can adapt their prosthetic to future situations without needing a whole different hand attachment. Technology such as this is a great way to bridge the  functionality gap between the more simple muscle controlled prosthetics and the more advanced nerve controlled ones.

[1]Bionic hands controlled by iPhone app, Danielle Dellorto, CNN, April 12, 2013 http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/12/health/bionic-hands 

Technology That Will Let Amputees Feel Again

Losing a limb results in not only the loss of function of that limb, but also the sensation of touch and feeling with that limb. While prosthetics can return the function of that limb they cannot return the sense of feeling its surroundings, until now.  Georgia Tech has developed a new type of material made up of arrays of transistors made of nanowires that is nearly as sensitive to mechanical force as human skin is. [1] These nanowires work by generate an electrical charge in response to applied mechanical force; the current flowing through the nanowires is controlled by the electrical charge generated when strain or force applied is to the transistors. [1] This means that by decoding the signals given by the transistors it is possible to tell what kind of tactile surface is being touched by the material.

Eventually this can be used as a prosthetic skin or add-on covering for already existing prosthetics. The goal of prosthetics has always been to restore what was lost as best as possible, and with this new technology maybe one day soon we will see prosthetics that are able to fully replace all the things you lose when you lose a limb. Not only will function and fine motor skills be restored, but the senses that also were part of that limb such as touch and sensitivity to pressures as well. As this technology advances further it will also be possible to one day allow people who may not need a prosthetic, but have nerve damage preventing normal sensations in parts of their body, to perhaps wear a suit/clothing covered in this material and regain lost sensations.

[1] Nanoscale Pressure Sensors Mimic Human Skin, Mike Orcutt, April 25, 2013. http://www.technologyreview.com/news/514131/nanoscale-pressure-sensors-mimic-human-skin/