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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

CRCNS21 Computational Models of Multisensory Integration by Upper Limb in Humanoids and Amputees

This international collaborative research project between Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) investigated how the human brain processes and integrates multiple types of sensory information, such as touch and force, with the goal of improving prosthetic limbs for amputees and advancing sensory capabilities in humanoid robots. The research advanced our understanding of how the brain responds to sensory feedback in upper-limb amputees. Through experiments in which amputees received electrical stimulation while performing phantom hand movements, we demonstrated that sensory feedback activates the cortical sensorimotor and multisensory regions, and that these regions communicate dynamically during stimulation. Experiments with intact-limb participants explored the integration of visual, haptic, and force feedback, as well as in virtual reality motor training, further showing how the brain processes multimodal sensory information. In addition, this research inspired work on examining the reliability of where amputees perceive sensations over time, which contributed to a successful doctoral fellowship for continued investigation. Our collaborators at TUM improved multimodal sensor technology combining tactile and thermal feedback for humanoid robots, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating multiple sensor types into a unified system for detecting and responding to environmental stimuli. The experimental methods and analysis techniques developed across both teams, including functional network analysis and multimodal sensor integration, provide a foundation for future research in prosthetics and robotics. This research benefits the public by generating knowledge about how amputees process restored sensory information. Advances in humanoid sensing contribute to safer human-robot interaction. The project also fostered international collaboration and cross-disciplinary training: one TUM doctoral student spent a summer at JHU working on multimodal sensor integration, while two JHU students traveled to TUM to host workshops on neuromorphic sensory encoding and sensory integration.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Design of a Single Layer Metamaterial for Pressure Offloading of Transtibial Amputees

While using a prosthesis, transtibial amputees may experience pain and discomfort brought on by large pressure gradients at the interface between the residual limb and prosthetic socket. Current prosthetic interface solutions attempt to alleviate these pressure gradients by using soft homogenous liners to reduce and distribute pressures. This research investigates an additively manufactured metamaterial inlay with a tailored mechanical response to reduce peak pressure gradients around the limb. The inlay uses a hyperelastic behaving metamaterial (US10244818) comprised of triangular pattern unit cells which can be 3D printed with walls of various thicknesses controlled by draft angles. The hyperelastic material properties are modeled using a Yeoh 3rd order model. The 3rd order coefficients can be adjusted and optimized, which corresponds to a change in the unit cell wall thickness to create an inlay that can meet the unique offloading needs of an amputee. Finite element analysis simulations evaluated the pressure gradient reduction from: 1) a common homogenous silicone liner, 2) a prosthetist's inlay prescription that utilizes three variations of the metamaterial, and 3) a metamaterial solution with optimized Yeoh 3rd order coefficients. When compared to a traditional homogenous silicone liner for two unique limb loading scenarios, the prosthetist prescribed inlay and the optimized material inlay can achieve equal or greater pressure gradient reduction capabilities. These results show the potential feasibility of implementing this metamaterial as a method of personalized medicine for transtibial amputees by creating a customizable interface solution to meet the unique performance needs of an individual patient.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1973

Development of an externally powered prosthetic hook for amputees

The powered hook with trigger finger appears to be a useful adaptation of a terminal device for an amputee when performing vocational activities involving the use of a powered tool requiring a trigger control. The proportional control system includes transducers and amplifiers and appears to have widespread application for control of any external power, whether it be in the orthotic or prosthetic field.

Karchak, A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Rotationally actuated prosthetic helping hand

A prosthetic device has been developed for below-the-elbow amputees. The device consists of a cuff, a stem, a housing, two hook-like fingers, an elastic band for holding the fingers together, and a brace. The fingers are pivotally mounted on a housing that is secured to the amputee's upper arm with the brace. The stem, which also contains a cam, is rotationally mounted within the housing and is secured to the cuff, which fits over the amputee's stump. By rotating the cammed stem between the fingers with the lower arm, the amputee can open and close the fingers.

Norton, William E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Prosthetic helping hand

A prosthetic device for below-the-elbow amputees, having a C-shaped clamping mechanism for grasping cylindrical objects, is described. The clamping mechanism is pivotally mounted to a cuff that fits on the amputee's lower arm. The present invention is utilized by placing an arm that has been amputated below the elbow into the cuff. The clamping mechanism then serves as a hand whenever it becomes necessary for the amputee to grasp a cylindrical object such as a handle, a bar, a rod, etc. To grasp the cylindrical object, the object is jammed against the opening in the C-shaped spring, causing the spring to open, the object to pass to the center of the spring, and the spring to snap shut behind the object. Various sizes of clamping mechanisms can be provided and easily interchanged to accommodate a variety of diameters. With the extension that pivots and rotates, the clamping mechanism can be used in a variety of orientations. Thus, this invention provides the amputee with a clamping mechanism that can be used to perform a number of tasks.

Vest, Thomas W.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Applying Space Technology to Enhance Control of an Artificial Arm for Children and Adults With Amputations

The first single function myoelectric prosthetic hand was introduced in the 1960's. This hand was controlled by the electric fields generated by muscle contractions in the residual limb of the amputee user. Electrodes and amplifiers, embedded in the prosthetic socket, measured these electric fields across the skin, which increase in amplitude as the individual contracts their muscle. When the myoelectric signal reached a certain threshold amplitude, the control unit activated a motor which opened or closed a hand-like prosthetic terminal device with a pincher grip. Late in the 1990's, little has changed. Most current myoelectric prostheses still operate in this same, single-function way. To better understand the limitations of the current single-function myoelectric hand and the needs of those who use them, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR), sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NUH), surveyed approximately 2,500 individuals with upper limb loss [1]. When asked to identify specific features of their current myoelectric prostheses that needed improvement, the survey respondents overwhelmingly identified the lack of wrist and finger movement, as well as poor control capability. However, simply building a mechanism with individual finger and wrist motion is not enough. In the 1960's and 1970's, engineers built a number of more dexterous prosthetic hands. Unfortunately, these were rejected during clinical trials due to a difficult and distracting control interface. The goal of this project, "Applying Space Technology to Enhance Control of an Artificial Arm for Children and Adults with Amputations," was to lay the foundation for a multi-function, intuitive myoelectric control system which requires no conscious thought to move the hand. We built an extensive myoelectric signal database for six motions from ten amputee volunteers, We also tested a control system based on new artificial intelligence techniques on the data from two of these subjects. This data is available to anyone doing myoelectric control research. Its availability is an important contribution to the prosthetics research community, as many researchers do not have access to amputee subjects. Since we collected myoelectric data from subjects' sound arms as well as their residual arms, this database will also prove useful to virtual reality and robotics researchers who want to explore myoelectric-based interfaces between any user and a machine. Currently, one small company (Intelligenta, Inc.) and one university (University of New Brunswick, Canada) are using this myoelectric database under other funding to develop multifunction control systems for prostheses. A prosthetics manufacturer (Liberty Technology, Inc.) is making plans to incorporate the results of their work into an artificial hand capable of several different movements to provide functionality only dreamed of by current myoelectric users. Methods Six adults and four children, all with unilateral, below-elbow amputations served as subjects. Five of the adults (3 male, 2 female, average age 34 years) had amputations due to traumatic injury, while one adult (female, age 32 years) and the four children (3 male, 1 female, average age 13 years) had congenital (i.e. from birth) limb deficiencies.

Atkins, Diane J.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Silicone Molding and Lifetime Testing of Peripheral Nerve Interfaces for Neuroprostheses

Implantable peripheral nerve cuffs have a large application in neuroprostheses as they can be used to restore sensation to those with upper limb amputations. Modern day prosthetics, while lessening the pain associated with phantom limb syndrome, have limited fine motor control and do not provide sensory feedback to patients. Sensory feedback with prosthetics requires communication between the nervous system and limbs, and is still a challenge to accomplish with amputees. Establishing this communication between the peripheral nerves in the arm and artificial limbs is vital as prosthetics research aims to provide sensory feedback to amputees. Peripheral nerve cuffs restore sensation by electrically stimulating certain parts of the nerve in order to create feeling in the hand. Cuff electrodes have an advantage over standard electrodes as they have high selective stimulation by bringing the electrical interface close to the neural tissue in order to selectively activate targeted regions of a peripheral nerve. In order to further improve the selective stimulation of these nerve cuffs, there is need for finer spatial resolution among electrodes. One method to achieve a higher spatial resolution is to increase the electrode density on the cuff itself. Microfabrication techniques can be used to achieve this higher electrode density. Using L-Edit, a layout editor, microfabricated peripheral nerve cuffs were designed with a higher electrode density than the current model. This increase in electrode density translates to an increase in spatial resolution by at least one order of magnitude. Microfabricated devices also have two separate components that are necessary to understand before implantation: lifetime of the device and assembly to prevent nerve damage. Silicone molding procedures were optimized so that devices do not damage nerves in vivo, and lifetime testing was performed on test microfabricated devices to determine their lifetime in vivo. Future work of this project would include fabricating some of the designed devices and seeing how they compare to the current cuffs in terms of their electrical performance, lifetime, shape, and mechanical properties.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

The Dynamic Socket: A Better Prosthesis

The issues that amputees experience with current prosthetic devices are discussed and how Sandia National Laboratory is working to make them both functional and comfortable to wear.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1971

Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology

Significant applications of aerospace technology were achieved. These applications include: a miniaturized, noninvasive system to telemeter electrocardiographic signals of heart transplant patients during their recuperative period as graded situations are introduced; and economical vital signs monitor for use in nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals to indicate the onset of respiratory arrest; an implantable telemetry system to indicate the onset of the rejection phenomenon in animals undergoing cardiac transplants; an exceptionally accurate current proportional temperature controller for pollution studies; an automatic, atraumatic blood pressure measurement device; materials for protecting burned areas in contact with joint bender splints; a detector to signal the passage of animals by a given point during ecology studies; and special cushioning for use with below-knee amputees to protect the integrity of the skin at the stump/prosthesis interface.

Culclasure, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Operations manual for the patient assist device

Quadriplegic patients and multiple amputee patients are almost totally dependent on nursing personnel for any activities or interests in which they participate. A patient assist device is reported which provides patient control over electrical devices in his environment. The patient operates three switches to acquire control over a desired electrical appliance. The type switches employed are chosen to conform to patient capabilities, even when such capabilities are as limited as eye or head movements. The switch operations are sensed and converted into command signals by the patient assist device to control ten electrical appliances simulataneously and independently.

Schrader, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Cybernetic prosthesis

Design and development of a prosthetic device fitted to an above elbow amputee is reported that derives control information from the human to modulate power to an actuator to drive the substitute limb. In turn, the artificial limb generates sensory information feedback to the human nervous system and brain. This synergetic unity feeds efferent or motor control information from the human to the machine, and the machine responds, delivering afferent or sensory information back to the man.

Mann, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

System integration of pattern recognition, adaptive aided, upper limb prostheses

The requirements for successful integration of a computer aided control system for multi degree of freedom artificial arms are discussed. Specifications are established for a system which shares control between a human amputee and an automatic control subsystem. The approach integrates the following subsystems: (1) myoelectric pattern recognition, (2) adaptive computer aiding; (3) local reflex control; (4) prosthetic sensory feedback; and (5) externally energized arm with the functions of prehension, wrist rotation, elbow extension and flexion and humeral rotation.

Lyman, J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Application of a postulate based control theory for an artificial arm

The biocontroller, remnant of the natural arm, and feedback elements must be considered in designing a controller for an above elbow artificial arm for amputees. This fundamental postulate is used to derive equations for developing the controller, which is shown in block diagrams.

Jacobsen, S. C.↗