Multi-contact epineural electrical stimulation to restore upper-limb functions

Christine Azevedo Coste (1) , Charles Fattal (2, 1) , Antoine Geffrier (3, 4) , Lucas Oliveira Fonseca (1) , Lucie William (1) , Arthur Hiairrassary (5) , David Andreu (5) , Jacques Teissier (6) , David Guiraud (1, 5)

1 CAMIN - Contrôle Artificiel de Mouvements et de Neuroprothèses Intuitives
2 USSAP Perpignan
3 AP-HP - Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)
4 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes [CHU Rennes] = Rennes University Hospital [Ponchaillou]
5 NEURINNOV
6 Clinique Saint-Jean - Sud de France [Montpellier]

We investigated the feasibility of a novel approach aiming at restoring functional movements in completely paralyzed upper limbs using neural stimulation. Two multi-contact cuff electrodes were wrapped around radial and median nerves, unilaterally, in 2 individuals with complete high tetraplegia. Electrodes were maintained for 28 days. Advanced stimulation configurations were implemented to achieve selective activation of fascicles and elicit different graspings. A control interface was developed to allow users to pilot movements of their hand by triggering stimulation. Both participants were able to execute palmar and key pinch grasping during functional tasks.

Domaines: Automatique / Robotique; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Christine Azevedo Coste, Charles Fattal, Antoine Geffrier, Lucas Oliveira Fonseca, Lucie William, et al.. Multi-contact epineural electrical stimulation to restore upper-limb functions. RehabWeek 2022, Jul 2022, ROTTERDAM, Netherlands. ⟨hal-03702524⟩