A Mass-Producible Washable Smart Garment with Embedded Textile EMG Electrodes for Control of Myoelectric Prostheses: A Pilot Study

Electromyography (EMG) is the resulting electrical signal from muscle activity, commonly used as a proxy for users’ intent in voluntary control of prosthetic devices. EMG signals are recorded with gold standard Ag/AgCl gel electrodes, though there are limitations in continuous use applications, with potential skin irritations and discomfort. Alternative dry solid metallic electrodes also face long-term usability and comfort challenges due to their inflexible and non-breathable structures. This is critical when the anatomy of the targeted body region is variable (e.g., residual limbs of individuals with amputation), and conformal contact is essential. In this study, textile electrodes were developed, and their performance in recording EMG signals was compared to gel electrodes. Additionally, to assess the reusability and robustness of the textile electrodes, the effect of 30 consumer washes was investigated. Comparisons were made between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with no statistically significant difference, and with the power spectral density (PSD), showing a high correlation. Subsequently, a fully textile sleeve was fabricated covering the forearm, with 14 textile electrodes. For three individuals, an artificial neural network model was trained, capturing the EMG of 7 distinct finger movements. The personalized models were then used to successfully control a myoelectric prosthetic hand.

Neurorehabilitation in Adults With Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputation: A Scoping Review

Background Most of the current literature around amputation focuses on lower extremity amputation or engineering aspects of prosthetic devices. There is a need to more clearly understand neurobehavioral mechanisms related to upper extremity amputation and how such mechanisms might influence recovery and utilization of prostheses. Objective This scoping review aims to identify and summarize the current literature on adult traumatic upper limb amputation in regard to recovery and functional outcomes and how neuroplasticity might influence these findings. Methods We identified appropriate articles using Academic Search Complete EBSCO, OVID Medline, and Cochrane databases. The resulting articles were then exported, screened, and reviewed based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Results Eleven (11) studies met the study criteria. Of these studies, 7 focused on sensory involvement, 3 focused on neuroplastic changes post-amputation related to functional impact, and 1 study focused on motor control and learning post-amputation. Overall, these studies revealed an incomplete understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in motor rehabilitation in the central and peripheral nervous systems, while also demonstrating the value of an individualized approach to neurorehabilitation in upper limb loss. Conclusions There is a gap in our understanding of the role of neurorehabilitation following amputation. Overall, focused rehabilitation parameters, demographic information, and clarity around central and peripheral neural mechanisms are needed in future research to address neurobehavioral mechanisms to promote functional recovery following traumatic upper extremity amputation.

Denture marking as a forensic tool- Case series

Forensic odontology is the branch that comes under forensic science which deals with proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidences. This manuscript describes various techniques that can be adopted for denture identification. The labeling method followed here is inclusion method where photographic sheet was used to mark dentures as this sheet is solvent resistant. The area selected for denture marking is palatal area on maxillary denture and distolingual flange of mandibular area as these areas have sufficient space for inclusion of details and there are not esthetically compromising areas. By this method denture labeling could be done in existing prosthetic devices or could be incorporated in newly constructed prosthesis. The American Board of Forensic Odontology guidelines indicate that most dental identifications are based on restorations, caries, missing teeth and/or prosthetic devices.

“Losing a Leg to Gain a Wife”: Marriage, Gender, and the Prosthetic Body Part

This chapter traces representations of male and female prosthesis users in the marriage plot, the nineteenth-century narrative form most heavily populated by users of prosthetic devices. Building on the work of scholars such as Martha Stoddard Holmes and Talia Schaffer, who expose the important roles that disabled characters perform in Victorian marriage plots, this chapter identifies the prosthesis-marriage plot as a related yet separately identifiable formulaic plot structure. As the chapter argues, when viewed collectively, and at times also individually, prosthesis-marriage plots present unstable affective and imaginative treatments of prosthesis users. These representations shed light on the complex ways in which discourses of gender, class, and ableism intersect and how, in particular instances, the bodily status quo is challenged, brought into question, or even outright rejected.

Introduction

This introductory chapter sets out the book’s argument that nineteenth-century prosthesis narratives, though presented in a predominantly ableist and sometimes disablist manner, challenge the dominance of physical completeness as they question the logic of prostheticization or present non-normative subjects in threateningly powerful ways. The chapter positions this argument in relation to various scholarly fields, including disability studies, Victorian studies, the history of science and technology, and literature and science. It addresses several methodological questions, including those pertaining to the prosthetic devices, historical period, and specific sources selected for investigation. In responding to these questions, the chapter provides potted histories of the technological developments of nineteenth-century artificial limbs, eyes, teeth, and hair. It also explains the author’s decision to use terms such as wholeness and incompleteness.

The Identification of Multidrug Resistant Microorganisms Including Bergyella Zoohelcum Acquired from the Skin/Prosthetic Interface of Amputees and Their Susceptibility to Medihoney™ and Garlic Extract (Allicin)

BackgroundUsers of prosthetic devices face the accumulation of potentially drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria on the skin/prosthesis interface. In this study, we took surface swabs of the skin/prosthesis interface of eleven disabled athletes to identify microorganisms present. In addition to determining their antimicrobial resistance profile, we assessed their sensitivity to Manuka honey and Garlic extract (allicin) MethodsEleven volunteers were directed to swab the skin at the skin/prosthesis interface. After initial isolation of microorganisms we employed the following general microbiological methods; Gram stain, Catalase test, Oxidase test, lactose fermenting capability, haemolytic capability, Staphaurex, mannitol fermenting capability, Streptex; API Staph, 20E, Candida, and BBL crystal identification system tests. Once identified, isolates were analysed for their sensitivity to penicillin, erythromycin. ampicillin, vancomycin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and colistin-sulphate. Isolates were also analysed for their sensitivity to allicin (Garlic Extract (GE)) and Manuka honey (Medihoney™) (MH). ResultsEleven isolates were identified, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Micrococcus spp., Bacillus subtilis, Group D Streptococcus, Pantoea spp., Enterobacter cloacae and Bergyella zoohelcum. All Gram-positive organisms were resistant to 1.5 units of penicillin and 10 μg of ampicillin, and two Gram-negatives Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Bergyella zoohelcum were resistant to 10 μg ceftazidime, whilst Bergyella zoohelcum, was also resistant to 10 μg of gentamicin. In comparison, all organisms were sensitive to Manuka honey and nine sensitive to Allicin. ConclusionsThis study highlights the prevalence of uncommon drug resistant microorganisms on the skin within a vulnerable population, highlighting the potential for MH or GE intervention.

Concept design and design optimization of the transfemoral prosthetic leg prototype

The biggest challenge with today’s lower leg prosthetic devices is to climb the stairs in a biologically inspired way. When climbing the stairs, due to the large moments in the knee joint, great forces in the knee occur. Because of the magnitude of these forces, which can be up to six times the weight of a person, it is necessary to use a hydraulic drive with an external power source in the knee and ankle joint. However, most commercially available above-knee prosthetic legs only have actuation in the form of damping in the knee joint. Hence, an amputee is forced to use a healthy leg to advance to each step first while amputated leg follows.

Biopolymers advances in Medical Sciences: An Editorial Review

Biomaterials a term is used to describe the materials which are typically derived from any biological source. In generally it is said that these are the materials which are used within the human body to perform certain functions such as therapies1. The applications of polymers in the field of medicine have already gave birth to polymer science as a field. As we can see today, almost every polymer have been reported for use in any kind of clinical intervention, they are inseparable part of us now. Polymers are key players in clinical medicine as they are fundamental components of permanent prosthetic devices such as diameter vascular grafts, artificial lenses, catheters, hip implants etc., and the research is continued to perfect the performance and stability of polymers in vitro and in vivo2. However, the use of polymers in surgery is somewhat confined to connective tissue replacements. Interestingly, polymers have opened new horizons for drug delivery and gene therapy treatments such as nucleic-acid based drugs and protein-based drugs which cannot be taken up as typical pills, are providing impulsion for contemporary implantable polymers. The applications of polymers in tissue engineering are also gaining spotlight as these materials helps in the regeneration of 3D- (three-dimensional) organ and tissue structures.