Implantable Myoelectric Sensors (IMES) for Prosthesis Control

We have received funding for a 5 Year Bioengineering Research Partnership [BRP: 1 R01 EB01672-01, "Multifunction Prosthesis Control using Implanted Sensors"] from the National Institutes of Health (NIBIB) to develop a multi-channel/multifunction prosthetic hand/arm controller system capable of receiving and processing signals from up to sixteen "BIONR-like" Implanted MyoElectric Sensors (IMES).  More ...

Principal Investigator: Richard F. ff. Weir, PhD

Co-Investigators:
Todd Farrell, MS and Abidemi Bolu Ajiboye, MS, NU Prosthetics Research Laboratory
Phillip R. Troyk, PhD, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Glenn DeMichele, MS and Douglas Kerns, PhD, Sigenics, Lincolnwood, IL
Todd Kuiken, MD, PhD, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Alfred E. Mann Foundation, Valencia, CA

Funded by: National Institutes of Health (NIBIB)

Externally-Powered Partial Hand Prosthesis 

The two hand projects are funded by Veterans Administration Merit Review Proposals. The first of these projects is Merit Review Proposal A3028R: "Technology Transfer of an Externally-Powered Trans-Metacarpal Hand Prosthesis", a three year project started in July 2003. During previous funding we developed a single degree-of-freedom externally-powered hand mechanism for persons with amputations at or more proximal to the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint in the hand (partial hand amputation). More ...

Principal Investigator: Richard F. ff. Weir, PhD

Co-Investigators:
Craig Heckathorne, NU Prosthetics Research Laboratory  
Martin Mifsud, Variety Ability Systems Inc. (VASI), Toronto, Canada 
Ihsan Al Teman and David Wells, PhD, Bloorview MacMillan Rebilitation Engineering Centre,
      Toronto, Canada 

Funded by: Veterans Administration Merit Review

Multifunction Hand Prosthesis

The second project is Merit Review Proposal A2364R: "Development of a Four Degree-of-Freedom Hand", a three year project started in April 2000. This project is to develop a multiple degree-of-freedom externally-powered prosthetic hand for persons with amputations proximal to the wrist. More ...

Principal Investigator: Richard F. ff. Weir, PhD
Instrument Maker: Dilip Thaker

Funded by: Veterans Administration Merit Review

Series Elastic Actuators for Prosthetic Applications

As a future direction for our research, we are working on developing series elastic actuators suitable for use in prosthetics. A series elastic actuator is a way of making an otherwise stiff DC gearmotor drive compliant. More ...

Principal Investigator: Richard F. ff. Weir, PhD

Co-Investigator:
Jon Sensinger, MS