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Meeting ID: 951 4202 1459
Passcode: 113629

Prosthetic limbs and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) can help restore movement after injury; however, the lack of tactile feedback can make grasping and manipulating objects difficult. A major step in developing closed-loop neuroprostheses is providing the sense of touch back to the user to improve sensorimotor function. To enable this, we developed an electronic dermis (e-dermis) fingertip tactile sensor for producing biomimetic spiking responses to capture nuanced touch information during grasping with a robotic limb.

We investigated the use of noninvasive stimulation modalities of peripheral nerves to provide sensory feedback and improve perception and prosthesis control to individuals with limb amputation using neuromorphic stimulation models. Going further, we also created sensations of artificial touch in an individual with spinal cord injury through direct brain stimulation with a BCI to enable perceptions of complex objects and improve retained tactile sensitivity in the hands. Building on the advancements in prosthetic limb technology, we will also discuss the benefits of long-term, unconstrained prosthesis use outside the laboratory. Collectively, our work explores the role of sensory stimulation and advanced prosthesis technologies for improving function for individuals living with sensorimotor deficits.

About the Speaker(s)

Luke Osborn
Assistant Section Supervisor, JHU APL

Luke Osborn is an assistant section supervisor in the neuroscience group within the Research and Exploratory Development Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL). He received a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas and an MSE and PhD in biomedical engineering from JHU. He received the Early Career Alumni Award from the University of Arkansas, the Misha Mahowal Prize for Neuromorphic Engineering, and was recognized in Forbes' 30-Under-30 for his work on restoring the sense of touch to individuals with limb amputation. His research area is in neuroengineering with a focus on the role of sensory feedback and perception as it pertains to prosthetic limbs, human-machine interfaces, and sensorimotor function.

Contact

For more information, contact Ashley Parker at ashley.l.parker@dartmouth.edu.