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. 2021 Dec;36(4):337-344.
doi: 10.1097/bto.0000000000000552.

The Agonist-antagonist Myoneural Interface

Hugh Herr  1   2   3 , Matthew J Carty  1   2   3
Affiliations

The Agonist-antagonist Myoneural Interface

Hugh Herr et al. Tech Orthop. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Scientist and technologist have long sought to advance limb prostheses that connect directly to the peripheral nervous system, enabling a person with amputation to volitionally control synthetic actuators that move, stiffen and power the prosthesis, as well as to experience natural afferent sensations from the prosthesis. Recently, the agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI) was developed, a mechanoneural transduction architecture and neural interface system designed to provide persons with amputation improved muscle-tendon proprioception and neuroprosthetic control. In this paper, we provide an overview of the AMI, including its conceptual framing and pre-clinical science, surgical techniques for its construction, and clinical efficacy related to pain mitigation, phantom limb range of motion, fascicle dynamics, central brain proprioceptive sensorimotor preservation, and prosthetic controllability. Following this broad overview, we end with a discussion of current limitations of the AMI and potential resolutions to such challenges.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The agonist-antagonist myoneural interface.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Bidirectional neural communication between agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI) constructs and a powered external prosthesis.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The transtibial agonist-antagonist myoneural interface amputation.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Bidirectional neural communication between mechanoneural interface (MI) constructs and a powered external prosthesis. The MI framework comprises n proprioceptive mechanoneural interfaces (PMIs) and m cutaneous mechanoneural interfaces (CMIs) that provide efferent-afferent bidirectional control to the external prosthesis through a biophysical controller, providing the prosthetic wearer volitional efferent control as well as musculotendinous and cutaneous afferent sensations from the prosthesis. CSN indicates central nervous system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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