Control of Powered Prosthetic Hand Using Multidimensional Ultrasound Signals: A Pilot Study

Various sophisticated signal processing techniques have been developed for EMG control strategy. However, some inherent properties of the signal prevent it from providing a natural control of powered prosthetic hand. This paper reported on a pilot study of an alternative, multidimensional ultrasound signals which can collect the architecture change of muscle during contraction. We designed a system to collect and analyze multi-channel Amode ultrasound, joint angle, and surface EMG simultaneously. Using this system, we investigated the feasibility of controlling powered prosthesis by multidimensional ultrasound signals. In the experiment, the subjects were instructed to perform the wrist extension and flexion movement. Multi-channel ultrasound signals, collected from the forearm muscle, were used to estimate the wrist angle and then to control the power prosthesis. The results suggest that multidimensional ultrasound signals, based on further improvement, have great feasibility to be an alternative method to control prosthesis.