Using regrown nerve-muscle connections to restore individual finger control for above-elbow amputees
Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces for Restoring Individual Finger Movement in Transhumeral Amputees
This project will use small muscle grafts attached to nerves to create signals that help people with above-elbow amputations control individual fingers on a prosthetic hand.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249962 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Participants will receive small muscle grafts surgically connected to remaining nerves (Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces, or RPNIs) so the grafts can regrow, revascularize, and reconnect to nerve fibers. Electrodes will record electrical signals from those RPNIs and researchers will translate those signals into commands for a multi-articulated prosthetic hand to try to move individual fingers. The team will recruit people with transhumeral (above-elbow) amputations under an FDA IDE and follow signal amplitude, movement specificity, and stability for 18 months after implantation. The group has prior experience with chronic implants in below-elbow amputees and plans to enroll up to six additional transhumeral participants to test this approach where residual muscle is limited.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with a transhumeral (above-elbow) upper limb amputation who are medically stable, willing to undergo surgical implantation, and able to attend post-surgery follow-up visits for about 18 months.
Not a fit: People without an above-elbow amputation, those who cannot undergo surgery, or those with conditions that prevent nerve or muscle regeneration are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people with above-elbow amputations operate individual fingers on advanced prosthetic hands more intuitively.
How similar studies have performed: Related RPNI work has produced promising chronic signal recordings in a small number of below-elbow amputees, but applying RPNIs at the transhumeral level is a newer step.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chestek, Cynthia Anne — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chestek, Cynthia Anne
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.