Adaptive control of powered prosthetic legs for amputees

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This project aims to enhance the functionality of powered above-knee prostheses by modeling human joint biomechanics during various locomotion activities. It focuses on developing a continuous model of joint impedance that can adapt to different walking speeds and transitions between activities. By utilizing machine learning, the study will analyze able-bodied data to create variable impedance functions that mimic biological movement. The ultimate goal is to improve the control of prosthetic devices, allowing amputees to perform daily activities more effectively.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion criteria for able-bodied participants will be:

* Aged between 18 to 65 years

Exclusion criteria for able-bodied, young adult participants will be:

* Pregnant (self-report)
* Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
* Unable to walk for 20 minutes
* History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual diseases and/or impairments that may interfere with the study
* Cognitive deficits that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. In the case of screening for cognitive deficits, the consenting researcher will ask the subject if he/she has any prior history of cognitive deficits.
* Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

Inclusion criteria for subjects with amputation will be:

* Aged between 18 to 70 years.
* Weigh less than 250 lbs due to limitations in the design of the prosthesis.
* Amputee subjects will be more than two months post independent ambulation with an amputation at the transfemoral level in order to use the above-knee prosthesis.
* Amputee subjects will have a mobility classification of K2/K3/K4 ambulators (minimum community ambulatory) and have the ability to ambulate without an assistive device beyond their prosthesis.

Exclusion criteria for subjects with amputation will be:

* Weigh over 250 pounds body
* Pregnant (self-report)
* Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
* Inactive or physically unfit, unable to walk for 20 minutes
* An excessively long residual limb length, and/or a non-removable cosmetic cover determined by the prosthetist performing the evaluations
* Cognitive deficits or visual impairment that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. In the case of screening for cognitive deficits, the consenting researcher will ask the subject if he/she has any prior history of cognitive deficits.
* Co-morbidity that interferes with the study (e.g., pace maker placement, severe ischemia, cardiac disease, etc.)
* Adults unable to consent
* Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

Where it's running

• Rehab Lab, University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Robert D Gregg, PhD — University of Michigan
• Study coordinator: Kashvi Pota, MS
• Email: kashvip@umich.edu
• Phone: 734-763-1156

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Comparing powered and mechanical prosthetic knees for K2-level amputees

  This study is testing whether powered prosthetic knees work better than mechanical ones for K2-level amputees to help improve their mobility and make better choices for future prosthetic designs.

  Recruiting Liberating Technologies, Inc. · Austin, Texas · NCT06194838

• Effect of EMG sensor number and placement on control of below-elbow prosthetic arms

  This project will test whether changing the number and placement of myoelectric sensors helps adults with below-elbow limb absence control a prosthetic arm better while wearing a real device.

  Recruiting Liberating Technologies, Inc. · Chicago, Illinois and 1 other locations · NCT07011420

• Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees for limited community ambulators with above-knee amputation.

  This test will see if switching to a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee reduces fall-related health problems and improves walking speed, mobility, and quality of life for adults with above-knee amputations who are limited community ambulators compared with non-microprocessor knees.

  Recruiting Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education, LLC · Austin, Texas · NCT06937242

• Understanding the impact of powered prosthetics on walking for transfemoral amputees

  This study is testing whether powered knee and ankle prosthetics can help transfemoral amputees walk better, especially when combined with special training.

  Recruiting Shirley Ryan AbilityLab · Chicago, Illinois · NCT06433648

• Evaluation of a new myoelectric prosthesis for transradial amputees

  This study is testing a new type of prosthetic arm that uses a special implant to help people with below-the-elbow amputations control it more easily and naturally.

  Recruiting University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT05768802

• Hand prosthesis usability and performance evaluation for people with upper limb absence

  This study tests a new multi-articulating hand prosthesis to see if it performs better or differently than a participant’s own prosthesis.

  Recruiting Össur Iceland ehf · Dublin, Ohio · NCT07915700

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.