Control Of Powered Prosthetics Using Bend-Enhanced Fibre Optic Sensors

Powered prosthetics have bezome the accepted method of replacing litnb function lost by traumatic or congenital amputations. The control of these devices is accomplished by either mechanical switches or by switches based on the kvel of myoelectric activity, Although both approaches provide excellent solutions, there are problems inherent with mechanical and myoeletric control (MEC). Because the mechanical switches used in the prosthetic industry must be small, they lack durability and often fail. For myoelectrically controlled systems a total contact socket is required to minimise the effects of motion artifact and to allow continuous detection of the myoelectric signal (MES) This is often difficult to obtain and leads to signal contamination by 60 Hz interference. Furthermore, perspiration disrupts normal myoelectric signal detection leading to a loss of control To overcome these problems the Institute of Biomedical Engineering has begun to investiga the use of a bend-enhanced fibre (BEF) optical sensor to construct an in-socket transducer for prosthetic control.