SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE TOOLS TO CUSTOMIZE CONTROLLER PARAMETERS IN UPPER EXTREMITY, POWERED PROSTHETIC SYSTEMS

Abstract

Clinician-friendly software/firmware tools were developed which enable prosthetists and therapists to customize quickly and easily the control strategies used in upper-extremity, powered prosthetic systems in order to serve better their client’s needs. The tools, MyoWizard and MyoAssistant, are used together to set and document the control strategy relating the client’s input to the action of the prosthesis. MyoWizard guides the selection of an appropriate strategy for the client’s prosthetic device from a list of pre-defined strategies and then programs the selected strategy into the device’s micro-controller. It also allows the micro-controller to be reconfigured for another client. With MyoAssistant, clinicians fine-tune the controller’s strategy to the client’s specific needs and abilities by adjusting controller parameters, including gain and threshold values and other settings, to optimize performance. The adjustments are aided by graphical display of signals. Changes are immediately written into the controller and can be tested.