For people with missing or amputed limbs and organs, prosthetics that can be controlled voluntary by the person are almost life-changing, and recent advances in AI and robotics are capable of using the person’s nerve signals to help control such wearable devices. Through time-series signal processing and model predictive control, these prosthetics can perform at par to natural limbs and organs, restoring the person’s quality of life after battling degenerative diseases or accidents.
This paper describes how to apply advanced brain-inspired methods for inference and prediction, the evolving fuzzy neural network (EFuNN) paradigm and the spiking neural network (SNN) paradigm, and the system requirements to develop a wearable electronic prosthesis for functional rehabilitation.
https://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-0716-0826-5_17
The authors present a neuroprosthetic system by employing an artificial intelligence (AI) agent to translate the amputee’s movement intent through a peripheral nerve interface. The AI agent is designed based on the recurrent neural network (RNN) and could simultaneously decode six degree-of-freedom (DOF) from multichannel nerve data in real-time.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9738457
In this review, several advances in the applications of AI in medical robotics have been discussed such as medical image–guided robotics, rehabilitation robots, and sybiotic robotic prosthetics.
https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adj3312
Public health issues in prosthetics primarily stem from socioeconomic, racial, and geographic factors, impacting access to quality care, advanced technology, and rehabilitation services.Addressing these Public health issues requires policy changes, improved insurance coverage, increased diversity in prosthetic research, and community outreach programs to ensure better prosthetic access and care.
The author addresses how inequities in the access and cost of prosthetic devices, will affect amputees in a difficult balance of choosing between their quality of life and going into debt as a result of high costs. This constant struggle is mostly seen among minoritized groups as a result of lack of preventative care and generous insurance. Through essential reforms like increasing access to healthcare, there will be less preventable amputations. This can lead to the gap in care between minoritized groups and the majority population being closed.
https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/acadfest/2022/all/136/
This study examined differences in physical function and prosthesis satisfaction among individuals with upper limb amputation (ULA) from various racial backgrounds and assessed the potential moderating role of veteran status. The findings indicated that Black individuals with ULA experienced lower physical function and were less satisfied with their prostheses compared to White individuals.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pmrj.13275
In this review, an imbalance in gender representation in lower-limb prosthetic research was identified. High-validity study types, such as randomized control trials and systematic reviews, included fewer female participants than would be expected based on the proportion of females with amputations. Additionally, studies focused on analyzing prosthetic components and developing troubleshooting or diagnostic techniques also lacked sufficient female participants, likely leading to poorer fitting outcomes.
Artificial intelligence can improve prosthetic design, accessibility, and personalized healthcare while addressing inequalities in healthcare access. Through customization, affordable materials, and integrating AI with prosthetic technology, we can bridge Public health issues by making prosthetics more affordable, accessible, and functional for marginalized populations.
To improve AI technologies for healthcare this study proposes the incorporation of patienrt-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to avoid promoting survival at the expense of wellbeing. As measures, they suggest ensuring that datasets used for training and testing the AI system are appropriately inclusive and representative of target population diversity, as well as involving patients and members of the public in the selection of PROMs.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(22)00252-7/fulltext
This review discusses advancements of 3D printed prosthetic limbs. By addressing the diverse needs of prosthetic users, as well as the challenges associated with 3D printing, such technology can reach its full potential in the development of upper limb prosthetic socket design and manufacturing. Furthermore, the integration of emerging technologies such as AI and VR can transform prosthetic device development and improve affordability outcomes for users.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/12/6/223
This book discusses neuroengineering technologies to create advanced prosthetic devices and innovative rehabilitation techniques. Recent breakthroughs include brain-machine interfaces, neural implants, and adaptive technologies. These advancements promise improved motor and sensory functions, offering new hope for recovery, independence and personalized solutions.
https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/neuroengineering-horizons/371142