LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics

The rapid advancements in machine learning methodologies carry a wide potential to match the increasing control demands of modern robotic hands. In particular, myoelectric pattern recognition is recognized nowadays as a viable means to facilitate the multi-functional control of prosthetic devices, f...

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Main Authors: Erik Gasparini, Rodolfo Cerqueira, Carlo Preziuso, Lucia Angelini, Robinson Guachi, Marco Controzzi, Christian Cipriani, Enzo Mastinu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11015816/
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author Erik Gasparini
Rodolfo Cerqueira
Carlo Preziuso
Lucia Angelini
Robinson Guachi
Marco Controzzi
Christian Cipriani
Enzo Mastinu
author_facet Erik Gasparini
Rodolfo Cerqueira
Carlo Preziuso
Lucia Angelini
Robinson Guachi
Marco Controzzi
Christian Cipriani
Enzo Mastinu
author_sort Erik Gasparini
collection DOAJ
description The rapid advancements in machine learning methodologies carry a wide potential to match the increasing control demands of modern robotic hands. In particular, myoelectric pattern recognition is recognized nowadays as a viable means to facilitate the multi-functional control of prosthetic devices, for both lower and upper limb amputations. However, such solutions require dedicated and specific hardware: versatile yet robust, low-power yet computationally powerful. Here, we present LimbMATE: a compact and modular embedded system for the intuitive real-time control of prostheses by decoding either differential or pre-amplified bioelectric signals. It is compatible with various prosthetic components and feedback actuators, disposing of major communication peripherals to adapt to other devices’ proprietary protocols. Moreover, it includes Bluetooth capabilities, and it implements an advanced real-time clock calendar-based logging system for tracking prosthesis usage, opening for long-term at-home longitudinal studies. The LimbMATE system was bench-verified to prove suitable power consumption (<200 mW), real-time operation, and long-term data storage (1 sec/day tolerance). Finally, it was validated with twelve non-disabled participants and two end-users with upper limb amputation via both virtual and real-life-inspired functional assessments. LimbMATE showed the capability for robust and responsive inference of the intended movements to enable intuitive bidirectional control of a multi-articulated prosthesis.
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spelling doaj-art-8a5e6b225bd04708b5ca672b8772d76a2025-08-20T02:32:10ZengIEEEIEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering1534-43201558-02102025-01-01332112212210.1109/TNSRE.2025.357391711015816LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in ProstheticsErik Gasparini0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1883-9573Rodolfo Cerqueira1https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4809-8320Carlo Preziuso2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9566-4710Lucia Angelini3Robinson Guachi4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0476-6973Marco Controzzi5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2135-0707Christian Cipriani6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2108-0700Enzo Mastinu7https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8361-9586Department of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Excellence in Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, ItalyThe rapid advancements in machine learning methodologies carry a wide potential to match the increasing control demands of modern robotic hands. In particular, myoelectric pattern recognition is recognized nowadays as a viable means to facilitate the multi-functional control of prosthetic devices, for both lower and upper limb amputations. However, such solutions require dedicated and specific hardware: versatile yet robust, low-power yet computationally powerful. Here, we present LimbMATE: a compact and modular embedded system for the intuitive real-time control of prostheses by decoding either differential or pre-amplified bioelectric signals. It is compatible with various prosthetic components and feedback actuators, disposing of major communication peripherals to adapt to other devices’ proprietary protocols. Moreover, it includes Bluetooth capabilities, and it implements an advanced real-time clock calendar-based logging system for tracking prosthesis usage, opening for long-term at-home longitudinal studies. The LimbMATE system was bench-verified to prove suitable power consumption (<200 mW), real-time operation, and long-term data storage (1 sec/day tolerance). Finally, it was validated with twelve non-disabled participants and two end-users with upper limb amputation via both virtual and real-life-inspired functional assessments. LimbMATE showed the capability for robust and responsive inference of the intended movements to enable intuitive bidirectional control of a multi-articulated prosthesis.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11015816/Research platformprostheticsembeddedversatilitymodularityEMG
spellingShingle Erik Gasparini
Rodolfo Cerqueira
Carlo Preziuso
Lucia Angelini
Robinson Guachi
Marco Controzzi
Christian Cipriani
Enzo Mastinu
LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
Research platform
prosthetics
embedded
versatility
modularity
EMG
title LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
title_full LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
title_fullStr LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
title_full_unstemmed LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
title_short LimbMATE: A Versatile Platform for Closed-Loop Research in Prosthetics
title_sort limbmate a versatile platform for closed loop research in prosthetics
topic Research platform
prosthetics
embedded
versatility
modularity
EMG
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11015816/
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