Biomimetic approaches to bionic touch through a peripheral nerve interface

Abstract

• Article focuses on restoration of the sense of touch through an electrical interface with the peripheral nerve.
• First focus is describing implanted devices that can electrically activate nerve fibres.
• Second focus is discussing how these interfaces can convey basic sensory feedback.
• Third focus is reviewing what is known about how the somatosensory nerve encodes information about grasped objects and how this encoding can be used to convey artificial feedback.
• Then a blueprint for how these codes can be implemented in a device to deliver artificial tactile sensations.

The peripheral nerve

• Peripheral nerves carry bundles of fibres of neurons that send and receive signals from distinct parts of the arm and hand.
• The hand is supplied by three different nerves: median, ulnar, radial.

Peripheral nerve interfaces

• Some mature techniques:
  • Targeted sensory reinnervation
  • Regenerative electrode
  • Extra-fascicular electrode
  • Intra-fascicular electrode
  • Dorsal root ganglia interfaces

Tactile sensations