A Prototype System for High Frame Rate Ultrasound Imaging based Prosthetic Arm Control.

Abstract

The creation of unique control methods for a hand prosthesis is still a problem that has to be addressed. The best choice of a human-machine interface (HMI) that should be used to enable natural control is still a challenge. Surface electromyography (sEMG), the most popular option, has a variety of difficult-to-fix issues (electrode displacement, sweat, fatigue). The ultrasound imaging-based methodology offers a means of recognising complex muscle activity and configuration with a greater SNR and less hardware requirements as compared to sEMG. In this study, a prototype system for high frame rate ultrasound imaging for prosthetic arm control is proposed. Using the proposed framework, a virtual robotic hand simulation is developed that can mimic a human hand as illustrated in the link: https://youtu.be/LBcwQ0xzQK0. The proposed classification model simulating four hand gestures has a classification accuracy of more than 90%.Clinical relevance-The proposed system enables an ultrasound imaging based human machine interface that can be a research and development platform for novel control strategies of a hand prosthesis.