Multimodal biosignal measurement under donning an upperlimb prosthetic socket and generating myoelectric prosthesis operation signal 2nd Report

Abstract

Heat and humidity are the major complaints related to the discomfort and termination of the upper limb prosthesis's usage. To propose a better design of prosthesis, basic understanding of the heat transfer mechanism from the limb to the socket is required. In this research, the thermal-cardiac relation of donning myoelectric controlled upper limb prosthesis was investigated by measuring and comparing the conditions of muscle contraction at 3 muscle activity levels: none, mild(MVC 20 %) and high(MVC 70 %). To examine the physiological response of the limb donning the plastic quasi-transradial prosthetic socket, myoelectric potential, inner-socket contact pressure, upper limb venous flow speed, cubital fossa cutaneous blood flow, and inner-socket body surface temperature at the palm and forearm were measured from 3 non-amputee subjects' forearm at selected condition: last 100 seconds of the measurement period for non-exercise condition and initial 100 second of the post exercise period for exercise condition. As a result, the mean body surface temperature increase of the 3 subjects were 1.79, 0.93, and 0.72 deg. C., while the cutaneous blood flow decreased 1.41, 1.81, and 0.12 ml/min/100g when donning the socket, respectively.