Wireless Prosthetic Control Effectiveness Study

NCT ID: NCT06821412

Last Updated: 2025-11-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 4 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-06-13
• Study Completion Date: 2025-06-12

Brief Summary

The goal of this proposed project is to evaluate the effectiveness of our novel wireless electrode system, which the investigators refer to as the Asterisk system, on transradial prosthesis users. There are numerous benefits to the upper limb prosthesis community being able to utilize wireless electrodes. These benefits include allowing for the use of a prosthetics liner to assist with fit and comfort, easier implementation of electromyography (EMG) controlled (also referred to as myoelectric control) prosthesis for individuals with osseointegration, and additional EMG electrode location options if the muscle activity captured within the prosthetic socket does not provide reliable prosthesis control. The investigators intend to use this data to develop the Asterisk wireless electrode system into a commercial product. The findings will also be shared with the research community to help drive the design of future devices.

Detailed Description

The study evaluates the Asterisk system to determine if Asterisk will increase a user's self-reported satisfaction with their prosthesis as measured by the Orthotic and Prosthetic User Survey-Satisfaction with Device (OPUS-SD) when compared to their current prosthesis. While the technology has the potential to benefit other patient populations, the investigators will focus this initial pilot study on individuals with trans-radial limb absence to reduce potential confounding variables associated with including other amputation levels.

The proposed Asterisk system would allow for liners to be worn with upper limb myoelectric systems. By creating wireless sensors that can be worn under a liner, the sensors can be placed on the skin to collect the myoelectric signal, the liner then rolled over the top of the sensors when donning, and the sensors can transmit the EMG signal wirelessly to the prosthesis. The Asterisk system would also be beneficial to those with osseointegration, unreliable prosthesis control with EMG signals collected in the area encompassed by their socket, and prosthesis users who struggle with volume management.

The investigators plan to conduct a randomized 2x2 crossover study to evaluate benefits provided by prostheses utilizing the Asterisk electrodes over standard prostheses. The two crossover test conditions are "Experimental" (myoelectric control with the Asterisk system) and "Control" (standard prosthetic device configuration). For the control condition, the subject will be using their everyday prosthesis. For the experimental condition, the investigators will fabricate and provide a new socket to allow for the additional socket volume necessary for liners worn with the Asterisk electrodes. Each subject will participate in both conditions of the study. The condition that each subject completes first will be chosen by a random number generator that also ensures block randomization with an equal number of participants assigned to each condition first in the test sequence using a custom program that was created under a prior research project.

Subjects will participate in at least four research visits and will take part in two, one-month long take-home periods. Some researchers have suggested that persons with transradial amputation require, on average, 3-5 weeks of training , while others have suggested that 5 hours of training is sufficient . Therefore, the investigators expect a one-month take-home period to be sufficient to allow users to become comfortable with each socket configuration while optimizing the take-home duration to maximize study efficiency.

In-lab test visits will consist of outcome measures such as the OPUS-SD and the Box and Blocks functional test for each study condition.

After receiving IRB approval, subjects will be recruited and screened for eligibility. If they are eligible and decide to participate, they will be scheduled for their first site visit. At the first study visit, subjects will be given the informed consent form to read through entirely before signing and are encouraged to ask questions at any time.

All subjects, regardless of test condition, will then receive training on controlling their prosthesis in their current test condition by the study personnel. The training will start with basic skills, including opening and closing the device, and grasping various shapes such as cone/cups, regular/irregular block shapes, and various size and weight balls. Then they will advance to splinter skills, involving partial completion of activities of daily living (ADL) tasks, for example, positioning the device on the handle of a large mug and gripping the handle. And finally, they will practice full task skills, e.g., grasping the handle of a large mug and bringing the mug up to the subject's mouth to drink from it, putting the mug back down, and releasing the grip. All subjects will also receive instructions on how to fill out the daily log (for the ensuing at-home portion of the study).

In certain cases, subjects may become too fatigued (physically or mentally) to complete the entire planned activity during the scheduled visit. Additionally, in some cases, equipment failures may delay completion of the activity planned for a visit. In such a case, subjects may be invited to return to complete the visit activity at the next mutually agreed date. If the return visit is due to equipment failures, subjects will be offered the standard travel stipend for the secondary visit.

During take-home periods, the investigators will periodically check-in with the subject (by phone, text, email, etc.) to maximize adherence to the daily log, debug any technical issues, etc.

Conditions

Prostheses; Upper Limb Amputation Below Elbow

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Wireless Control

The participant wears the experimental socket in the wireless configuration using the prototype ASTERISK system connected within the electronics of the prosthetic socket. The electronics are not accessible by the participant which allows both configurations to be blinded to the participants.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

ASTERISK System

Intervention Type: DEVICE

This intervention uses an experimental socket fabricated by a certified prosthetist. The electronics within the experimental socket are set up with the ASTERISK system, which sends information collected from the EMG sensors to the prosthetic hand wirelessly rather than the current available method of wired control.

Wired Control

The participant wears the experimental socket in the wired configuration, which mimics the current setup for EMG-controlled prostheses. The electronics are not accessible by the participant which allows both configurations to be blinded to the participants.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Wired Configuration

Intervention Type: DEVICE

This intervention uses the same experimental socket that is used for the ASTERISK intervention. The prosthesis is set-up with wired EMG control, which is the current available method for EMG-controlled prostheses.

Interventions

ASTERISK System

This intervention uses an experimental socket fabricated by a certified prosthetist. The electronics within the experimental socket are set up with the ASTERISK system, which sends information collected from the EMG sensors to the prosthetic hand wirelessly rather than the current available method of wired control.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Wired Configuration

This intervention uses the same experimental socket that is used for the ASTERISK intervention. The prosthesis is set-up with wired EMG control, which is the current available method for EMG-controlled prostheses.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• current wearers of trans-radial myoelectric prostheses or orthoses
• have used their prostheses/orthoses for at least six months
• understand spoken and written English (for the purpose of consenting)

Exclusion Criteria

• have any neurological or physical conditions which would prevent them from performing the experimental tasks
• are pregnant

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 89 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Hartford

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Worcestor Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Liberating Technologies, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Benjamin McDonald

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Liberating Technologies, Inc.

Locations

Liberating Technologies, Inc.

Holliston, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

W81XWH22C0049

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

IRB-23-0722

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id