Abstract

In the last 20 years we have witnessed tremendous advancements in the field of bionic hand reconstruction, aimed at restoring motor and sensory function in people who have lost their limb. 
Advanced upper limb surgical procedures merged with complex prosthetic technologies have opened unprecedented possibilities for people living with upper limb amputation, who are seeking better solutions both in terms of comfort and functionality. In this context, experts in different fields are seeking solutions to address the desire for a more intuitive and biomimetic control of the artificial limb, mimicking the natural hand, as well as the possibility of “feeling” the artificial limb, through the restoration of both proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensations.
The path towards the development and clinical translation of these solutions is filled with several challenges, and requires a skilled and, most of all, multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of upper-limb surgeon, prosthetists, skilled occupational therapists, and engineers developing dexterous terminal devices and, most importantly, cutting-edge technologies required for interface with users.
Within this context, this special session will explore the latest groundbreaking advancements in bionic reconstruction, delving into the fusion of technology and surgery/therapy interventions aimed at restoring dexterous motor functions and multimodal sensing equivalent to the human hand. Pioneering leaders in the medical and bioengineering fields from different countries will share their recent work aimed at enhancing the quality of life for amputee patients.

Topics of interest

• Advanced human-machine-interfaces for prosthetic limbs
• Frontiers of upper limb amputation research
• Innovative prosthetic fittings
• Surgical and rehabilitation approaches to pain
• Osseointegration
• Sensory feedback
• Brain Machine Interfaces

Program

The Special Session WR01 is scheduled for November 6th, from 9.15am to 10.45am (Track A, Room A). More information on the conference website (ICNR2024 - Calendar (icneurorehab.org)).

Speakers

• Cynthia Chestek, PhD - University of Michigan (USA). Brain Machine Interfaces for the Control of Prosthetic Fingers.
• Marta Gherardini, PhD - Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Italy).  The myokinetic interface for prosthetic control: results from the pilot study with an amputee patient.
• Max Ortiz-Catalan, PhD - Prometei Pain Rehabilitation Center (Ukraine), Center for Complex Endoprosthesis, Osseointegration, and Bionics (Ukraine), and NeuroBioniX (Australia). Surgical Advancements to Enable the Integration of Bionic Limbs.
• Agnes Sturma, PhD - Medical University of Vienna (Austria). Therapy for upper limb amputees with innovative prosthetic fittings.

Organizers 

Marta Gherardini
Christian Cipriani

Acknowledgment 

This Special Session is supported by the Italian Ministry of Research, under the complementary actions to the NRRP “Fit4MedRob - Fit for Medical Robotics” Grant (number PNC0000007), and by INAIL, in the framework of the BioARMnext (grant number: PR23-RR-P3), NoProblem (grant number: PR23-CR-P3), and OsteoAMI (grant number: PR23-CR-P5) projects.