Sensory Tech Enables ‘Feeling’ in Bionic Leg

A neuroengineering study has unearthed groundbreaking sensory technology that gives bionic leg users the ability to sense touch and movement again. When trialing the prototype, amputee Djurica Resanovic believed he could feel his leg and foot again, as if it were his own leg.

Lead by a European consortium, including ETH Zürich, SensArs neuroprosthetics and researchers in Serbia, the bionic leg uses sensory feedback delivered through nerves in the leg’s stump. The sensory feedback imitates the nervous system signals that are normally received in the human leg. Delivered wirelessly through surgically implanted electrodes in the amputee’s stump, the fine-tuned feedback allows amputees to feel similar sensations to a regular limb.

The bionic leg is fitted with seven sensors on the sole of the prosthetic foot and one encoder at the knee. This generates touch and movement information from the prosthesis that enhances sensory feelings.

Brain imaging and psychophysical tests conducted throughout the trial also demonstrated that with the aid of this technology, participants have greater mental capacity to complete tasks. This highlights the role that enhanced sensory feedback can play in relieving mental strain from wearing prosthetic limbs.

This study takes neuroengineering a step forward, opening the door to a more advanced bionic solution for amputees.

Read more about the technology via ETH Zürich.