Restoration of hand Functions in Tetraplegia through Selective Neural Electrical Stimulation
The AGILIS project aims to deliver an innovative implanted stimulation device to enable individuals with tetraplegia to use their hands for functional grasping, thereby increasing their autonomy. AGILIS was supported in 2019-2020 by EIT Health. 2 participants with complete tetrapegia were implanted with 2 epineural electrodes wrapped around median and radial nerves. The electrodes were maintained over 30 days. Both participants were able to grasp different objects.
INRIA has realized a series of videos to detail the different aspects of the project and obtained results:
- Preparation of the electrode surgery – VIDEO 1
- Two hours of surgery to place the electrodes – VIDEO 2
- Functional testing, adjustment and measurement phase with the patients- VIDEO 3
- Interviews of the two participants- VIDEO 4
See also LINK
and also a previous video to understand the genesis of AGILIS project.
Related publications:
- Nature Scientific Rep., 2022
- “Restoring hand functions in people with tetraplegia through multi-contact, fascicular and auto-pilot stimulation: a proof-of-concept demonstration”, Journal of Neurotrauma, 2022
- Assisted Grasping in Individuals with Tetraplegia: Improving Control through Residual Muscle Contraction and Movement“, Sensors, MDPI, 2019, 19 (20).
- Mélissa Dali, Lucie William, Wafa Tigra, Hubert Taillades, Olivier Rossel, Christine Azevedo , David Guiraud “Relevance of selective neural stimulation with a multicontact cuff electrode using multicriteria analysis” PlosOne, 2019.
- Wafa Tigra, Benjamin Navarro, Andrea Cherubini, Xavier Gorron, Anthony Gélis, et al.. “A novel EMG interface for individuals with tetraplegia to pilot robot hand grasping.” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2018, 26 (2), pp.291-298.
2 multicontact epineural electrodes are wrapped around median and radial nerves just above the elbow. Electrical current profiles are programmed to selectively activate the different muscles of the forearm in order to obtain functional grasping gestures.
Presentations:
- Christine Azevedo and Charles Fattal “Restaurer la préhension chez des personnes tétraplégiques complètes en utilisant la stimulation neuronale” Lyon Cyber Days, France – September 2021
- Christine Azevedo “Restoring hand function for patients with complete tetraplegia. A new paradigm for both activation of paralyzed muscles and human machine interface.” Workshop AIST-LIRMM, Montpellier, France – November 2019
- Christine Azevedo, David Guiraud, Charles Fattal “Restaurer du Mouvement”, Futures Festival Masterclass, Paris, France – June 2019.
Partners:
- APHP Hospital
- Heidelberg University
- NEURINNOV
- Centre Bouffard Vercelli, Peprignan
- Clinique Saint Jean, Montpellier
- INRIA
