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i
Prosthetic Control using
Implanted Electrode Signals
STEFANÍA HÁKONARDÓTTIR
Master of Science Thesis in Medical Engineering
Stockholm 2014
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iii
This master thesis project was performed in collaboration with
Össur
Supervisor at Össur: Ólafur Haukur Sverrisson
Prosthetic Control using Implanted Electrode Signals
Protesstyrning genom Signaler från
Implanterade Elektroder
S T E F A N Í A H Á K O N A R D Ó T T I R
Master of Science Thesis in Medical Engineering
Advanced level (second cycle), 30 credits
Supervisor at KTH: Mats Nilsson
Examiner: Tobias Nyberg
School of Technology and Health
TRITA-STH. EX 2014:75
Royal Institute of Technology
KTH STH
SE-141 86 Flemingsberg, Sweden
http://www.kth.se/sth
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Abstract
This report presents the design and manufacturing process of a bionic signal message
broker (BSMB), intended to allow communication between implanted electrodes and
prosthetic legs designed by Ossur. The BSMB processes and analyses the data into
relevant information to control the bionic device. The intention is to carry out event
detection in the BSMB, where events in the muscle signal are matched to the events of
the gait cycle (toe-off, stance, swing).
The whole system is designed to detect muscle contraction via sensors implanted
in residual muscles and transmit the signals wireless to a control unit that activates
associated functions of a prosthetic leg. Two users, one transtibial and one transfemoral,
underwent surgery in order to get electrodes implantable into their residual leg muscles.
They are among the first users in the world to get this kind of implanted sensors.
A prototype of the BSMB was manufactured. The process took more time than
expected, mainly due to the fact that it was decided to use a ball grid array (BGA)
microprocessor in order to save space. That meant more complicated routing and higher
standards for the manufacturing of the board. The results of the event detection indicate
that the data from the implanted electrodes can be used in order to get sufficient control
over prosthetic legs. These are positive findings for users of prosthetic legs and should
increase their security and quality of life.
It is important to keep in mind when the results of this report are evaluated that all
the testing carried out were only done on one user each.
Keywords:
Myoelectric Control, Prosthesis, Lower Limb Prosthesis, Event Detection, Gait Cycle,
PCB Layout, Electrical Design
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Sammanfattning
Denna rapport redogor for design- och tillverknings processen av en s.k.bionic signal
message broker (BSMB), vars syfte ar att tillata kommunikation mellan implanterade
elektroder och aktiva benproteser designade av Ossur. BSMB analyserar och behandlar
data fran elektroderna till relevant information for att kunna kontrollera den bioniska
protesen. Detta gors genom handelsedetektering i BSMB, dar handelser i muskelsignalen
matchas till handelserna i gangcykeln (franskjut, stodfas och svingfas).
Systemet ar utformat for att upptacka muskelsammandragningar via sensorer som ar
implanterade i kvarvarande benmuskler for att sedan overfora signalerna tradlost till en
styrenhet som aktiverar de tillhorande funktionerna hos en benprotes. Tva anvandare,
en transtibial och en transfemoral, genomgick operation for att fa elektroder implanter-
ade i de kvarvarande benmusklerna.
Prototypen av BSMB blev tillverkad men processen tog langre tid an vantat, framst
pa grund av att det beslutades att anvanda en ball grid array(BGA) mikroprocessor
for att spara utrymme. Det innebar en mer komplicerad operationsfoljd och striktare
standarder for tillverkningen av kretskortet. Resultaten av handelsedetektionen pavisar
att data fran implanterade elektroder kan anvandas for att fa tillracklig kontroll over
benproteser. Detta ar positiva ron for dem som ar i behov av benproteser da det bor
forhoja bade sakerheten och livskvaliteten.
Det ar dock viktigt att understryka att de resultat som har presenterats i den har
rapporten ar baserade pa tester av enbart tva anvandare.
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Acknowledgements
This report was written as a Master Degree Project in Medical Engineering at the Royal
Institute of Technology (KTH). The project presented in the report was carried out in
cooperation with the company Ossur R©.
I would like to thank my supervisors for their help and input towards my project.
My professor, Mats Nilsson, for his guidance and the freedom he allowed me during the
project, and Olafur Haukur Sımonarson and Stefan Pall Sigurthorsson for all their help
and support during my project work at Ossur. Sincere thanks to the two users at Ossur
for their cooperation and patience which made all the necessary testing possible.
Last but not least I want to thank my family and friends who always support me
and believe in me. Special thanks to my father, Hakon, who is always ready and willing
to share his knowledge and interest in my studies.
Stefanıa Hakonardottir
Reykjavik, Iceland
May 2014
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Abbreviations and Explanations
AI Artificial Intelligence
BGA Ball Grid Array
BSMB Bionic Signal Message Broker
CDM Coil Driver Module
DC Direct Current
DOF Degree of Freedom
EMG Electromyograph
IMES Implantable Myoelectrical Sensor
LED Light Emitting Diode
PCB Printed Circuit Board
PCI Prosthetic Control Interface
Amputee A person who has lost all or part of limb
Antagonist Muscle A muscle that opposes the action of another muscle
Mechanoreceptors Any of the neuronal receptors that respond
to vibration, stretching, pressure, or other mechanical stimuli
Myoelectric Of, relating to, or utilizing electricity generated by muscles
Prosthesis A device, either external or implanted, that substitutes
for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body
Transtibial amputation Amputation of the lower limb between the ankle and the knee
Transfemoral amputation Amputation of the lower limb between the knee and the hip
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Contents
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Aim of the Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Ossur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Background 5
2.1 Anatomy of the Leg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.1 The Ankle Joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.2 The Knee Joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 Human Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2.1 Muscle Contraction and Electromyogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.2.2 The Gait Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 Electronic Design and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.3.1 Component Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.4 Prosthetic Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.4.1 Mechanical Prosthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.4.2 Microprocessor Controlled Prosthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2.5 Bionic Devices by Ossur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2.5.1 Proprio Foot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
2.5.2 Rheo Knee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3 Methods 19
3.1 Implementation of the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.1.1 Implantable Myoelectrical Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.1.2 External Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.1.3 The BSMB Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.1.4 The Bionic Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.2 The Design Process of the BSMB Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.2.1 Design and Component Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.2.2 The Processing of the BSMB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.2.3 Control Algorithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.3 Event Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.3.1 Experimental Set-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4 Results 29
4.1 The BMSB Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.2 Event Detection during Gait Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.2.1 Transfemoral User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
xiii
4.2.2 Transtibial User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.3 Current Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
5 Discussion 37
5.1 The Design Process of BSMB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5.2 The System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5.3 Ethical Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5.4 Future Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6 Conclusions 41
References 43
Appendix A - Technical Drawings
Appendix B - Pinout List
Appendix C - PCB Layout in 3D
Appendix D - Variance of Peak Values during Gait
xiv
1 Introduction
The prosthetic profession has changed rapidly over the past few years. Going from
replacing the basic structural elements of limbs following amputation to now restoring
lost muscle function. People who have suffered from disease, trauma or congenital
disorders and therefore lost a body part or the function of a body part, experience
difficulties in performing everyday tasks. We use our legs for walking, jumping, going
up and down stairs and other tasks everyday without thinking. Those are things we take
for granted, but are actually remarkable, sensitive and rigorous cooperation of muscles
and joints. If one link in the system breaks, everything gets more complicated.
Lower limb amputation has great impact on daily living, all activity and indepen-
dence of the person. Our legs are not only vital for our movements but they are also
vital weight bearing elements of our bodies. It is important that we are able to trust
that our legs are able to support us no matter what. It is important for amputees to
have the possibility to regain their mobility and independence. Therefore different types
of prosthetic legs are available.
Nowadays, prosthetic legs controlled by microprocessors and control schemes are
available. But would it not be better if the users intentions were not simulated by some
potential control schemes, but its own muscle contractions? What would it mean for
the prosthetic control if it were possible to use muscle signals to predict and control
the function of the prosthetic device? Is it possible to detect some trend in the muscle
signals that are usable for control of the prosthetic device?
A myoelectrically controlled prosthesis is the next step in this field. The intention
is to be able to control the prosthetics by the electric signal produced by muscles dur-
ing contraction. To make it even more convenient for the amputee, the electrodes are
implanted into the muscle. The project described in this report was made for and in
cooperation with the company Ossur, which will be introduced in chapter 1.2.
1.1 Aim of the Project
This project focuses on one of the key factors in the building process of an myoelctrically
controlled prosthetic device, the communication between implanted electrodes and a
prosthetic device. Electrodes have been implanted into users and the aim is to control
pre-existing prosthetic devices with signals from the implanted electrodes. In order
to do so a well established and secure communication between the electrodes and the
prosthetic device is needed.
The goal of this project is to design a Bionic signal message broker (BSMB) which
1
communicates with the implanted electrodes and returns a processed EMG signal that
can be used to control a Bionic device from Ossur. The BSMB module has to be
small and light for the best possible solution for the user. The project also includes
signal analyses of the EMG data from the implanted electrodes to see if it is possible to
notice some pattern in the signals that can be used to control a prosthetic device. This
project is built on a system made for muscle controlled hand-prostheses from Alfred
Mann Foundation [1]. The intention is to customize that system for use with the Bionic
devices from Ossur and make the system more user-friendly. The project consisted of
electronic design, PCB layout design, building and testing a prototype, gait analysis on
test users and EMG event detection.
Altium Designer is used to make the printed circuit board (PCB). That is an elec-
tronic design automation software tool for electronic systems. Within this program the
schematics of the system and the PCB layout are created. The calculation software
MATLAB is used for EMG signal analyses and event detection.
1.2 Ossur
Ossur is a global company operating in the healthcare sector. Designing and manu-
facturing prosthetics, osteoarthritis and bracing and support products. The company
was founded in 1971 in Iceland by Ossur Kristinsson, prosthetist. It started as a small
prosthetic workshop which grew into being a leading company in the area of prosthetic
solutions design. Over 40 years of experience in materials technology and innovative
design have made Ossur one of the leading innovator and global manufacturer of pros-
thetic devices. The company has its headquarters in Iceland but is operated in 18 places
around the world with over 2.200 employees [2]. Ossur’s policy is to improve the mo-
bility of people with technology, research and innovation. The company works closely
with those that have need for their products in order to come up with the best possible
solutions. Their goal is to help people over physical obstacles, allowing them to enjoy
life without limitations.
Ossur offers a full spectrum of premium lower limb prosthetic components that are
designed to reflect the unique nature of their customers. Their focus is on getting the
best possible outcome and a Life Without Limitations R© for all of their customers, with
the underlying goal of transforming their customers experience [3].
Ossur offers both active and passive solutions for lower limb amputees. Their passive
limbs are made of carbon fiber, which is known for its strength and flexibility. Their
passive joints are built on specific locking moments using hydraulic systems. Then it is
their active prosthetics, the Bionic devices, that use intelligent structures that mimic the
residual limbs responses. ”The Bionic Technology by Ossur is a powerful technological
2
platform to create intelligent devices that behave like human limbs.” [3].
The company’s intention with their Bionic devices is to be able to develop prostheses
that replace the functionality lost when a person loses a limb. Using EMG signals along
with sensory, motor and artificial intelligence techniques, is the next step towards the
design of a prosthesis that replaces the lost limb and its function.
3
4
2 Background
2.1 Anatomy of the Leg
2.1.1 The Ankle Joint
The ankle joint and the foot are quite complex structures made up of 26 bones, 30 joints,
100 ligaments and 30 muscles. For smooth motion all of these joints and muscles must
work in a synchronized manner. The foot is important for efficient walking and also in
weight bearing of the whole body. During ground contact the foot and the ankle joint
also serve as a shock absorber, attenuating the large forces that are generated. The
range of motion of the joint varies with how much load is on the ankle joint. Bones and
ligaments also limit the range of motion [4].
Dorsiflexion is the movement of the ankle joint when the toes are lifted from the
ground. The average range of dorsiflexion motion is 20◦, but only 10◦ is enough for
efficient walking. Plantarflexion is the movement of the foot when the toes are pushed
downward, e.g. when rising up to the toes. The average range of motion for plantarflex-
ion is 50◦, where 20◦ − 25◦ are needed during normal walking [4]. Figure 1 shows how
dorsi - and plantarflexion are defined.
Figure 1: Dorsi and plantarflexion of the foot [5]
Dorsiflexion is important during the swing phase of walking for so called foot clear-
ance and in the stance phase for lowering down the heel after ground contact. The most
active dorsiflexor is the Tibialis anterior which is located on the front of the leg, as can
be seen in figure 2 [4].
5
Figure 2: The location of the Tibialis anterior muscle on the front of the leg. The muscle isconnected between the ankle and the knee joint. [6]
The plantarflexion of the ankle contributes to the lifting up of the body. It moves
the weight towards the toes, which is used both for forward and upward movement of
the body. The muscles that contribute the most force for plantarflexion are the Gas-
trocnemius and the Solues, which are located at the back of the leg, see figure 3. The
Gastrocnemius muscle is fixed between the ankle and the knee joint and functions also
as a knee flexor [4].
Figure 3: The Gastrocnemius muscle, the calf muscles controlling plantarflexion. [6]
2.1.2 The Knee Joint
The knee joint is one of the largest joint in the body. It is a vital part in the weight
bearing of the body and in all walking. The knee joint mainly moves in two directions,
so called flexion and extension. Flexion is when the knee is bent so the backside of the
6
calf is closer to the backside of the thigh, and extension the opposite, see figure 4. [7]
Figure 4: Explanation figure demonstrating flexion and extension around the knee joint
The extension of the knee is controlled by the Quadriceps femoris muscle group and
is vital in power generation for any projection or translation of the lower extremities.
The Quadricep muscle group consist of three muscle: Vastus intermedius, Vastus later-
alis and Vastus medialis, where Vastus lateralis is the strongest one of them, see figure 5.
Figure 5: The three Quadricep muscles of the front of the thigh. For this project the Vastuslateralis muscle was used. [6]
The range of the knee flexion is from 130−145◦. The flexion of the knee is strongest
during support of downward movement of the body and when the leg is in swing phase,
not touching the ground. The Hamstring, the Bicep femoris, muscle is the main muscle
operating as a knee flexor [4]. The muscle is located at the back of the thigh, see figure 6.
7
Figure 6: The Hamstring muscle of the backside of the thigh. [6]
2.2 Human Movement
2.2.1 Muscle Contraction and Electromyogram
One of the focus in this report is if and how signals generated by muscle contraction
can be used to control a prosthetic device. Therefore it is important to understand how
the muscles work and contribute to human movement. There are three types of muscle
types in the body: skeletal-, cardiac-, and smooth muscles. Here the focus will only be
on skeletal muscles.
The skeletal muscles main functions are to produce movement, maintain postures
and positions, and to stabilize the joints [8]. Skeletal muscle is a structure made up
of muscle fibres and motor neurons which together form a so-called motor unit. Each
muscle is made up of many motor units. The muscles are activated by reflexes and our
will and intention, which comes from the brain through the nervous system, to the motor
neurons in the muscles which stimulate the muscle fibres. The muscles generate force
by contraction, which is the muscle response to stimulation produced by an electrical
nerve impulse. The electrical nerve impulse is a response to signals, in the form of
action potentials, from the brain. The contracting force of skeletal muscles varies with
the number of stimulated muscle fibres and the frequency of the action potential.
During contraction the length of the muscle changes. It is called concentric contrac-
tion when the muscle shortens due to stimulation, eccentric contraction when the muscle
lengthens and generates tension, and isometric contraction when the muscle generates
power without any change in muscle length [9]. The muscles in our body are the main
contributors to our movement. The muscles cross joints and their pulling forces create
the motion of the limbs. It is the combination of concentric and eccentric contractions
of the muscles that allows movement of the joint and therefore the body itself [8].
Electromyogram (EMG) is the profile of the signal generated from normal muscle
contraction, the action potential. This signal is easily detected with electrodes located
8
on the muscles. In order to use the signal for some kind of control it is vital to process
and analyse the signal rigorously. The signal has low amplitude, only a few mV, and
is consumed by noise without any processing. During clinical analysis of the human
walking, the gait cycle, EMG signals are often used in order to determine which muscles
are activated during particular gait phases [10].
2.2.2 The Gait Cycle
The gait cycle is normally defined as the period of time when the heel of one foot strikes
the ground until that foot hits the ground again. It is a synchronised event where one
limb performs the support function while the other one moves itself forward into the
next step. The gait cycle is divided into two main phases, referred to as stance and
swing phase. As can be understood from the names of the phases, the stance phase
refers to when the foot is in contact with the ground, and the swing phase when the
foot is in the air swinging forward. The stance phase is further divided into [4];
Initial Contact(Heel strike): The exact moment when the foot contacts the ground.
Load response: The period from the time the foot contacts the ground until the other
leg has left the ground, the leg takes over the weight bearing.
Mid stance: The body starts to move over the leg and weight bearing moves towards
the toes.
Terminal stance (Heel off) and pre swing (Toe off): The foot is prepared to leave
the ground, with all the weight on the toes.
The swing phase is the period when the foot is not in contact with the ground. During
the swing phase the leg is moved forward and prepared for the next contact with the
ground. The swing phase subdivision is normally as follows [4];
Initial swing (Acceleration): The moment when the leg leaves the ground, knee
flexion and dorsi flexion of the ankle for ground clearance (Toe off)
Mid swing: The knee is in full flexion and the leg starts to move in front of the body
Terminal swing phase (Deceleration): The knee is extended and the leg is prepared
for ground contact [4].
See figure 7 for explanation of the gait cycle.
9
Figure 7: Graphical presentation of the gait cycle, showing the main events during one cycle.The moment of the events are often presented as percent of the whole gait cycle. As can beseen in the figure the stance phase takes 60% of the cycle and the swing phase 40%. [4]
The electrical activity of the muscle gives insight into when and which muscles are
active at each time in the gait cycle. For this research the Hamstring and Quadriceps
muscles of the thigh were used for controlling the knee, and Tibialis anterior and Gas-
trocnemius muscle in the calf for controlling the ankle. Therefore we will look more
closely at the function of those four muscles during normal gait cycle.
The main function of the Hamstring is helping with the flexion of the knee. The
Hamstring is most activated around the initial contact where the Hamstring decelerates
the knee extension and prevents hyperextension of the knee. The Quadriceps and the
Hamstring are antagonist muscles which means that since the main function of the
Hamstring is knee flexion, the Quadriceps is a knee extensor. The Quadriceps extends
the knee concentrically before the initial contact and then controls the knee flexion and
absorbs shock in the loading response phase. Those two muscles are mostly activated
in the stance phase.
The two antagonist muscles of the calf, Gastrocnemius and Tibialis anterior, control
the dorsi and plantar flexion of the ankle. Gastrocnemius, which is located in the back
of the calf, controls the plantar flexion while Tibialis anterior, in the front, controls dorsi
flexion. The main function of the Gastrocnemius in the gait cycle is therefore to lift
the heel from the ground in the stance phase. Tibialis anterior is more activated in the
swing phase where it brings the toe up for ground clearance, and controls the foot drop
in the loading response phase. See figure 8 for a graphical presentation.
10
Figure 8: The muscle activation of the hamstring, the Quadricep (vasti), the gastrocnemiusand tibialis anterior during one gait cycle.
2.3 Electronic Design and Components
Electronic design starts with defining the function of the circuit and set up of a block
diagram. After the circuits requirements have been defined the right components can
be selected and a schematic drawing created. The schematic drawing turns the block
diagram into a detailed design, showing all the components and their connections. It is
important that all of the connections in the schematic are right since the final electronic
circuit is based on the schematic drawing.
Printed circuit board (PCB) is an important part of the electronic design. Well
designed PCB ensures that the electronic circuit works as intended. The board itself is
made of a non-conductive material with conductive layers. Holes or pads for soldering
the components on the board and traces for the connections are made of those conductive
layers. All of the components of the schematic drawing are placed on the board in a
way which allows all required connections. The boards can have different numbers of
layers. So-called multi-layered boards have inner conductive layers. The inner layers are
most often used as power and ground layers. That helps to eliminate extra noise [11].
For complicated PCB boards, boards with a lot of components and connections or
complicated components, it is often essential to have the board in few layers. In figure
9 an example of PCB construction can be seen.
11
Figure 9: Example of a 4-layer PCB. The figure shows how the board is stacked up in layers.The orange color represents the conductive layer. The figure is made in AltiumDesign.
The components can be through hole (TH) components or based on surface mounted
technology (SMT). The TH components have legs that are soldiered to conductive holes
in the PCB. SMT components have pads instead of legs and are placed directly onto
conductive pads on the PCB. The biggest benefit of using SMT instead of TH is increased
circuit density and better performance. It is also possible to place the components on
the board with special pick and place machines which makes the manufacturing process
more accurate, easier and faster. Surface mounted boards also allow for a smaller and
lighter design, mostly due to the fact that the components can be mounted on both
sides of the board, the SMT components are smaller in size and having no holes that
need to go through the board saves space [12].
2.3.1 Component Description
A microprocessor can be said to be the brain of computers and other electronic de-
vices. The main function of microprocessors in this project is to receive input from
a peripheral device. Then the processor processes and analyses the input data and
changes it to appropriate output data, which is sent out as control signals. The mi-
croprocessor contains memory which stores information and commands about how the
processor should respond to and process the input data. Microprocessors can be found
in all computers and most digital devices [13].
A voltage regulator generates a constant, desired voltage level, regardless of changes
in the input voltage. Regulators are widely used in order to feed microprocessors and
other electrical components that need stable supply voltage, independent of battery
voltage variation [14]. Linear regulators, as the ones used in this project, need higher
input than output voltage in order to function. So if the battery voltage drops too low,
the device stops to function.
Communication between electrical devices can be either wired or wireless. Here in this
project three different kinds of communication were used, two wired and one wireless.
A short description of those three standards comes below.
12
Serial Peripheral Interface(SPI) is a synchronous serial data protocol that is used
for communication between microprocessors and other peripheral devices, or between
two microprocessors within the same equipment. The SPI communication is always
based on master-slave control. That means that one of the devices has the control, the
master which normally is the microprocessor, over the peripheral device, the slave. SPI
allows fast communications over short distances [15].
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) is another type of serial
communication, used for communication between computers, microprocessors or other
peripheral devices. It converts parallel data to serial for transmission and vice versa for
reception [16]. UART allows communications over up to tens of meters, through cable.
Bluetooth technology is a global wireless standard. It allows secure wireless com-
munication over short distances (10-50 m) using radio transmission at 2.4 to 2.485 GHz.
The Bluetooth technology is widely used for all kind of communications and data shar-
ing. To be able to share data with Bluetooth, both the sending and receiving devices
need to have a Bluetooth module installed and the devices need to be paired [17].
2.4 Prosthetic Technology
Lower limb amputees are mainly divided into two sub-groups. Transfemoral amputees
which refers to lost limb above the knee joint, and transtibial which is below the knee
joint. Transfemoral amputees have two joints missing, both the ankle and the knee,
which makes it more complicated to build a replacement system. There exist few types
of lower limb prosthetics which can be divided into two main categories, mechanical or
microprocessor controlled devices.
2.4.1 Mechanical Prosthesis
Mechanical prosthetic devices are simple, functional, non-microprocessor controlled de-
vices. They are designed to provide the amputee a basic function of the lost leg. The
main function of a mechanical prosthetic is to provide support, and allow rotation around
the lost joint. Mechanical prosthesis are passive devices since they do only provide sup-
port and allow rotation around joints, and do not add any energy to the system [18].
Prosthetic feet are often made of carbon fibre which is a material know for its energy
storing properties, that along with the shape of the feet helps with forward movement
by storing energy throughout the step, see figure 10. Sometime these feet allow rotation
13
around the ankle which makes it possible to adjust the heel height [18].
Figure 10: Example of a prosthetic foot. The foot is made of carbon fibre and is shaped in aspecial way for energy storing properties. [19]
Mechanical knees main purpose is to provide secure and stable ground contact during
the stance phase. The stance support is controlled by a kind of locking mechanism
which can be geometrical, hydraulic, manual or weight activated. Swing phase control
and dampening are also important for the function of the knee prosthesis. The swing
control can be implemented using a simple friction brake. Those systems however are
very limited and need to be readjusted regularly according to the users needs [18]. Figure
11 shows an example of a prosthetic knee.
Figure 11: Example of a prosthetic knee. This one has a geometrical locking mechanism. [20]
2.4.2 Microprocessor Controlled Prosthesis
Prosthetic devices are controlled by microprocessors in order to increase their function-
ality and control. The microprocessor controlled prostheses can be active or passive
devices. An active prosthetic device provides powered motion during walking and by
that makes up for lost muscle energy, while the passive provide support and rotation
but not add any energy into the system. Their system is built up of sensors which
14
are able to sense the environment and adjust the device accordingly. The device learns
and adapts to the environment and the user over time. They normally use information
from [18]
• Gyroscopes - Measures angular velocity. The signal can be used to track orien-
tation changes by integrating the signal.
• Accelerometers - Can determine the location with integration of the signal and the
acceleration of the leg.
• Angle sensor - Measures the angle between two established points. Used for mea-
suring the position of the joints.
• Load cells - Measure load, can measure both the absolute load or changes in load.
The microprocessor controlled prosthesis are designed to imitate natural walking more
closely and offer more stable and effective control. Nevertheless it is impossible to pre-
dict everything which limits the function of these prostheses. People use their legs for
much more than only walking. The walking pattern also changes according to circum-
stance. For example it is not possible to use the same walking pattern for walking up
stairs as for walking down a hill. This limits the usefulness of these kind of prosthesis.
The best and safest solution would be that the user had direct control over the device,
just as if it were his own leg. That would be possible to implement by using EMG
signals from the residual muscles that have lost their previous function.
2.5 Bionic Devices by Ossur
Bionics = bi(o) + (electr)onics: the application of biological principles to the study
and design of engineering systems, especially electronic systems [21].
The goal of the Bionic Technology by Ossur is to restore the true nature of the lost
limb using intelligent structures. This technology is built on knowledge from mechan-
ical, software and electronic engineering. The Bionic system is made up of sensors,
artificial intelligence and actuator technology.
The sensors purpose is to replace the mechanoreceptors of the lost limb. Their pur-
pose is to sense the location of the limb in space, which is done by tracking orientation,
load and angular placement of the device. That information is passed on to the artificial
intelligence (AI), which is able to process the information and determine the next act
of the Bionic device which is controlled by actuator technology. The AI part of the
system can be said to be replacing the function of the brain, the central nervous sys-
15
tem. The AI sends out a control signal to the actuator technology which responds with
appropriate prosthetic control. The actuator technology is based on motor function and
battery power. [3] Figure 12 shows the human system versus the Bionic model from
Ossur schematically.
Figure 12: The human system versus the Bionic model from Ossur
For this project the following Bionic devices from Ossur were used; the Rheo knee
and Proprio foot.
2.5.1 Proprio Foot
PROPRIO FOOT is an active, adaptive, below-knee prosthetic device that mimics nat-
ural ankle motion. The main function of PROPRIO FOOT is to bend and straighten the
”ankle joint”. The motor-powered ankle motion increases the ground clearance which
reduces the risk of tripping and falling. This technology allows the user to walk on
different surfaces in a more natural and safe manner, allowing more natural gait cycle
with better efficiency [3]. The key features of the PROPRIO FOOT are [22]:
• Better ground clearance, reducing risk of falling.
• Moves the users attention from the walking surface to their surroundings with secure
environmental reading.
• Reduced strain on knees, hips and back.
• Makes it easier to walk in stairs and hills.
• Heel hight can be re-adjusted with a button sequence. Practical when using high-heel
shoes.
16
Figure 13: The PROPRIO FOOT from Ossur [22]
The PROPRIO FOOT is made for low to moderate impact activities, which means
that it is suitable for daily activities. The foot is powered by a 14.8 V and 1800 mAh
rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery needs to be recharged after 24-48 hours
of use, depending on activity level [23].
2.5.2 Rheo Knee
RHEO KNEE 3 is an advanced, active, prosthetic device for above-knee amputees. It is
the first microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee with artificial intelligence. It provides
natural knee function since it continuously adapts to the user and the environment [3].
The main functions of the RHEO KNEE are [24]:
• Effortless swing initation which means smoother gait.
• Advanced actuator and resistance, allowing more stable and secure support.
• Natural swing phase thanks to a constant power spring.
• Five-sensor technology for gait phase detection, giving more stable and dynamic re-
sponse.
• Magnetorheological technology that gives an instant response, which allows more pre-
cise and secure control of the Bionic device.
17
Figure 14: The RHEO KNEE from Ossur [24]
The RHEO KNEE is made for low to moderate impact level and low, moderate and
high activity level. That means that the knee is well suited for daily activity involving
longer walks and low to moderate sports activities such as golf. The knee is powered
with a rechargeable 1880 mAh, lithium-ion battery, which needs to be charged after
48-72 hour use depending on activity [25].
18
3 Methods
3.1 Implementation of the System
The prosthetic control system is composed of implanted electrodes which pick up the
muscle signal, a coil around the residual limb which powers up and allows data trans-
mission, an external controller that controls the communication between the implant
and the coil, a bionic signal message broker which allows communication between the
implant and the bionic device, and last but not least the bionic device. A flow chart,
explaining the system can be seen in figure 15.
Figure 15: Flow chart showing the prosthetic control system
3.1.1 Implantable Myoelectrical Sensors
The first part of the system is the implanted electrode sensors. The implants used in
this project, so-called IMES, are developed by the Alfred Manning Foundation [1]. They
are designed for permanent implantation with no service requirements [26]. The IMES
implant is a ceramic tube, 16.74 mm long and 2.44 mm in diameter, see figure 16.
19
Figure 16: The size and shape of the implantable myoelectrical sensor, IMES [27]
The IMES has metal end caps on each end serving as electrodes for picking up the
EMG signal from the muscle contraction. The IMES acts like a differential amplifier,
taking the difference between the two signals from each end cap, which eliminates all
common noise. Then the implant amplifies, rectifies and integrates the signals as can be
seen in figure17. The processing is important to reduce the amount of data that needs
to be transmitted as digital data over a magnetic link produced by a coil around the
residual limb [28].
Figure 17: Amplification, rectification and integration of the EMG signal by the IMES device
One IMES device is needed for each degree of freedom (DOF), which means that in
order to be able to control the bionic device in both directions there is need for two elec-
trodes, implanted into antagonist muscles. For this project one electrode was implanted
into the medial head of the Gastrocnemius muscle and another into the Tibialis Anterior
muscle for the transtibial amputee. For the transfemoral amputee, the electrodes were
implanted into the Lateral Quadriceps muscle (Vastus Lateralis) and into the Hamstring
muscle (Bicep Femoris). See figure 18.
20
Figure 18: The muscles of the legs
The IMES device is inserted into the muscle using a surgical probe, dilator and
ejection tool. One of the end caps of the implant has an eyelet onto which sutures are
attached in order to fix the IMES in place. The IMES is implanted deep inside the
muscles which minimizes cross-talk and gives a stable and robust signal since the mus-
cle tissue holds the implant in place. One of the main advantages of using implanted
electrodes instead of surface electrodes is that they are closer to the source of the elec-
trical activity, which means more precise signal. By using implanted electrodes, a noise
introduced by environmental factors and movements is also eliminated. It should also
be better from the users perspective to have the electrode implanted since he does not
notice them or has to change them, as is needed with the surface electrodes.
3.1.2 External Controller
The next part of the system is a coil that is located inside the prosthetic socket around
the residual limb. The coil is used to transmit power and configuration settings to
the IMES device. The coil and the IMES are controlled by an external control system
which is divided into two main parts: The prosthetic controller interface (referred to as
PCI) which handles powering, set up and reading from the IMES. A coil driver module
(referred to as CDM) which powers up the coil and handles sending and receiving of
telemetry data to and from the coil. The PCI is a belt-worn device, powered by a 7.6 V
battery and is connected by cable to the CDM. The CDM is mounted on the prosthetic
socket. See figure 21 It is connected via cable to the next part of the system, the bionic
signal message broker (BSMB).
21
The PCI is large in size, 11.7 cm(L) x 9.9 cm(W) x 4.9 cm(H), and weights around
0.5 kg. The size and weight of the device is mainly due to the battery on the PCI. See
figure 19.
Figure 19: The PCI is the only part of the system that is not attached to the prosthetic. Thedevice is both big and heavy and has an external battery.
In the original system, where this setup is used to control the myoelectrically con-
trolled hand prosthesis, the PCI is used to determine the users intent and control the
prosthetic device accordingly. In this project the PCI was only used to power up and
control the CDM and to send the signal onto the BSMB module which is designed spe-
cially to control bionic devices from Ossur. The PCI is currently powered with a 7.2 V,
2200 mAh lithium-ion battery with max current consumption of 275 mA.
3.1.3 The BSMB Module
The purpose of the bionic signal message broker (referred to as BSMB) is to create a
layer of abstraction between the implant system and the Bionic device. The BSMB must
be able to read EMG data from the PCI, transform the data into readable form and
then forward it to the Bionic device. The module scales and shifts the EMG signal to
minimize the impact of system changes, due to muscle fatigue or other factors affecting
the signal amplitude. The BSMB also provides two different interfaces, SPI and UART,
for the Bionic devices. See block diagram for explanation in figure 20. The goal is to
implement an event detection into this part of the system. That means the BSMB mod-
ule will be able to detect a certain pattern in the EMG data which indicates a certain
event in the gait cycle. This gives information about the users intention, which allows
more secure control of the Bionic device.
22
Figure 20: Block diagram of the BSMB and connections
The BSMB is located in a small box on the upper edge of the prosthetic socket. See
figure 21. The module is connected by one cable to the coil driver module and another
cable to the Bionic device. The BSMB can be powered either from the implant system
(the PCI) or from the Bionic device. The user does not have access to the module
since it does not require any direct interference. The design and function of the BSMB
module will be described in the chapter 3.2.
3.1.4 The Bionic Device
The last link in the system is the active prosthetic device. The system will be able to
control both the PROPRIO FOOT and RHEO KNEE, which are both Bionic devices
made by Ossur. The use and the intention of the EMG signal will be interpreted
differently for those two devices since the PROPRIO FOOT is a transtibial prosthetic
and RHEO KNEE a transfemoral prosthetic. The already existing firmware of those
devices will be modified to implement the EMG signals. The communication between
the BSMB and PROPRIO will be an UART connection, and SPI connection to the
RHEO. See chapter 2.5.1 and 2.5.2 for detailed information about the Bionic devices.
A figure of the whole system can be seen in figure 21.
23
Figure 21: The whole system used for this project. The figure shows the prosthetic socketcontaining coil, the location of the CDM and BSMB modules, the external PCI and the Bionicdevice. This is the system for the transfemoral amputee which means that the Bionic deviceshowed is the RHEO KNEE.
3.2 The Design Process of the BSMB Module
The main part of this project was to make a functioning prototype of the BSMB device.
That process consisted of choosing appropriate components which would fulfil the design
criteria of the device. Below the choice of components is described.
3.2.1 Design and Component Selection
The BMSB module should be able to:
• Communicate with the implanted electrode system and sample data
• Process the data stream from the electrodes into relevant biological metric recogniz-
able by the bionic device, involving event detection
• Communicate with the Bionic device, sending a control signal
• Allow communication through Bluetooth
• Be powered from the battery in the Bionic device, and power the PCI module
A simple flowchart of the system showing all the different parts needed to fulfil the
BSMB intention can be seen in figure 22.
24
Figure 22: Flowchart showing all the different parts of the BSMB module
In order to fulfil the bionic message brokers intention the circuit contains a micro-
processor, memory and a Bluetooth module for wireless communication. The micro-
processor is one of the most vital parts of the circuit. There all the sampling, signal
processing and control is performed. Further description of the BSMB software can be
found in chapter 3.2.3. It was decided to use a ball grid array (BGA) microprocessor to
save space on the PCB board for further development of the circuit. BGA means that
the connectors of the processor are located underneath the processor house. A processor
using BGA is a square of 7x7mm while the same processor in normal surface mounted
house is a square of 16x16mm. See figure23 for explanation and comparison of those
two houses.
Figure 23: How the BGA microprocessor (on the right) looks like versus a normal surfacemounted processor (on the left). The figure shows the right proportions between the two housingbut not the right sizes.
The Bluetooth module is used in order to be able to connect to the module easily
through a computer. It facilitates both software updates and data sampling. The built
25
in memory is set for long term monitoring of muscle activation. This is vital in the
design process of the device since it gives good insight of signal drifting and changes in
muscle activation. The circuit contains two 3.3 VDC regulators, in order to distribute
the load, and one 7.2 VDC regulator for feeding the system. The circuit has two differ-
ent interfaces; one for receiving the signal from the PCI through an SPI connection and
one to send information to the Bionic device, through either SPI or UART, depending
on which Bionic device is used. Extra sets of LEDs are implemented into the system in
order to be able to match the EMG data to the gait cycle during testing. Those LEDs
are only intended for testing and will be temporarily added to the prosthetic socket
during testing periods. The choice of components along with a short description of the
components purpose can be found in table 1.
Table 1: The main components of the BSMB, showing name and link to datasheet.
Microcontroller MSP430F5438AZQW [29]
Sample data from the implant system
Process data for sufficient control of the Bionic device
Send out the data to the prosthetic control
Regulators Allow different supply voltage
MAX8881EUT33 + T [30] 3.3V for Microcontroller
MAX8881EUT33 + T [30] 3.3V for Bluetooth
LM2841Y [31] 5VDC Battery voltage
Bluetooth LMX9838SB [32]
Allows wireless communication with the module
Memory AT45DB321D [33]
Connectors Interference with Bionic device and implant system
Bionic 8 pins
Implant 7 pins
LED In order to match the EMG data to the gait cycle using video
3.2.2 The Processing of the BSMB
After all the components had been chosen, they had to be put together into one func-
tioning device. A schematic of the BSMB device was drawn using Altium design. See
in appendix A for technical drawings.
26
The next step was then to produce the PCB layout of the circuit. This was also done
using Altium design. The size of the PCB board was predefined according to space in
the Bionic device in order to fit it inside in future versions. As can be seen in figure 24
the size of the board is 50.2 x 33.5mm The PCB board ended up being 4 layers, surface
mounted with components on both sides. See chapter 2.2 for explanations. In order to
ease the routing of the microprocessor a so-called pin-out list was made. The pin-out
list gives good overview over all the connections that have to be made, which helps a
lot when planning the routing. See the full pin-out list in appendix B.
The manufacturing and the assembly of the circuit was carried out by ADVANCED
CIRCUITS which is a leading company in the PCB industry located in the US [34]. See
the outline of the PCB board in figure 24 and a more detailed 3D layout of the PCB
board in appendix C.
Figure 24: The outline of the PCB board.
3.2.3 Control Algorithms
The EMG signal can drift over time, mainly due to muscle fatigue along with other
environmental factors. Those changes in the signal can have bad effects on the control,
so it is important that the parameters can be adjusted to some extent. The simplest
way to manage the signals is to define a threshold level that filters out low amplitude
noise and uses the signal above the threshold for control of the Bionic device. To be
able to use this method the amplitude range of the EMG signal has to be known, from
the threshold to the highest registered amplitude. The threshold can be implemented
using dynamic interpretation of the amplitude.
3.3 Event Detection
The goal of the event detection is to be able to determine if some gait initiation can
be detected from the EMG data from the IMES sensors. The detection needs to be
27
at an early stage in order to be able to use it to support the gait initiation in the
prosthetic control. In order to synch together the walking event from a video and the
EMG data from the IMES, a LED system was put together. Two LEDs were fixed
to the prosthetic socket at a visible place for video recording. The LEDs were then
connected to the microprocessor which activates them when recording of the IMES data
starts. Using this it is possible to synch together the gait cycle and the muscle signal,
and determine how the gait initiation appears in the EMG data.
3.3.1 Experimental Set-up
The user was asked to walk in normal speed, 20 meters on a flat surface. One of the
LEDs was programmed so it lit up as the sampling of the IMES data started and was
turned off when the sampling stopped. The other LED was set to blink every second.
The testing was carried out as follows:
• The user stands upright with the weight equally distributed on both legs
• The video recording is turned on
• A few seconds later the data recording starts, indicated by the LEDs
• The user starts walking with the residual limb as the leading leg and walks 20 m at
even speed
The test were repeated three times without resting. The sampled data were then
plotted using MATLAB and the video and the figures synced together for analyses. See
the results in chapter 4.2.
28
4 Results
4.1 The BMSB Module
The PCB of the BSMB module came fully assembled from the manufacturer Advanced
Circuit, as can be seen in figure 25.
Figure 25: The manufactured prototype of the BSMB module.
Simple tests were carried out in order to see if the PCB was functioning correctly.
By powering the module it was possible to establish a connection both to the Bluetooth
module and the microprocessor. Then the powering setup was tested, which revealed
that it is possible to use the battery from the Bionic device to power up the module and
the PCI. Removing the battery from the PCI yields a noticeable difference in both the
size and weight of the device as can be seen in figure 26.
When all main features had been tested separately the whole system was connected
together. That test showed that the BSMB module was able to communicate with the
IMES and Bionic devices. The setup can be se
29
Figure 26: The test set-up for the BSMB. Battery as is used for the RHEO Knee was used forpowering the system.
The event detection has not been implemented into the system. That will be the
next step in the future design of this system.
4.2 Event Detection during Gait Cycle
4.2.1 Transfemoral User
EMG data was sampled and video taken while the transfemoral user walked 20 m, three
times. The LED system had been implemented in order to sync the data afterwards.
The LED system used for the first test set-up was not working well enough. How
the LEDs should function had not been totally thought through, and the light from the
LEDs was not strong enough to be detected in the video, which resulted in it not being
possible to sync the EMG data to the videos. The test nevertheless gave promising
EMG data.
Before the next testing, the control and the strength of the LEDs was improved.
Those tests gave usable EMG data and videos, but the system could still be improved.
The blinking LED had a strong light which dominated the LED indicating the sampling
of the data (see chapter 3.3.1 for explanation). Nevertheless it was possible to use that
data for matching video and EMG data.
Since the EMG data comes processed from the IMES and the PCI, no signal process-
ing was required. The data from the test were plotted and analysed using MATLAB. By
30
using the video and the EMG data it was possible to match the signals to the gait cycle.
Those results were what had been hoped for and tests had indicated. Figure 27 shows
the EMG activity during the 20 m walking on flat surface. Toe-off events, according to
the videos, have been marked into the graphs in order to define the gait cycles.
Figure 27: The EMG data from the IMES devices in the Hamstring muscle and the Quadricepmuscle. The data was sampled while the amputee walked 20 meters on flat surface. Toe-off foreach step is indicated with a vertical line.
As mentioned in chapter 3.2.3 there is always some variance in the amplitude of the
EMG signal. For the three test the highest peak varies from 133 to 77 values for the
Hamstring muscle and from 152 to 79 values for the Quadricep muscle. See figures 28
and 29. This is up to 40 % changes between steps which needs to be considered when
the threshold values for the control are chosen. All of the peak values can be seen in
appendix D
31
Figure 28: The EMG data from the Hamstring from all of the three tests. This comparison ismade in order to see the variance of the peak values during the testing.
Figure 29: The EMG data from the Quadricep from all of the three tests. This comparison ismade in order to see the variance of the peak values during the testing.
For more detailed analyses, one gait cycle was picked out and the activity of each
muscle plotted separately. The toe-off event, which divides the gait into stance and
swing phase, is shown on the graphs in figure 30. Events from the video were picked out
and put together in order to match the gait cycle.
32
Figure 30: The EMG data from the IMES devices in the Hamstring and the Quadricep muscles.The gait cycle is divided into stance and swing phase and captures from the videos are usedfor visual presentation of the gait.
It is interesting to see that the activation of the Hamstring muscle and the Quadricep
muscle is during the midstance and not the initial contact as it is in a normal gait (see
chapter 2.2.2 ). That can be explained by that those muscles are not connected over the
knee joint, as it is for a natural limb, but only the hip, which changes the activation.
The amputee uses the muscles in order to move the body forward over the prosthetic
leg since the amputee does not have the power from the ground pushing it forward as
is normal. Small activation can again be noticed after the toe off. Again the amputee
needs to use the muscle instead of the ground reaction force, this time in order to swing
the leg forward.
It is very positive for the control potential that detectable, stable pulses from the
muscles come in the preparation for the swing phase. Just at the moment when the user
goes into swing phase, and takes the weight of the leg, the prosthetic knee needs to be
totally loosened up to allow the forward swing. Up to now, this has been the most vital
moment of prosthetic control during the gait cycle. If the knee is loosened up to soon,
33
when the user still has weight on the leg, he would fall down. These EMG data make
it possible to predict the start of the swing phase in advance. That means a lot for the
confidence, security and stability of the user and efficiency of the gait cycle.
4.2.2 Transtibial User
Pretesting had shown that the data from the transtibial amputee would not be suitable
for event detection. Therefore the test described in chapter 3.3.1 was not carried out
for this user. The results from the pretesting can be seen in figure 31. The muscle signal
was sampled during 20 m of walking on flat surface.
Figure 31: The EMG data from the IMES devices in the Tibialis anterior and Gastrocnemiusfrom the transtibial user. This is data from 20 m on flat surface.
The results from the sensors in the transtibial amputee were not good, they did
not show any usable events. It is interesting to see how weak the signal is from the
Gastrocnemius muscle. It could be that the sensors are not positioned well enough
or that the muscles in this user are not strong enough. Then there is a question if it
would be better to use the Soleus muscle than to use the Gastrocnemius muscle. The
Solues muscle is a plantarflexor like the Gastrocnemius muscle but it is not controlling
the knee flexion like the Gastrocnemius muscle, which could be affecting utility of the
muscle signal. It is hard to make any statements about the data since there is only one
user.
34
4.3 Current Consumption
Calculations were carried out in order to see if it would be possible to power up the PCI
with the same battery as the Bionic devices are powered with. The details needed for
those calculations can be seen in table 2.
Table 2: Battery size and average current consumption for the PCI, RHEO KNEE and PRO-PRIO FOOT.
Device Battery size Average current consumption
PCI 2200 mAh 275 mA
RHEO KNEE 1880 mAh 40 mA
PROPRIO FOOT 1800 mAh 75 mA
The current consumption and the batteries are different for different Bionic devices.
If the PCI would share power with RHEO KNEE the battery would last around 6 hours
since we have a 1880 mAh battery and current consumption of 315 mA. It would last
even shorter with the PROPRIO FOOT or only 5 hours. There the battery is only
1800mAh and the current consumption 350 mA. This extra load on the Bionic device
battery would cause the battery to empty up to around 75% faster than before.
35
36
5 Discussion
5.1 The Design Process of BSMB
The design process of the BSMB took more time than had been expected. Because
of delays in the routing and difficulties with the manufacturing company it took nine
weeks instead of five as had been assumed for in the time-plan. The use of a BGA
microprocessor meant more complicated routing and more challenging manufacturing
standards. After 3 weeks of discussion and changes in co-operation with the manufac-
turing company, Advanced Circuit, the circuit finally got through for manufacturing.
This delay caused there being not much time for testing and in order to carry out the
event detection a replacement system had to be used.
The prototype of the BSMB fulfilled all of the design criteria, see chapter 3.2.1. It
was possible to communicate with the IMES and the Bionic device, and connect to the
module with Bluetooth. The design allowed the PCB to be fitted inside the Bionic
device and to be powered with the battery in the Bionic device. It was also possible to
power the PCI by using power from the BSMB module.
In the future version it would be convenient to place an accelerometer on the BSMB
module for better event detection. Together the IMES and the accelerometer should
give data good enough for sufficient control of the prosthetic device.
5.2 The System
Today all the external parts of the system are located on the prosthetic socket, except
for the PCI module. The user has to wear the PCI module around his waist which is
rather uncomfortable for the user. The PCI is connected via cable to the CDM on the
prosthetic socket. That can be uncomfortable for the user and it also increases the risk
of broken connectors and malfunction of the devices.
The cables connecting the modules together caused some trouble during the testing
period. The cables are attached on the outside of the socket, and little pulling on the
cables caused the soldering to brake. For this version of the system it was important
to have the cables on the outside since it had to be possible to disconnect the parts
easily. In future version it would be best that those cables will somehow be covered to
minimize the risk of pulling the cables.
The next step in the development of the system would be to place the PCI module
and the BSMB inside the Bionic device, sharing the battery. That would mean fewer
cables and no extra device for the user as it is now with the PCI. It is not possible to
move the CDM away from the coil so it would still need to be located on the prosthetic
socket. For this to be possible the current consumption of the implant system has to be
37
minimized somehow. Today the PCIs max current consumption is 275 mA. The RHEO
KNEEs max power consumption is 40 mA and the max power consumption for the
PROPRIO FOOT is 75 mA. The system powered with the battery in the bionic device
would only last for 5-6 hours, assuming maximum consumption, before it would need
to be re-charged. That is a short time compared to the 24-72 hours the Bionic devices
last today. It would be best that the device would last through the day, around 16-18
hours, and then be charged during the night. That requires a battery with 6300 mAh.
For future testing it is recommended to improve the LED system used for the event
detection, by separating the diodes and to make sure that the blinking diode is turned
off when data sampling starts. The system could also be improved by using a LED band
that would be attached all around the prosthetic socket, allowing a better view from all
angles.
5.3 Ethical Perspectives
The use of implantable electrodes, the IMES, has advantages for the user and the en-
vironment. Not only does it give a more stable and better signal for controlling the
prosthetic device, but it is also more comfortable for daily use. The user does not have
to think about the implant, after they are implanted they stay in place and work with-
out maintenance. The surface electrodes on the other hand need to be changed out,
and can cause discomfort and irritation of the skin. It can also be problematic to locate
the surface electrodes on the residual limb because of the prosthetic socket. The use of
implanted electrodes is also better for the environment since the surface electrodes need
to be changed out rapidly.
There are clearly some disadvantages with the implanted electrodes. The system has
a high starting cost because of expensive electrodes, and furthermore the user has to
undergo surgery, which is always risky and expensive. Tests indicate that the implants
should tolerate being inside the body and function for dozens of years, but since this
is new technology no one can say for certain how it will perform over a longer time
period. It is vitally important that the system shall be of benefit to the user since it is
hard to remove the electrodes again without damaging muscle tissue. To prevent this,
a pretest can be carried out using fine-needle electrodes, inserted through the skin. As
the tests show this system will give the user more control and security which will change
the experience and improve the quality of life. It is impossible to put a price on such
things.
38
5.4 Future Considerations
The work delivered in this report is only one part of building a fully functioning myo-
electrically controlled prosthetic leg. There are many things which have to be considered
before this system can be delivered as a fully functioning product. These are the first
test that have been carried out employing such a system. The most important thing at
this stage is to implant electrodes into more users, in order to get reliable results. To
do so it would be convenient to create a system that works with surface or fine needle
electrodes, so that the users can get some idea as to how the system will work before
undergoing the full implantation surgery.
The results of this report indicate that minor modifications can be carried out in order
to make the system better and more user-friendly. These would involve implementing
the event detection into the control scheme of the Bionic devices, as well as making the
system smaller and more manageable for the user by combining everything in the Bionic
device. For this to function the power consumption has to be minimized, so the charge
of the leg will last throughout the day.
39
40
6 Conclusions
A Bionic Signal Message Broker (BSMB) was designed and a functioning prototype
manufactured. It was possible to connect to the implanted electrodes and the Bionic
device through the BSMB module. The design of the module was in right size in order
to fit inside the Bionic device and has extra space for further development of the module.
Adding the PCI and the BSMB into the Bionic device will improve the whole system,
making it more user-friendly and more comfortable for the user. In order to be able to
implement the whole system into the Bionic device, the power consumption has to be
considered as well as the battery size.
The testing carried out in this project indicates that implementing event detection,
from the EMG data from the implanted device, is possible and should have good effects
on the control of the prosthetic leg. That will improve the users security, efficiency
and experience of life. Even though the testing shows promising results it has to be
kept in mind that there was only one user for each of the tests which does not give
reliable results. These users are only number two and three in the world as users of the
implanted electrodes, IMES. A lot of testing and analyses with a wider group of users
have to be carried out before this will be available as a product on the market.
41
42
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45
46
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PIR10001
PIR10702
PIR10802
PIU1000B7
PIU1
0106
PIC10002 PIC10102PIC10202PIC10302
PIC10402 PIC10502PIC10602PIC10702
PIC1
0802
PIC10902
PIC11001PI
J101
05
PIJ10207
PIJ10308
PIS20001
PIU1000B6
PIU1000C3 PIU10
00E5 PIU1000E
6 PIU1000E7 PIU10
00E8 PIU1000F5 PIU10
00F8 PIU1000G5 PIU10
00G8 PIU1000H5 PIU100
0H6 PIU1000H7 PIU10
00H8
PIU1
0107
PIU1
0108
PIU10104
PIU10103
PIU10102
PIU10101
PIU1000M12PIU1000M11PIU1000M10
PIU1000M9PIU1000M8
PIU1000M7PIU1000M6PIU1000M5
PIU1000M4PIU1000M3
PIU1000M2
PIU1
000M
1PIU1000L12
PIU1000L11PIU1000L10PIU1000L9
PIU1000L8PIU1000L7
PIU1000L6PIU1000L5
PIU1000L4PIU1000L3
PIU1000L2
PIU1
000L
1
PIU1000K12
PIU1000K11
PIU1
000K
2
PIU1
000K
1
PIU1000J12
PIU1000J11
PIU1000J9
PIU1000J8PIU1000J7
PIU1000J6PIU1000J5
PIU1
000J
4
PIU1
000J
2
PIU1
000J
1
PIU1000H12
PIU1000H11
PIU1000H9
PIU1
000H
4
PIU1
000H
2
PIU1
000H
1
PIU1000G12
PIU1000G11
PIU1000G9
PIU1
000G
4
PIU1
000G
2
PIU1
000G
1
PIU1000F12
PIU1000F11
PIU1000F9
PIU1
000F
4
PIU1
000F
2
PIU1
000F
1
PIU1000E12
PIU1000E11
PIU1000E9
PIU1
000E
4
PIU1
000E
2
PIU1
000E
1
PIU1000D12
PIU1000D11
PIU1000D8PIU1000D7
PIU1000D5PIU1000D4
PIU1
000D
2
PIU1
000D
1
PIU1000C12
PIU1000C11
PIU1
000C
2
PIU1
000C
1
PIU1000B11
PIU1000B8PIU1000B5
PIU1000B4PIU1000B3
PIU1000B2
PIU1
000B
1
PIU1000A12
PIU1000A11PIU1000A9
PIU1000A8PIU1000A7
PIU1000A6PIU1000A5PIU1000A4
PIU1
0105
POW\P\
PIU1000A3PIU1000A2
PIU1
000A
1
PIS20002
PIR11301
PIR11201
PIR11101
PIR11001
PIR10901
PIU1000B12
PIR10801
PIR10601
PIU1000D9
PIR10501
PIU1000B10
PIR10402
PIU1000A10
PIR10301
PIU1000B9
PIR10002
PIJ10306
PIR11302
PIJ10305
PIR11202
PIJ10304
PIR11102
PIJ10303
PIR11002
PIJ10302
PIR10902
PIJ10206
PIR10602PIJ10205
PIR10502PIJ10204
PIR10401PIJ10203
PIR10302PIJ10202
PIR1
0202
PIJ10201
PIR10102
PIJ1
0104
PIJ1
0103
PIJ1
0102
PIU1000D6
PID10102
PID10101
PIR10701
PIC11002
PIC1
0801
PIY1
0001
POXINPI
Y100
02
POXOUT
POBT0CTSPOBT0RTS
PIJ10307
POBSMB0INT
POBT0RXD POBT0TXD POBT0RESET
NLTP
ACLK
2
NLTP
MCLK
1
PIJ10301
PIR10101
PIR1
0201
POBSMB0INTPOBT0CTS
POBT0RESETPOBT0RTS
POBT0RXD POBT0TXD
POW\P\
POXIN
POXOUT
Appendix A - Technical Drawings
11
22
33
44
DD
CC
BB
AA
Össur
Grj
óthá
ls 1
- 511
0 Re
ykja
vík
ICEL
AND
6082
401
O_R
evis
ion
20.5
.201
416
:19:
33C
omm
unic
atio
n.Sc
hDoc
Size
:N
umbe
r:
Dat
e:Fi
le:
Rev
.:
Tim
e:A
4
ÖSS
UR
CO
NFI
DEN
TIA
LITY
AG
REE
MEN
T N
OTI
CE:
INS
OFA
R A
S T
HIS
DR
AW
ING
EM
BO
DIE
S A
CO
NFI
DE
NTI
AL
PR
OP
RIE
TAR
Y D
ES
IGN
OW
NE
D B
Y Ö
SS
UR
, N
OTI
CE
IS H
ER
EB
Y G
IVE
N T
HA
T A
LL D
ES
IGN
, MA
NU
FAC
TUR
ING
, RE
PR
OD
UC
TIO
N U
SE
AN
D S
ALE
S R
IGH
TS
RE
GA
RD
ING
TH
E S
AM
E A
RE
EX
PR
ES
SLY
RE
SE
RV
ED
TO
ÖS
SU
R.
THIS
DR
AW
ING
IS S
UB
MIT
TED
UN
DE
R A
CO
NFI
DE
NTI
AL
RE
LATI
ON
SH
IP F
OR
A S
PE
CIF
IC P
UR
PO
SE
AN
D T
HE
RE
CIP
IEN
T H
ER
ETO
AG
RE
ES
NO
T TO
DIS
CLO
SE
THIS
DR
AW
ING
OR
AN
Y P
RO
TIO
N O
F IT
'S C
ON
TEN
TS T
O A
NY
UN
AU
THO
RIZ
ED
PE
RS
ON
, OR
TO
INC
OR
PO
RA
TE T
HIS
PR
OP
RIE
TAR
Y D
ES
IGN
OR
TH
E S
UB
STA
NC
E O
F IT
EIT
HE
R IN
WH
OLE
OR
IN P
AR
T IN
AN
Y O
THE
R P
RO
JEC
TS.
BPC
B C
PUTi
tle
37
Shee
tof
Dra
wn
by
Che
cked
by
Eng.
App
r.
App
rove
d by
SIG
NA
TUR
ESD
ATE
S
Stef
anía
Hák
onar
dótti
r
O_C
heck
edB
y
Óla
fur H
auku
r Sve
rris
son
O_C
heck
edD
ate
25.0
3.20
14
25.0
3.20
14
O_E
ngA
pprD
ate
O_E
ngA
ppr
NC
1
RES
ET2
GN
D3
GN
D4
NC
5
MV
cc6
PG6
7
XO
SCEN
8
Vcc
_CO
RE
9
Vcc
10
Vcc
_IO
11
RX
D12
TXD
13
RTS
#14
CTS
#15
OP3
16
GN
D17
GN
D18
PG7
19
SCLK
20SF
S21
STD
22SR
D23
GN
D24
OP5
25O
P4/P
G4
2632
K+
2732
K-
28G
ND
29G
ND
30G
ND
31G
ND
32N
C33
NC
34N
C35
NC
36N
C37
NC
38N
C39
NC
40LM
X98
38SB
U30
0
BG
ND
BG
ND
B_D
VC
PU
BG
ND
BT_
RES
ET
BT_
RX
DB
T_TX
D
R30
1
1k 1
% 1
/10W
B_D
VC
PU
B_D
VC
PU
BG
ND
C30
62.
2uF
10%
X5R
10V
Blu
etoo
th M
odul
e
C30
70.
1uF
10%
X7R
50V
B_D
VC
PU
BG
ND
C30
42.
2uF
10%
X5R
10V
C30
50.
1uF
10%
X7R
50V
B_D
VC
PU
BG
ND
C30
12.
2uF
10%
X5R
10V
C30
20.
1uF
10%
X7R
50V
R30
210
k 5%
1/1
0W
B_D
VC
PU
BG
ND
BT_
RTS
BT_
CTS
BG
NDR30
310
k 5%
1/1
0W
R30
01k
1%
1/1
0W(P
opul
ate
for 1
1520
0bps
)
12
Y30
0FC
-135
32.
768K
HZ
C30
012
pF 1
0% X
7R 5
0V
C30
3
12pF
10%
X7R
50V
BG
ND
R30
50o
hmR
304
0ohm
(NP)
PIC30001
PIC30002
COC3
00PIC30101 PIC30102
COC3
01PIC30201 PIC30202
COC302
PIC30301
PIC30302
COC303
PIC30401 PIC30402COC3
04PIC30501 PIC30502
COC305
PIC30601 PIC30602COC3
06PIC30701 PIC30702
COC307
PIR30001PIR30002 COR3
00
PIR3
0101
PIR3
0102
COR301
PIR3
0201
PIR30202
COR302
PIR30301PIR30302 COR3
03
PIR3
0401
PIR3
0402
COR304
PIR3
0501
PIR3
0502
COR305
PIU30001
PIU30002
PIU30003
PIU30004
PIU30005
PIU30006
PIU30007
PIU30008
PIU30009
PIU3
0001
0
PIU3
0001
1
PIU3
0001
2
PIU3
0001
3
PIU3
0001
4
PIU3
0001
5
PIU3
0001
6PI
U300
017
PIU3
0001
8
PIU3
0001
9
PIU3
0002
0PIU300021
PIU300022
PIU300023
PIU300024
PIU300025
PIU300026
PIU300027
PIU300028
PIU300029
PIU300030
PIU300031
PIU300032
PIU300033
PIU300034
PIU300035
PIU300036
PIU300037
PIU300038
PIU300039
PIU300040
COU300
PIY30001PIY30002 COY300
PIC30101PIC30201
PIC30401PIC30501
PIC30601PIC30701
PIR30002
PIR3
0101
PIU30006
PIU3
0001
0
PIU3
0001
1
PIC30002
PIC30102PIC30202
PIC30302
PIC30402PIC30502
PIC30602PIC30702
PIR30202
PIR30301
PIU30003
PIU30004
PIU3
0001
7
PIU3
0001
8
PIU300024
PIU300029
PIU300030
PIU300031
PIU300032
PIU300040
PIU300039
PIU300038
PIU300037
PIU300036
PIU300035
PIU300034
PIU300033
PIU300023
PIU300022
PIU300021
PIU3
0002
0
PIU3
0001
9
PIU3
0001
5POBT0CTS
PIU3
0001
4POBT0RTS
PIU30009
PIU30008
PIU30007
PIU30005
PIU30002
POBT0RESET
PIU30001
PIR3
0502
PIU3
0001
3PI
R305
01POBT0TXD
PIR3
0402
PIU3
0001
2PI
R304
01POBT0RXD
PIR3
0201
PIU300025
PIR3
0102
PIU3
0001
6
PIR30001 PIR30302PIU300026
PIC30301
PIU300027
PIY30001
PIC30001
PIU300028
PIY30002
POBT0CTS
POBT0RESET
POBT0RTS
POBT0RXD
POBT0TXD
11
22
33
44
DD
CC
BB
AA
Össur
Grj
óthá
ls 1
- 511
0 Re
ykja
vík
ICEL
AND
6082
401
O_R
evis
ion
20.5
.201
416
:19:
34Po
wer
.Sch
Doc
Size
:N
umbe
r:
Dat
e:Fi
le:
Rev
.:
Tim
e:A
4
ÖSS
UR
CO
NFI
DEN
TIA
LITY
AG
REE
MEN
T N
OTI
CE:
INS
OFA
R A
S T
HIS
DR
AW
ING
EM
BO
DIE
S A
CO
NFI
DE
NTI
AL
PR
OP
RIE
TAR
Y D
ES
IGN
OW
NE
D B
Y Ö
SS
UR
, N
OTI
CE
IS H
ER
EB
Y G
IVE
N T
HA
T A
LL D
ES
IGN
, MA
NU
FAC
TUR
ING
, RE
PR
OD
UC
TIO
N U
SE
AN
D S
ALE
S R
IGH
TS
RE
GA
RD
ING
TH
E S
AM
E A
RE
EX
PR
ES
SLY
RE
SE
RV
ED
TO
ÖS
SU
R.
THIS
DR
AW
ING
IS S
UB
MIT
TED
UN
DE
R A
CO
NFI
DE
NTI
AL
RE
LATI
ON
SH
IP F
OR
A S
PE
CIF
IC P
UR
PO
SE
AN
D T
HE
RE
CIP
IEN
T H
ER
ETO
AG
RE
ES
NO
T TO
DIS
CLO
SE
THIS
DR
AW
ING
OR
AN
Y P
RO
TIO
N O
F IT
'S C
ON
TEN
TS T
O A
NY
UN
AU
THO
RIZ
ED
PE
RS
ON
, OR
TO
INC
OR
PO
RA
TE T
HIS
PR
OP
RIE
TAR
Y D
ES
IGN
OR
TH
E S
UB
STA
NC
E O
F IT
EIT
HE
R IN
WH
OLE
OR
IN P
AR
T IN
AN
Y O
THE
R P
RO
JEC
TS.
BPC
B C
PUTi
tle
47
Shee
tof
Dra
wn
by
Che
cked
by
Eng.
App
r.
App
rove
d by
SIG
NA
TUR
ESD
ATE
S
Stef
anía
Hák
onar
dótti
r
O_C
heck
edB
y
Óla
fur H
auku
r Sve
rris
son
O_C
heck
edD
ate
25.0
3.20
14
25.0
3.20
14
O_E
ngA
pprD
ate
O_E
ngA
ppr
AV
CPU
IN1
GND 2
OU
T3
FB4
SHD
N5
POK
6
MA
X88
81EU
T33+
TU
401
C40
50.
1uF
10%
X7R
50V
C40
310
uF 2
0% X
5R 1
0VC
404
10uF
20%
X5R
10V
VC
C
DV
CPU
IN1
GND 2
OU
T3
FB4
SHD
N5
POK
6
MA
X88
81EU
T33+
TU
400
C40
20.
1uF
10%
X7R
50V
C40
010
uF 2
0% X
5R 1
0VC
401
10uF
20%
X5R
10V
VC
C
GN
D
GN
D
Pow
er M
odul
e
GN
DB
GN
D
B_D
VC
PUi
TP1
iTP
5iTP
2 iTP
3
R40
0
0 oh
m
R40
2
0 oh
m
R40
3
0 oh
m
5V 5V
V_D
CD
C_I
N
GN
D
D20
3PM
EG60
10C
EH
VC
C
C20
54.
7uF
10%
X5R
16V
C20
21u
F 10
% X
7R 5
0V
SHD
N4
VIN
5
GN
D2
FB3
SW6
CB
1
U20
0
LM28
41Y
R20
35.
49k
1% 1
/10W
R20
21k
5%
1/1
0W
SW FB
C20
30.
22uF
10%
X7R
50V
C20
110
uF 1
0% X
7S 5
0VC
206
10uF
10%
X7R
10V
SRR
4028
-560
Y
652-
SRR
4028
-560
YL2
00
56uH
C20
7N
P
C20
422
0nF
10%
X7R
50V
CB
PIC20101 PIC20102COC201
PIC20201 PIC20202COC202
PIC20301 PIC20302COC203
PIC20401 PIC20402CO
C204
PIC20501 PIC20502COC205
PIC20601 PIC20602COC206
PIC20701 PIC20702COC207
PIC40001 PIC40002COC400
PIC40101 PIC40102COC401
PIC40201 PIC40202COC402
PIC40301 PIC40302COC403
PIC40401 PIC40402COC404
PIC40501 PIC40502COC405
PID2030APID2030KCOD203
PIL20001
PIL20002
COL2
00
PIR20201 PIR20202COR202
PIR20301 PIR20302COR203
PIR40001
PIR40002CO
R400
PIR40201
PIR40202CO
R402
PIR40301
PIR40302CO
R403
PIU2
0001
PIU2
0002
PIU2
0003
PIU2
0004
PIU2
0005
PIU2
0006
COU200
PIU40001
PIU40002
PIU4
0003
PIU4
0004
PIU40005
PIU4
0006
COU400
PIU40101
PIU40102
PIU40103
PIU40104
PIU40105
PIU40106
COU401
PIC40401PIC40501
PIU40103
PIU40104
PIR40301
PIR40201
PIC20401PI
U200
01NL
CB
PIC40101PIC40201
PIR40302
PIU4
0003
PIU4
0004
PIR20201PIR20302PI
U200
03NL
FB
PIC20102PIC20202
PIC20302PIC20502
PIC20602PIC20702
PIC40002PIC40102
PIC40202
PIC40302PIC40402
PIC40502
PID2030A
PIR20202
PIR40202
PIU2
0002
PIU40002 PIU40102PIU40106
PIU4
0006
PIR40001P
IU40105
PIC20402 PID2030KPIL20001
PIU2
0006
NLSW
PIC20101PIC20201
PIC20301
PIU2
0004
PIU2
0005
PIC20501PIC20601
PIC20701
PIC40001 PIC40301
PIL20002
PIR20301
PIR40002
PIU40001
PIU40005
PIU40101
Pin QFN Pin ZQW MSP430F5438AIPZ BSMB Comment: Primary / Secondary I/O
11 E2 AVCC AVCPU AVCPU +
12 F2 AVSS GND GND -
13 F1 XIN XIN Crystal oscillator Y100 IN
14 G1 XOUT XOUT Crystal oscillator Y100 OUT
15 G2 DVSS1 GND GND -
16 H2 DVCC1 DVCPU DVCPU +17 H1 ACLK TPACLK2 TP10 OUT
20 J1 P1.3 SW1 Switch R108 I/O
24 L1 P1.7 D101 D101 / R107 / GND I/O
25 M1 MCLK TPMCLK1 TP11 OUT
26 L2 P2.2 BT_CTS Clear to send OUT27 M2 P2.3 BT_RTS Request to send IN
31 M4 P2.6 BSMS_INT Interupt BSMB to Bionic IN
32 J5 P2.7 U101 - 4 Chip select OUT
33 L5 P3.0 U101 - 3 Reset OUT
34 M5 P3.1 U101 - 1 Serial Input - Shift device OUT
35 J6 P3.2 U101 - 8 Serial Output IN
36 L6 P3.3 U101 - 2 Serial Clock OUT
37 M6 DVSS3 GND GND -
38 M7 DVCC3 DVCPU DVCPU +
39 L7 UCA0TXD BT_RXD Send out data to BT OUT
40 J7 UCA0RXD BT_TXD Receive data from BT IN41 M8 P3.6 BT_Reset Reset OUT
62 G12 Vcore C108 Capacitor to GND -
63 F12 DVSS2 GND GND -64 E12 DVCC2 DVCPU DVCPU +
69 F9 UCB2SIMO MOSI J103 - 6 Rheo MOSI OUT
70 C12 UCB2SOMI MISO J103 - 5 Rheo MISO OUT
71 E9 UCB2CLK CLK J103 - 4 Rheo clock OUT
72 C11 UCA2TXD TX J103 - 3 TX Proprio OUT 73 B12 UCA2RXD/UCA2SOMI RX/CS J103 - 2 RX Proprio/SSEL OUT
76 D9 UCA3CLK UCA3CLK J102 - 6 SCK IN
79 B10 UCA3STE SSEL J102 - 5 SSEL IN
80 A10 UCA3SIMO MOSI J102 - 4 MOSI IN81 B9 UCA3SOMI MISO J102 - 3 MISO IN
87 B7 DVCC4 DVCPU DVCPU +
88 B6 DVSS4 GND GND -
91 D6 SBWTCK J100 - 2 Spy-Bi-Wire Connection OUT
93 A4 TCLK WP Write Protect OUT96 A3 SBWTDIO J100-3 Spy-Bi-Wire Connection OUT
Appendix B - Pinout list
GND BT
POWER BIONIC
BOTTOM MEMORYTOP CDM
Appendix C - PCB layout in 3D
Quadricep - Peak values
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Step 2 127 94 114
Step 4 119 77 94
Step 6 133 95 112
Step 8 126 128 99
Step 10 129 119 108
Step 12 98 103 115
Step 14 90 90 94
MAX 133 128 115
MIN 90 77 94
Diff 43 51 21
Hamstring - Peak values
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Step 2 92 79 117
Step 4 134 98 133
Step 6 115 133 141
Step 8 148 152 151
Step 10 131 133 150
Step 12 135 140 113
Step 14 133 128 123
MAX 148 152 151
MIN 92 79 113
Diff 56 73 38
Appendix D - Variance of Peak Values during gait