“On the Design of Mechanoneural Prostheses: The Science of Tissue-Synthetic Interface”

Speaker: Hugh Herr, PhD, Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract: Critical to the advancement of wearable robots that emulate or extend normal physiological function is the design of tissue-synthetic interfaces connecting the human body to electromechanics. In this talk, I describe research activities underway to advance mechanoneural interfaces for the mitigation of physical disability experienced by persons with limb pathology. I present limb prostheses that behave dynamically like their biological counterpart, osseointegration technology for the mechanical coupling of a prosthesis to the affected limb’s skeleton, and neural interfaces that serve as an electrical connection from a neuroprosthesis to the peripheral nervous system. Further, I present a digital nervous system designed to artificially control paralyzed musculature for the closed-loop restoration of motor function in persons that have suffered a stroke or spinal cord injury. Finally, critical areas of future research are discussed that must be advanced to step towards the next generation of limb mechanoneural prostheses.

Bio: Hugh Herr is creating bionic limbs that emulate the function of natural limbs. Time Magazine coined Dr. Herr the ‘Leader of the Bionic Age’ because of his revolutionary work in the emerging field of Biomechatronics - technology that marries human physiology with electromechanics. A double amputee himself, he is responsible for breakthrough advances in bionic limbs that provide greater mobility and new hope to those with physical disabilities. He is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Associate Investigator at the McGovern Institute at MIT. Professor Herr directs the MIT Biomechatronics Group and co-directs the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics. 

Herr is the author and co-author of over 350 peer-reviewed manuscripts and patents, chronicling the science and technology behind his many innovations. These innovations include powered leg exoskeletons and prostheses, and neural interfacing technologies. A powered ankle-foot prosthesis called EmPower, which emulates the action of a biological leg and, for the first time, provides amputees with a natural gait, was named to the list of Top Ten Inventions in the health category by TIME magazine. Today the EmPower Ankle-Foot Prosthesis has been clinically shown to be the first leg prosthesis in history to reach human normalization, allowing amputees to walk with normal levels of speed, musculoskeletal stress, and metabolism. His research group also developed the first autonomous exoskeleton shown to reduce the metabolic cost of walking. Herr’s MIT group has also invented novel mechanoneural Interfaces to the peripheral nervous system, surgical amputation procedures combined with neural interfacing technologies that enable persons with limb loss to neurally control their synthetic limbs, as well as to experience natural proprioceptive and cutaneous sensations. Herr has received many accolades for his groundbreaking innovations, including the 13th Annual Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment; the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award in Technology, the 14th Innovator of the Year Award, and the 41st Inventor of the Year Award, the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research, and the Liberty Museum Genius Award. Hugh's story has been told in a National Geographic film, Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr; and episodes and articles featured in CNN, The Economist, Discover and Nature.