Mao-Electric Control Systems: Present and Future Clinical Applications

Abstract

It is now five years since the first Canadian myo-electric control system was fitted for clinical evaluation, ten years since the first clinical fitting in the U.S.S.R. and 25 years since Dr. Reiter developed the first working myo-electric control system for an artificial limb. The medical profession, paramedical personnel and granting agencies are only right in asking whether or when such systems will be applicable to patients on a treatment rather than experimental basis. The answer to this question must also indicate those types of patients for whom the benefits justify the added expense of electronically-controlled externally-powered prostheses.

In this paper several recent fittings of myo-electric control systems to amputees will be described. From these, a summary of the present status of availability, applicability, and cost/benefit ratio will be developed. Also, a review of the limitations of present systems and of current research and development projects to overcome these limitations will be used as a basis for prediction of trends for the next few years. The paper will conclude with some observations on the changes in treatment facilities and procedures necessary to obtain maximum benefit from this work.