Fascicle-Specific Targeting of Longitudinal Intrafascicular Electrodes for Motor and Sensory Restoration in Upper-Limb Amputees.

Multichannel longitudinal intrafascicular electrode (LIFE) interfaces provide optimized balance of invasiveness and stability for chronic sensory stimulation and motor recording/decoding of peripheral nerve signals. Using a fascicle-specific targeting (FAST)-LIFE approach, where electrodes are individually placed within discrete sensory- and motor-related fascicular subdivisions of the residual ulnar and/or median nerves in an amputated upper limb, FAST-LIFE interfacing can provide discernment of motor intent for individual digit control of a robotic hand, and restoration of touch- and movement-related sensory feedback. The authors describe their findings from clinical studies performed with 6 human amputee trials using FAST-LIFE interfacing of the residual upper limb.