Development of a Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface for Control of a Neuroprosthetic Limb

Figure 1

Schematic drawing of a Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (RPNI) which is constructed using scaffold material consisting of either silicone mesh, acellular muscle, or acellular muscle with PEDOT conductive polymer. In this example, the end of the peripheral nerve is wrapped by acellular muscle with PEDOT and the construct is populated with cultured myoblasts. (Below) A 2 cm section of the distal common peroneal nerve is removed (A) and the residual nerve (B) is implanted into the RPNI (C) for a minimum of 2 months.