Creation of a biological sensorimotor interface for bionic reconstruction

Christopher Festin, Joachim Ortmayr, Udo Maierhofer, Vlad Tereshenko, Roland Blumer, Martin Schmoll, Génova Carrero-Rojas, Matthias Luft, Gregor Laengle, Dario Farina, Konstantin D. Bergmeister and Oskar C. Aszmann ()
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Christopher Festin: Medical University of Vienna
Joachim Ortmayr: Medical University of Vienna
Udo Maierhofer: Medical University of Vienna
Vlad Tereshenko: Medical University of Vienna
Roland Blumer: Medical University of Vienna
Martin Schmoll: Medical University of Vienna
Génova Carrero-Rojas: Medical University of Vienna
Matthias Luft: Medical University of Vienna
Gregor Laengle: Medical University of Vienna
Dario Farina: Imperial College London
Konstantin D. Bergmeister: Medical University of Vienna
Oskar C. Aszmann: Medical University of Vienna

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Neuromuscular control of bionic arms has constantly improved over the past years, however, restoration of sensation remains elusive. Previous approaches to reestablish sensory feedback include tactile, electrical, and peripheral nerve stimulation, however, they cannot recreate natural, intuitive sensations. Here, we establish an experimental biological sensorimotor interface and demonstrate its potential use in neuroprosthetics. We transfer a mixed nerve to a skeletal muscle combined with glabrous dermal skin transplantation, thus forming a bi-directional communication unit in a rat model. Morphological analyses indicate reinnervation of the skin, mechanoreceptors, NMJs, and muscle spindles. Furthermore, sequential retrograde labeling reveals specific sensory reinnervation at the level of the dorsal root ganglia. Electrophysiological recordings show reproducible afferent signals upon tactile stimulation and tendon manipulation. The results demonstrate the possibility of surgically creating an interface for both decoding efferent motor control, as well as encoding afferent tactile and proprioceptive feedback, and may indicate the way forward regarding clinical translation of biological communication pathways for neuroprosthetic applications.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49580-8

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