A review of haptic feedback through peripheral nerve stimulation for upper extremity prosthetics

Abstract

This article reviews current issues of haptic feedback through peripheral nerve stimulation for upper extremity prostheses. Haptic feedback is essential for daily activities, such as handling objects, cooking, bathing, and dressing. However, this capability is lost when a limb is amputated. Considerable effort has been made to recover haptic sensations in upper extremity prosthetics through noninvasive mechano-tactile or electro-tactile stimulation of the skin or invasive electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. In recent years, there have been new approaches to restoring haptic sensation through peripheral nerve stimulation, which allows both somatotopic and modality-matching haptic feedback and a more natural high-level sensory feedback. This article introduces state-of-the-art haptic feedback approaches that can evoke comprehensive sensory feedback, such as stick-slip, slippage, texture, proprioception, enhanced embodiment, and high-resolution submodalities, such as touch, pressure, and vibration, primarily through invasive peripheral nerve interfaces.