# Sonomyographic Upper Limb Prosthetics: A New Paradigm

> **NIH NIH U01** · GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $650,304

## Abstract

The vast majority of all trauma-related amputations in the United States involve the upper limbs.
Approximately half of those individuals who receive an upper extremity myoelectric prosthesis eventually
abandon use of the system, primarily because of their limited functionality. Thus, there continues to be a need
for a significant improvement in prosthetic control strategies.
 The objective of this bioengineering research program is to develop and clinically evaluate a prototype
prosthetic control system that uses imaging to sense residual muscle activity, rather than electromyography.
This novel approach can better distinguish between different functional compartments in the forearm muscles,
and provide robust control signals that are proportional to muscle activity. This improved sensing strategy has
the potential to significantly improve functionality of upper extremity prostheses, and provide dexterous intuitive
control that is a significant improvement over current state of the art noninvasive control methods. This
interdisciplinary project brings together investigators at George Mason University, commercial partners at
Infinite Biomedical Technologies and clinicians at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital and Hanger Clinic.
Specific Aim 1: To develop and test a compact research-grade sonomyographic prosthetic system
We will develop and evaluate a compact low-power embedded system for sonomyography. We will optimize
and implement algorithms for real-time classification and control with multiple degrees of freedom (DOF). We
will then integrate ultrasound imaging transducers within test prosthetic sockets for testing on individuals with
transradial limb loss in a laboratory setting. We will complete system integration and testing and evaluate the
sonomyographic signal quality with changes in arm position and socket loading.
Specific Aim 2: To evaluate performance of sonomyographic control compared to myoelectric control
We will compare the performance of SMG vs myoelectric direct control with mode switching in myoelectric-
naïve subjects with transradial amputation. Assessment will be performed using a virtual reality Fitts’ law task
as well as clinical outcome measures using a terminal device. The primary outcome measure will be the
SHAP and secondary outcome measure will be the Clothespin Relocation Task. We will assess intuitiveness
of control using gaze tracking, and also study quality of movement. We will also compare the performance of
SMG vs myoelectric pattern recognition with proportional control in subjects who have been trained on a
commercial PR system using the same outcome measures.
The successful completion of this project will lead to the first in human evaluation of an integrated prototype
that uses low-power portable imaging sensors and real-time image analysis to sense residual muscle activity
for prosthetic control. In the long term, we anticipate that the improvements in functionality and intuitiveness of
control will ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10375604
- **Project number:** 5U01EB027601-03
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rahul Reddy Kaliki
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $650,304
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10375604

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10375604, Sonomyographic Upper Limb Prosthetics: A New Paradigm (5U01EB027601-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10375604. Licensed CC0.

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