# Regenerative Micro-Electrode Peripheral Nerve Interface for Optimized Proprioceptive and Cutaneous specific interfacing

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · 2022 · $401,546

## Abstract

Project Summary
Every 30s, someone in the world has a limb amputated, with approximately 2.1 million people
living with amputations in the U.S.A. Upper limb amputees traditionally use passive, body-pow-
ered, or electrically powered prostheses that use surface Electromyographic (EMG) signals from
intact muscles in the residual limb for movement and rely on visual and/or surrogate sensory
input. Advanced peripheral nervous (PN) system interfaces have been proposed as a viable
mechanism to improve the control by amputees by delivering naturalistic sensory feedback from
sensorized robotic prosthetics. Unfortunately, current neural interfaces suffer from common chal-
lenges such as electrode failure, signal deterioration over time, and unstable or problematic sen-
sory percepts (“stinging and tingling”) that remain a challenge. Our Hypothesis is that we can
obtain superior control over the somatosensory thalamus and cortex (S1/VPL), which will lead to
more controlled sensory percepts by using molecularly guided regenerative peripheral nerve con-
duits that entice cutaneous and proprioceptive axons down their respective molecularly cued arms
of a Y-shaped Regenerative Ultra-thin Multi-Electrode Interface (Y-MG-RUMEI) implanted at me-
dian nerve transections. As the Ultra-thin MEIs have much smaller electrode surface areas it is
hoped they will offer more local control and decrease excitation of large, possible unrelated, axons
in the peripheral nerve. Additionally, we will utilize optimized microstimulation (opMiSt) through
UMEIs embedded in the 2 branches of the Y with their molecular cues for touch and propriocep-
tion, respectively. Neural recordings will be made from the S1/VPL towards the optimization of
the peripheral MiSt.
 Three specific aims are included: SA1. Achieve selective MiSt from Y-MG-REMEIs with
Proprioceptive and Cutaneous conduits in a rat model. SA2. Determine controllability of VPL/S1
via MiSt in Y-MG-RUMEI sensory conduits in a rat forepaw (hand) amputee model. SA3. Deter-
mine if Y-MG-RUMEIs allow better bidirectional Brain-Nerve-Machine Interface (biBNMI) control,
as compared to control-RUMIs, without molecular guidance, based biBNMI performance in a rat
amputee model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10531069
- **Project number:** 1R01NS125435-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH T FRANCIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $401,546
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10531069

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10531069, Regenerative Micro-Electrode Peripheral Nerve Interface for Optimized Proprioceptive and Cutaneous specific interfacing (1R01NS125435-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10531069. Licensed CC0.

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