# 184. Bionics Help Amputees Take Big Strides Forward

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2024-07-23
- Length: 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward-w0ZP_T8Z

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss research from MIT’s Extreme Bionics Lab, led by Professor Hugh Herr and postdoc Hung Yun Song, on a new surgical technique called Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI). The AMI surgery reconnects opposing muscle groups in the residual limb to restore neural feedback, allowing amputees to control robotic prosthetics with their own nervous system. The hosts highlight clinical trials showing that AMI patients achieved natural gait, obstacle navigation, and walking speeds comparable to non-amputees, significantly improving quality of life and reducing phantom pain.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=0) Introduction: MIT's Revolutionary Prosthetics
- [2:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=135) The Problem: Loss of Neural Control in Amputees
- [5:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=349) The Solution: Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI)
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=550) How It Works: EMG Sensors and Neural Feedback
- [13:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=784) Clinical Results: Natural Gait and Obstacle Navigation
- [19:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-07-23-184-bionics-help-amputees-take-big-strides-forward#t=1149) Pros and Cons: Embodiment, Cost, and Future Fidelity

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MIT (company)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (company)
- Extreme Bionics Lab (company)
- Hugh Herr (other)
- Hung Yun Song (other)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 90: Robotically Augmented People - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-06-21-episode-90-robotically-augmented-people-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)
- [187: Self-Driving Arm (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-05-02-187-self-driving-arm-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [187: Self-Driving Arm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-15-187-self-driving-arm) (Embedded.fm)
- [Jeremiah Robison from Cionic creates bionic clothing to help patients walk better](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2022-06-10-jeremiah-robison-from-cionic-creates-bionic-clothing-to-help-patients-walk-bette) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Bio-Inspired Networks to Interface with Nervous System](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2024-04-19-bio-inspired-networks-to-interface-with-nervous-system) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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