The technology at the focus of our work is the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), (20−23) which converts mechanical energy into electricity by a conjunction of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction (24) ( Figure 1a). Herein, we propose leveraging a recently developed technology to create a class of practical tactile restoration devices that can fulfill the criteria outlined above, while overcoming the shortcomings of existing neuro-prosthetic solutions. (13) Third, the neuro-prosthetic technologies that have been implemented in patients tend to require long periods of training and adjustment. Such power sources may be inconvenient to replace, and they might risk introducing toxic materials in the case of malfunction. Second, current neuro-prosthetic technologies require a power source-typically an external power source or a battery. (12) These features suggest that the process of adapting current technologies into devices that are appropriate for widespread clinical use is likely to be prolonged, and, without significant advances in cost reduction, the finished product may still be inaccessible to many patients. (10) Moreover, the tools developed thus far have several key shortcomings: First, they are expensive and complex to implement, with some ( e.g., electronic skin) requiring supplementary support platforms. (11) Neuro-prosthetic technologies are still in their infancy, however, and only a few have undergone proof-of-principle testing in vivo.
P15.24MM SEMI OUTDOOR LED MOVING SIGN SKIN
Technologies that have received particular attention include computer–brain interfaces (14−16) and “electronic skin” that mimics not only the sensory properties of skin but also some of its biological properties ( e.g., stretchability). Several such devices have been proposed and implemented, using various technologies, and innovations are continually emerging in the field (10−16) (see Table S1 for a summary of the properties of the main tools). This simulation is achieved by translating pressure cues around the damaged area into electrical signals that can subsequently be processed by the brain. These findings point to the substantial potential of self-powered TENG-based implanted devices as a means of restoring tactile sensation.Īn alternative promising avenue for the restoration of tactile sensation is the development of wearable or implanted neuro-prosthetic devices that simulate the experience of touch. We subsequently demonstrate the TENG-IT in vivo, showing that it provides tactile sensation capabilities (as measured by a von Frey test) to rats in which sensation in the hindfoot was blocked through transection of the distal tibial nerve. We show that the device elicits electrical activity in sensory neurons in vitro, and that the extent of this activity is dependent on the level of tactile pressure applied to the device. This integrated tactile TENG (TENG-IT) device is implanted under the skin and translates tactile pressure into electrical potential, which it relays via cuff electrodes to healthy sensory nerves, thereby stimulating them, to mimic tactile sensation. In this work, we propose, fabricate, and demonstrate the use of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a relatively simple, self-powered, biocompatible, sensitive, and flexible device for restoring tactile sensation. Implanted neuro-prosthetics are a promising direction for tactile sensory restoration, but available technologies have substantial shortcomings, including complexity of use and of production and the need for an external power supply. Loss of tactile sensation is a common occurrence in patients with traumatic peripheral nerve injury or soft tissue loss, but as yet, solutions for restoring such sensation are limited.
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