Real time virtual prosthetic hand controlled using EMG signals

Patients with defects in their limbs use prosthetic devices that require a great mental and physical effort during early stages of training where many patients gave up the use of these prosthetics due to the difficulties during training. This work presents a start point for training patient on using prosthetic devices using virtual reality prosthesis. The proposed system consists mainly of an electromyography (EMG) system connected to the patient arm (biceps and triceps muscles) and interfaced with a PC using a data acquisition system. The PC uses Matlab to enhance the EMG signals and detect the presence of events in them. These events are used to control a virtual hand with two movements; grasping and wrist rotation. The system was tested on a subject who performed the grasping and wrist rotation for 90 trials. The overall success rate was found to be 84%.