The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $3.5M fast-track STTR grant supporting development of a myoelectric partial hand prosthesis with integrated haptic feedback delivered through transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at the wrist.
The goal builds directly on the lab’s implanted “Luke Skywalker” neural interface for transradial amputees. This project translates that work into a noninvasive, wrist-worn neural interface for people with partial hand amputations, extending the same bidirectional control and sensation to a much larger patient population.
The award goes to NeuroRobotic Technologies, the lab’s spinoff partner company that commercializes promising technologies coming out of the lab’s research. Non-dilutive funding at this scale effectively skips the friends and family, pre-seed, and seed rounds, positioning the company to launch a commercial product on a path toward either self-sustaining revenue or a strong Series A.
NeuroRobotic Technologies will lead development of the integrated EMG plus TENS wrist wearable. Point Designs will develop the motorized and sensorized partial hand prosthesis under subcontract. The lab holds a subcontract for engineering support and clinical validation.
Congratulations to Marta and to everyone on the wrist EMG and wrist stimulation teams driving partial hand control and feedback forward.