Biomechatronics
Encyclopedia
Biomechatronics is an applied interdisciplinary science that aims to integrate mechanical elements, electronics and parts of biological organisms. Biomechatronics includes the aspects of biology
, mechanics
, and electronics
. It also encompasses the fields of robotics
and neuroscience
. One example of Biomechatronics is a study done by Hugh Herr
, a professor at MIT. Herr excised
the muscles of frog legs, to attach to a mechanical fish and by pulsing electrical current through the muscle fibers, he caused the fish to swim. The goal of these experiments is to make devices that interact with human muscle
, skeleton
, and nervous systems. The end result is that the devices will help with human motor control that was lost or impaired by trauma
, disease
or birth defects.
from the motor center of the brain
are sent to the foot and leg muscles. Next the nerve cells in the feet send information to the brain telling it to adjust the muscle
groups or amount of force
required to walk across the ground. Different amounts of force
are applied depending on the type of surface being walked across. The leg's muscle spindle
nerve cells then sense and send the position of the floor back up to the brain
. Finally, when the foot is raised to step, signals are sent to muscles in the leg and foot to set it down.
or muscle system. This information is related by the biosensor to a controller
which can be located inside or outside the biomechatronic device. In addition biosensors receive information about the limb
position and force from the limb
and actuator
. Biosensors come in a variety of forms. They can be wire
s which detect electrical activity, needle electrodes implanted in muscles, and electrode arrays with nerves growing through them.
, University of California at Berkley, MIT, and University of Twente in the Netherlands are the researching leaders in biomechatronics. Three main areas are emphasized the current research.
systems, and electromyograms.
and prosthetics devices. Groups at the University of Twente are making drastic steps in this department. Scientists there have developed a device which will help to treat paralysis
and stroke
victims who are unable to control their foot while walking. The researchers are also nearing a breakthrough which would allow a person with an amputated leg to control their prosthetic leg through their stump muscles.
is the leading biomechatronic scientist at MIT. Herr and his group of researchers are developing a sieve
integrated circuit
electrode
and prosthetic devices that are coming closer to mimicking real human movement. The two prosthetic devices currently in the making will control knee movement and the other will control the stiffness of an ankle joint.
are giving funds to different labs to help soldiers and war veterans
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, mechanics
Mechanics
Mechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
, and electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
. It also encompasses the fields of robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
and neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
. One example of Biomechatronics is a study done by Hugh Herr
Hugh Herr
Hugh Herr is an American rock climber, engineer and biophysicist.-Early life:The youngest of five siblings of a Mennonite family from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hugh Herr was a prodigy rock climber: by age eight, he had scaled the face of the Mount Temple in the Canadian Rockies, and by 17 he was...
, a professor at MIT. Herr excised
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
the muscles of frog legs, to attach to a mechanical fish and by pulsing electrical current through the muscle fibers, he caused the fish to swim. The goal of these experiments is to make devices that interact with human muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
, skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
, and nervous systems. The end result is that the devices will help with human motor control that was lost or impaired by trauma
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
, disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
or birth defects.
How it works
Biomechatronics devices have to be based on how the human body works. For example, four different steps must occur to be able to lift the foot to walk. First, impulsesAction potential
In physiology, an action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called excitable cells, which include neurons, muscle cells, and...
from the motor center of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
are sent to the foot and leg muscles. Next the nerve cells in the feet send information to the brain telling it to adjust the muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
groups or amount of force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
required to walk across the ground. Different amounts of force
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
are applied depending on the type of surface being walked across. The leg's muscle spindle
Muscle spindle
Muscle spindles are sensory receptors within the belly of a muscle, which primarily detect changes in the length of this muscle. They convey length information to the central nervous system via sensory neurons. This information can be processed by the brain to determine the position of body parts...
nerve cells then sense and send the position of the floor back up to the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. Finally, when the foot is raised to step, signals are sent to muscles in the leg and foot to set it down.
Biosensors
Biosensors are used to detect what the user wants to do or their intentions and motions. In some devices the information can be relayed by the user's nervous systemNervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
or muscle system. This information is related by the biosensor to a controller
Controller (control theory)
In control theory, a controller is a device which monitors and affects the operational conditions of a given dynamical system. The operational conditions are typically referred to as output variables of the system which can be affected by adjusting certain input variables...
which can be located inside or outside the biomechatronic device. In addition biosensors receive information about the limb
Limb
Limb can refer to:*Limb , an appendage of a human or animal*Limb darkening, in astronomy, the appearance of the border of the disk of a celestial body*Limb Music, a record label*Limb , a compilation album by Foetus...
position and force from the limb
Limb
Limb can refer to:*Limb , an appendage of a human or animal*Limb darkening, in astronomy, the appearance of the border of the disk of a celestial body*Limb Music, a record label*Limb , a compilation album by Foetus...
and actuator
Actuator
An actuator is a type of motor for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of energy, usually in the form of an electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure or pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into some kind of motion. An actuator is the mechanism by which...
. Biosensors come in a variety of forms. They can be wire
Wire
A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Standard sizes are determined by various...
s which detect electrical activity, needle electrodes implanted in muscles, and electrode arrays with nerves growing through them.
Mechanical sensors
The purpose of the mechanical sensors is to measure information about the biomechatronic device and relate that information to the biosensor or controller.Controller
The controller in a biomechatronic device relays the user's intentions to the actuators. It also interprets feedback information to the user that comes from the biosensors and mechanical sensors. The other function of the controller is to control the biomechatronic device's movements.Actuator
The actuator is an artificial muscle. Its job is to produce force and movement. Depending on whether the device is orthotic or prosthetic the actuator can be a motor that assists or replaces the user's original muscle.Research
Biomechatronics is a rapidly growing field but as of now there are very few labs which conduct research. The Rehabilitation Institute of ChicagoRehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago , ranked the "#1 Rehabilitation in America" by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991 is a rehabilitation hospital located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It also operates a network of alliance hospitals and outpatient and day rehabilitation...
, University of California at Berkley, MIT, and University of Twente in the Netherlands are the researching leaders in biomechatronics. Three main areas are emphasized the current research.
- Analyzing human motions, which are complex, to aid in the design of biomechatronic devices
- Studying how electronic devices can be interfaced with the nervous system.
- Testing the ways to use living muscle tissue as actuators for electronic devices
Analyzing motions
A great deal of analysis over human motion is needed because human movement is very complex. MIT and the University of Twente are both working to analyze these movements. They are doing this through a combination of computer models, cameraCamera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
systems, and electromyograms.
Interfacing
Interfacing allows biomechatronic devices to connect with the muscle systems and nerves of the user in order send and receive information from the device. This is a technology that is not available in ordinary orthoticsOrthotics
Orthotics is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture and application of orthoses. An orthosis is an orthopedic device that supports or corrects the function of a limb or the torso...
and prosthetics devices. Groups at the University of Twente are making drastic steps in this department. Scientists there have developed a device which will help to treat paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
and stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
victims who are unable to control their foot while walking. The researchers are also nearing a breakthrough which would allow a person with an amputated leg to control their prosthetic leg through their stump muscles.
MIT research
Hugh HerrHugh Herr
Hugh Herr is an American rock climber, engineer and biophysicist.-Early life:The youngest of five siblings of a Mennonite family from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Hugh Herr was a prodigy rock climber: by age eight, he had scaled the face of the Mount Temple in the Canadian Rockies, and by 17 he was...
is the leading biomechatronic scientist at MIT. Herr and his group of researchers are developing a sieve
Sieve
A sieve, or sifter, separates wanted elements from unwanted material using a woven screen such as a mesh or net. However, in cooking, especially with flour, a sifter is used to aerate the substance, among other things. A strainer is a type of sieve typically used to separate a solid from a liquid...
integrated circuit
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
electrode
Electrode
An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit...
and prosthetic devices that are coming closer to mimicking real human movement. The two prosthetic devices currently in the making will control knee movement and the other will control the stiffness of an ankle joint.
Robotic fish
As mentioned before Herr and his colleagues made a robotic fish that was propelled by living muscle tissue taken from frog legs. The robotic fish was a prototype of a biomechatronic device with a living actuator. The following characteristics were given to the fish.- A styrofoam float so the fish can float
- Electrical wires for connections
- A silicone tail that enables force while swimming
- Power provided by lithium batteries
- A microcontroller to control movement
- An infrared sensor enables the microcontroller to communicate with a handheld device
- Muscles stimulated by an electronic unit
Arts research
New media artists at UCSD are using biomechatronics in performance art pieces, such as Technesexual (more information, photos, video), a performance which uses biometric sensors to bridge the performers' real bodies to their Second Life avatars and Slapshock (more information, photos,video), in which medical TENS units are used to explore intersubjective symbiosis in intimate relationships.Growth
The demand for biomechatronic devices are at an all time high and show no signs of slowing down. Many biomechatronic researchers are closely collaborating with military organizations. The US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
are giving funds to different labs to help soldiers and war veterans
See also
- BionicsBionicsBionics is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology.The word bionic was coined by Jack E...
- Biomedical engineeringBiomedical engineeringBiomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
- Brain-computer interfaceBrain-computer interfaceA brain–computer interface , sometimes called a direct neural interface or a brain–machine interface , is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device...
- CyberneticsCyberneticsCybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
- CyberwareCyberwareFor other uses; see Cyberware Cyberware is a relatively new and unknown field...
- GerontechnologyGerontechnologyGerontechnology is an interdisciplinary academic and professional field combining gerontology and technology. Sustainability of an ageing society depends upon our effectiveness in creating technological environments, including assistive technology and inclusive design, for innovative and...
- MechatronicsMechatronicsMechatronics is the combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, control engineering, and systems design engineering in order to design, and manufacture useful products. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering, that is...
- Neural engineeringNeural engineeringNeural engineering is a discipline within biomedical engineering that uses engineering techniques to understand, repair, replace, enhance, or otherwise exploit the properties of neural systems...
- NeuroprostheticsNeuroprostheticsNeuroprosthetics is a discipline related to neuroscience and biomedical engineering concerned with developing neural prostheses....
- Prosthetics
- OrthoticsOrthoticsOrthotics is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture and application of orthoses. An orthosis is an orthopedic device that supports or corrects the function of a limb or the torso...