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5d ago

MIT’s Osseointegrated Mechanoneural Prosthesis Shows Superior Results for Above-Knee Amputees

Initial Science publication shows OMP users walking faster, climbing stairs more easily, feeling their prosthetic limb as part of their body.

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The new bionic knee can help people with above-the-knee amputations walk faster, climb stairs, and avoid obstacles more easily than they could with a traditional prosthesis. The new system is directly integrated with the user’s muscle and bone tissue (bottom row right). This enables greater stability and gives the user much more control over the movement of the prosthesis.
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Overview

  • In a study published July 10 in Science, two above-knee amputees equipped with the OMP system outperformed AMI-only and traditional prosthesis users in walking speed, stair climbing and obstacle navigation.
  • The OMP combines an agonist-antagonist myoneural interface with an e-OPRA titanium implant anchored in the femur to restore sensory feedback and mechanical stability.
  • Participants reported a heightened sense of embodiment, perceiving the prosthetic knee as part of their own body rather than as an external device.
  • Brigham and Women’s Hospital has begun performing AMI surgery routinely for below-knee amputees, establishing the technique as a growing standard of care.
  • The research team is preparing larger clinical trials aimed at securing FDA approval for commercial use within about five years.