Micro-Electrodes Implanted in a Human Nerve

The investigators will study basic physiology of human peripheral nerves using high-count
microelectrode arrays implanted into peripheral nerves of patients with limb amputations or
peripheral nerve injury. These microelectrodes will be custom-made and are not available for
commercial distribution. The investigators hypothesize that recording neural signals from a
large number of microelectrodes will provide selective motor information in high enough
numbers to allow control over future artificial devices with many moving parts, i.e.
artificial limbs with shoulder, elbow, wrist, and/or individual fingers that move. These
studies will also investigate to what extent microstimulation of nerve fibers can provide
sensory feedback from a prosthetic limb.

The investigators will also conduct up to three acute surgeries where a Utah slanted
Electrode Array (USEA) will be implanted in volunteers who are about to undergo limb
amputations. These acute implantations will provide Dr. Hutchinson with human surgical
experience in implanting USEAs and evaluating the containment system we will be using to
immobilize the implanted USEA in the nerve.