To date, patients with complete quadriplegia have no solution to retrieve lost hand functions. AI-HAND aims at the restoration of hand movements in patients through selective neural electrical stimulation. The project will implement cutting-edge findings in electrophysiology through radically innovative, safe and software-free implant technologies, that will lead to a generic powerful new generation of AIMD (Active Implanted Medical Device). The demonstration of the clinical relevance of this approach will be achieved through a first-in-man proof of concept .
Multiphasic stimulus waveforms, multiple synchronized currents sources for 3D current shaping over a multi contact neural cuff electrode and complex interleaved stimulation are the strong breakthrough innovations proposed, that will allow to answer unmet needs in a wide range of medical applications.
Officially started in August 2023, the project funded under the Horizon Europe Programme will last 42 months and it is the natural continuation of three previous projects: AGILIS funded by the EIT-Health (2019-20) and AGILISTIM funded by Isite MUSE, (2021-23).
During these previous projects, 4 participants with complete tetraplegia were implanted (Clinique St Jean) with 2 epineural electrodes wrapped around median and radial nerves. The electrodes (Cortec) were connected via cables to an external electrical stimulator (INRIA, NEURINNOV), and were maintained over 30 days (Centre Bouffard Vercelli). Thanks to this clinical trial, participants were able to move their hand and grasp different objects.
