CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02189031Updated Sep 1, 2026

Sensory Feedback for Touch and Proprioception With Prosthetic Limbs

An observational study in Prosthetic, sponsored by Louis Stokes VA Medical Center. Completed at 4 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.

Sponsored by Louis Stokes VA Medical Center · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
21
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Upper limb amputation is a devastating injury that leaves many thousands of typically young and active individuals in the US to rely on artificial arms and hands to help restore their lost function. The investigators research is focused on helping these individuals to feel where their prosthetic limbs are moving without having to look at them by developing devices and approaches to provide sensory feedback of limb movement through the nerves that once served the missing limb.

Read the detailed description

In the investigators research the investigators seek to understand the organization and (function/operation) of sensory neural systems in order to develop methods for restoring function to injured populations. One of the primary focus areas of the investigators research is working to integrate physiologically relevant sensory feedback with prosthetic limbs. To this end the investigators employ a variety of approaches that interweave disciplines such as electrophysiology, psychophysics, biomedical engineering and cognition. The investigators research team is composed of an interconnected and communicative network of clinicians, engineers, and scientists. This helps us to provide pathways from basic science discoveries that can be used to address clinical needs with transition directly to patient care.

02

Conditions studied

  • Prosthetic

Keywords

  • Upper limb Amputee
  • Targeted Muscle Reinnervation
  • Prosthetic
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Amputees who have undergone targeted sensory reinnervation

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Amputee criteria:

  • Must be over 18 years of age
  • Must be upper extremity amputee who has undergone targeted sensory reinnervation.

Able Bodied participants:

  • Must be over 18 years of age
04

Study design

Observational model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
21 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Upper Extremity Amputee

    Robust custom tactor to facilitate embodiment and proprioception

    Device: Tactor array

  • Able Bodied

    Bypass tactor

    Device: Bypass Tactor

Interventions

  • DeviceTactor array
  • DeviceBypass Tactor
05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Embodiment of the Prosthetic limb

    Visual loading for fine motor tasks,questionnaires, and residual limb temperature will be assessed after 10 months of in home every day use of a custom robust tactor array for sensory feedback.

    Time frame: Ten months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Investigate the perceptions of limb movement

    Test how closely both targeted reinnervation amputees and able bodied study participants are able to interpret limb movement using the kinesthetic perceptual illusion and physiologically relevant kinesthetic feedback.

    Time frame: 6 months

06

Study locations

4 sites
  • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Chicago, Ill 60611, United States
  • Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
    Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
  • Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
    Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States
  • University of Alberta Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
    Edmonton, Alberta T5B0B7, Canada
07

References and documents

Related links

Study documents

  • Informed consent form · Sep 22, 2017

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02189031
Lead sponsor
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
Collaborators
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Cleveland Clinic, HDT Global, University of Alberta, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Responsible party
Paul Marasco (Director of Amputee Research, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 14, 2014
Start date
Feb 2013
Primary completion
Oct 17, 2023
Completion
Nov 17, 2023
Last update
Sep 1, 2026

Study contacts

Paul Marasco, PhD
principal investigator · Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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