WiseTOP: a quality of service-aware low power acquisition and wireless communication platform for prosthesis control

This paper describes the WiseTOP real-time communication platform embedded into an osseo-integrated prosthesis used for the recovery of hand function after amputation and presents initial results of performance evaluation. The acquisition of sensor data benefits from a high performance, low power analog-to-digital front end and the communication system is optimized for both low power operations and high-throughput, for meeting the autonomy and traffic requirements of standalone prostheses, such as the hand developed by Prensilia SRL. The WiseTOP platform includes a 55nm low-power System-on-Chip, embedding a 20 differential channel EMG frontend, 12-bit ADC and 32-bit processing unit optimized for the prosthetic application, and an ultra-low power and compact 2.4GHz transceiver. It includes the WiseTOP wireless protocol, which is designed and optimized for low-latency, high-throughput data transfer and low-energy communication between the sensors and a central unit from Integrum AB. To improve the autonomy and coexistence of many such systems in the vicinity, the WiseTOP platform adapts the quality of service to the communication requirements at any time during the operations of the prosthesis. Wireless communications offer the simplification of the connection (absence of wire and connector), improved reliability (cable wear and breakage are eliminated), flexibility (seamless reconfiguration of the communication links) and implantation of the sensory system in the most convenient location. The patient will hence benefit from a cheaper, smaller and more reliable prosthesis.