Neural prosthesis control system is based on brain-computer interface and functional electrical stimulation technology, by an-alyzing the electroencephalograph control commands directly into the muscle system or an external device, which compensated efferent pathway from the brain-spinal cord, and recovered motor function of patients with cervical spinal cord injury. This paper described the basic structure, working principle and key technology of neural prosthetic system, summarized the application, problems and prospects of neural prosthetic technology in the rehabilitation of cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of walking ability of the amputees with unilateral transfemoral prosthesis. Methods 16 unilateral transfemoral amputees (patients) and 16 healthy adults (controls) were tested with 6-minute walking test indoor, 1000 m walking outdoor on various terrain, balance test and energy expenditure test. Results The speed, frequency and stride length were significantly less in the patients than in the controls (P<0.05) in the indoor 6-minute walking test, and the cycle of gait and energy expenditure were significantly more (P<0.05); single support time, double and single/double support time were different (P<0.05). In balance tests, there was no significant difference in the total track length, confidence ellipse area, maximum horizontal deviation and maximum vertical deviation between the patients and the controls (P>0.05). There were significant differences in time and energy expenditure of outdoor 1000 m walk test between two groups (P<0.05). There were significant differences in time of outdoor 1000 m walk test and distance of indoor walking test between amputees wearing mechanical four-link prosthetic knee joint and fluid control prosthetic knee joint (P<0.05), but not in energy expenditure of indoor and outdoor walking test. Conclusion The amputees with unilateral transfemoral prosthesis appear the inefficient in gait, and expend more energy. Their balance remains well. The transfemoral prosthesis the amputees wore may impact their walking ability.

Objective To compare the walking ability between bilateral transtibial amputees and normal controls, and develope reference indexes of bilateral transtibial amptees' walking ability while wearing prostheses. Methods 11 bilateral transtibial amputees served as amputation group, 12 normal subjects served as controls. The indoor gait characteristics, outdoor time cost and energy consumption, and static balance of both groups were evaluated. Results After the indoor gait analysis, the average self-selected-speed of the amputees was 1.07 m/s, while the self-selected-speed of the normal people was 1.29 m/s. When the subjects walked with their self-selected-speed, there were significant differences in some of the gait spatial and temporal parameters between 2 groups (P<0.05). When the subjects walked on a specially designed 1 km outdoor trail, differences of energy consumption and time cost were also observed (P<0.05). Static balance presented no significant difference between 2 groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The walking ability of the bilateral transtibial amputees wearing prostheses is different from normal people. Quantitative evaluation of walking ability can provide more accurate reference for the rehabilitation of amputees.