WIRELESS TRACKING OF TONGUE MOVEMENTS FOR WHEELCHAIR CONTROL AND COMPUTER ACCESS

主要研究者：Ghovanloo，Maysam提案编号：0828882问题陈述：所有年龄段的残疾人数量都在增加，特别是老年人（65岁以上），他们目前占美国人口的12%。由于脊髓损伤、中风、脑瘫和ALS等各种原因而严重残疾的人发现，如果没有持续的帮助，他们很难完成日常任务。尽管有各种各样的辅助技术（AT）可供残疾程度较低的个人使用，但上述人群仍然被认为服务不足，并将从更多的选择中受益匪浅，特别是在使用可适应的AT时，可以利用他们可能拥有的任何剩余能力。我们打算帮助上肢功能很少或没有上肢功能的人，使他们能够控制他们的环境，驱动他们的电动轮椅（PWC），并通过简单地移动他们的舌头访问计算机，以提高他们的生活质量。智力优势：这项研究的主要目的是开发一种不显眼、微创、低成本的无线AT，称为“舌头驱动”系统（TDS），它可以替代四肢瘫痪患者的一些手臂和手部功能。从概念上讲，TDS由一系列小型磁性传感器组成，这些传感器位于口腔内部、正畸支具上（内部版本- iTDS）或口腔外部，安装在头戴式耳机上（外部版本- eTDS）。传感器阵列测量一个小的永磁体的磁场，一粒米的大小，通过组织粘合剂，植入，刺穿或夹持的方式附着在舌头上。传感器信号无线传输到用户佩戴的外部超便携式PC。所接收的数据被处理以真实的实时地确定磁体相对于传感器阵列的坐标、取向和相对运动。然后，这些信息被用来控制光标在PC屏幕上的移动，以及执行所有其他可以用鼠标指针或操纵杆完成的功能。TDS的主要优点是，几个磁性传感器和一个固有的无线永磁体可以捕获无限数量的舌头运动，每个运动都可以代表一个特定的用户命令。一组专用的舌头运动可以基于他/她的偏好、生活方式和剩余能力为每个个体用户量身定制，并且映射到用于计算机、PWC和环境访问的一组定制功能上。因此，TDS可以提供高度的适应性，并覆盖具有不同残疾程度的大量用户。此外，TDS有可能为其用户提供比例控制，这使得在拥挤和受限的空间中操纵PWC变得更加容易。这项研究还涉及一个全面的评估TDS的功效，可用性和用户acceptance.Broader影响：我们打算帮助最严重的残疾人生活积极，自立，满意，和生产力的生活，平等的社会其他成员。瘫痪被认为是最昂贵的残疾类型之一。TDS等解决方案可以帮助降低医疗和辅助生活成本，提高残疾人的就业能力，并允许用户更充分地参与社会，同时减轻家庭成员或专门照顾者的负担。教育计划：PI的主要教育目标是利用拟议研究的“多学科”性质，激发本科生和研究生的兴趣。本科生将通过高级设计和总统本科生研究奖（PURA）招募参与TDS图形用户界面的开发。一名研究生也将参与拟议的研究，开发TDS硬件和传感器信号处理算法，以及帮助人体试验。

PI: Ghovanloo, MaysamProposal Number: 0828882Problem Statement: The number of people with disabilities is increasing among all age groups, especially the elderly (+65) who currently comprise 12% of the U.S. population. Individuals severely disabled as a result of various causes from spinal cord injuries to stroke, cerebral palsy, and ALS find it extremely difficult to carry out everyday tasks without continuous help. Despite the wide variety of assistive technologies (AT) available for individuals with lower levels of disabilities, the above population is still considered underserved, and would greatly benefit from having more choices, particularly in utilizing adaptable ATs that can take advantage of whatever remaining capabilities that they might have. We intend to help individuals with little or no upper extremity functions to improve their quality of life by enabling them to control their environment, drive their powered wheelchair (PWC), and access computers by simply moving their tongue. Intellectual Merits: The main purpose of the proposed research is to develop an unobtrusive, minimally invasive, low cost, and wireless AT called the 'Tongue Drive' system (TDS), which can potentially substitute some of the arm and hand functions in people with quadriplegia. Conceptually, the TDS consists of an array of small magnetic sensors located inside the mouth, on an orthodontic brace (internal version - iTDS), or outside of the mouth, mounted on a headset (external version - eTDS). The sensor array measures the magnetic field of a small permanent magnet, the size of a grain of rice, which is attached to the tongue by means of tissue adhesives, implantation, piercing, or clipping. The sensor signals are transmitted wirelessly to an external ultra-portable PC, which is worn by the user. The received data is processed to determine the coordinates, orientation, and relative motion of the magnet with respect to the array of sensors in real time. This information is then used to control the movements of a cursor on the PC screen, and to perform all other functions that can be done with a mouse pointer or a joystick. The principal advantage of the TDS is that a few magnetic sensors and an inherently wireless permanent magnet could potentially capture an unlimited number of tongue movements, each of which can represent a specific user command. A set of dedicated tongue movements could be tailored for each individual user based on his/her preferences, lifestyle, and remaining abilities, and mapped onto a set of customized functions for computer, PWC, and environmental access. Thus, TDS can offer a high degree of adaptability and cover a large group of users with different levels of disabilities. In addition, the TDS has the potential to provide its users with proportional control, which makes it a lot easier to maneuver PWCs in crowded and confined spaces. This research also involves a thorough evaluation of the TDS efficacy, usability and user acceptability.Broader Impacts: We intend to help the most severely disabled individuals to live active, selfsupportive, satisfying, and productive lives, equal to the other members of the society. Paralysis is considered to be one of the most expensive types of disabilities. Solutions such as the TDS could help reduce healthcare and assisted-living costs, increase the employability of people with disabilities, and allow users to participate more fully in the society, while relieving their family members or dedicated caregivers.Educational Plan: The PI's main educational objective is to stimulate the interests of undergraduate and graduate students by taking advantage of the 'multidisciplinary' nature of the proposed research. Undergraduates will be recruited through senior design and presidential undergraduate research award (PURA) to participate in development of the TDS graphical userinterface. A graduate student will also be involved in the proposed research by developing the TDS hardware and sensor signal processing algorithms as well as helping with human trials.