GARDE: FEASIBILITY AND USABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AN INTRAORAL INCONSPICUOUS CONTROL SURFACE

GARDE：口内不显眼控制表面的可行性和可用性评估

• 批准号: 1264624
• 负责人: Maysam Ghovanloo
• 金额: $ 26.94万
• 依托单位: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-15 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1264624&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: GARDE; FEASIBILITY; USABILITY; ASSESSMENT; INTRAORAL

PI: Ghovanloo Proposal Number: 1264624The PI and his team have developed a wireless tongue-operated assistive technology (AT), known as the Tongue Drive System (TDS). Clinical trials on participants with tetraplegia using an external version of the TDS (eTDS), which resembles a wireless headphone, have well established the functionality, ease of use, and acceptability of the eTDS over traditional devices, such as Sip-n-puff. However, mechanical stability of the eTDS is insufficient, and affects its reliability and usability in uncontrolled daily life conditions. While it is possible to firmly secure the eTDS on the user's head with stretchable traps and buckles, the result may reduce the comfort level in long term usage and negatively impact its appearance. An alternative solution is a highly miniaturized intraoral version of the TDS (iTDS) in the form of a dental retainer, which can be customized based on the user's oral anatomy and clasp onto the user's teeth similar to an orthodontic brace. However, very little is known about the feasibility, level of comfort, and usability of an intraoral appliance to be used as a wireless tongue-operated control surface.Intellectual Merit: The main objectives of the proposed research are: (A) Design and development of a fully functional proof-of-concept iTDS prototype that can be used in human subject trials, while solving key technical challenges. (B) Qualitatively compare the eTDS and iTDS in terms of acceptability, level of comfort, and potential interference with other activities such as speech and ingestion using mockup oral appliances and headsets, interviews, and focus groups involving potential end users with severe physical disabilities. (c) Detailed quantitative assessment of the pros and cons of the intraoral approach in comparison with the eTDS approach based on widely accepted performance measures in the field of human-computer interfacing as well as reliability and robustness against external interfering factors. Broader Impacts: The number of people with disabilities is increasing among all age groups, particularly the elderly 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. We intend to transform the lives of the most severely disabled individuals by helping them live active, self-supportive, and productive lives. Paralysis is considered one of the most expensive disabilities. Solutions such as the iTDS could help reduce healthcare and assisted-living costs and increase the employability of people with severe disabilities, allowing them to participate more fully in the society, while relieving their family members or dedicated caregivers. iTDS can even be used by able-bodied individuals, where motion of the limbs is hindered.

主要研究者：Ghovanloo提案编号：1264624 PI和他的团队开发了一种无线舌头操作辅助技术（AT），称为舌头驱动系统（TDS）。 使用类似于无线耳机的TDS外部版本（eTDS）对四肢瘫痪参与者进行的临床试验已经充分确立了eTDS相对于传统设备（如Sip-n-puff）的功能性、易用性和可接受性。 然而，eTDS的机械稳定性不足，并影响其在不受控制的日常生活条件下的可靠性和可用性。 虽然可以用可拉伸的陷阱和夹子将eTDS牢固地固定在用户的头部上，但结果可能会降低长期使用的舒适度并对其外观产生负面影响。 另一种解决方案是以牙齿保持器形式的高度小型化的口内版本的TDS（iTDS），其可以基于用户的口腔解剖结构进行定制，并类似于正畸支架扣在用户的牙齿上。 然而，很少有人知道的可行性，舒适度和可用性的口内器具被用作一个无线舌头操作的控制surface.Intellectual优点：拟议的研究的主要目标是：（A）设计和开发一个功能齐全的概念验证iTDS原型，可用于人体试验，同时解决关键的技术挑战。 (B)Qualitative在可接受性、舒适度和对其他活动（如使用口腔装置和耳机模型的言语和摄入）的潜在干扰、访谈以及涉及严重身体残疾的潜在最终用户的焦点小组方面对eTDS和iTDS进行了比较。(c)基于人机界面领域广泛接受的性能指标以及对外部干扰因素的可靠性和鲁棒性，对口内方法与eTDS方法的优缺点进行了详细的定量评估。 更广泛的影响：所有年龄段的残疾人数量都在增加，特别是目前占美国人口12%的老年人。 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。 我们打算通过帮助他们过上积极、自立和富有成效的生活来改变最严重残疾者的生活。 瘫痪被认为是最昂贵的残疾之一。 iTDS等解决方案可以帮助降低医疗保健和辅助生活成本，提高重度残疾人的就业能力，使他们能够更充分地参与社会，同时减轻他们的家庭成员或专职护理人员的负担。 iTDS甚至可以由身体健全的人使用，其中肢体的运动受到阻碍。