EMG Switch Access for Severely Disabled People

描述（由申请人提供）：广泛的目标：完善基于软件的开关接入设备，为严重残疾或瘫痪的个人提供服务。该交换机目前被命名为肌肉控制器，将提供对计算机化设备的访问，这些设备允许文本输入、语音生成、互联网访问以及环境或硬件控制。目前仅限于EMG的输入手段将扩大到包括EOG、EEG或压力等方法。这将使高精度的设备访问提供给残疾人比目前可能的范围更大。 本阶段的具体技术目标：[A]将自动校准程序集成到当前软件中，以减少耗时的手动调整需求。[B]实现区分有意活动和无意活动的软件例程。[C]在电路中集成故障保护硬件报警，作为呼叫铃或紧急报警。[D]在临床试验中评估这些改善，其中有三名身体健全的志愿者和三名严重残疾的志愿者。 优点：该项目的成功将产生一种高精度的开关接入设备，可供所有移动水平的身体残疾人使用。在美国，有30，000人患有ALS（Lou Gehrig病），50，000人患有高级脑干中风，这两种情况可能导致严重瘫痪。高流动性的人可以使用压力开关。那些具有中等或低水平的人可以使用EMG或EOG，而那些几乎没有运动的人可以使用EEG或LFP（局部场电位）。该软件的自动调整灵敏度将适应身体能力的下降和恢复水平。这将避免需要购买多种类型的接入设备用于不同阶段的条件

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Broad objectives: To perfect a software-based switch access device for the service of profoundly disabled or paralyzed individuals. The switch, currently named the Muscle Communicator, will provide access to computerized devices that allow text entry, speech generation, Internet access, and environmental or hardware control. The means of input, currently limited to EMG, will be broadened to include methods such as EOG, EEG, or pressure. This will make high-accuracy device access available to people with a greater range of disabilities than is currently possible. Specific technical aims for this phase: [A] To integrate into the current software an auto-calibration routine that will reduce the need for time-consuming manual adjustments. [B] To implement software routines that distinguish intentional activity from unintentional. [C] To integrate a failsafe hardware alarm into the circuit as a call bell or emergency alarm. [D] To assess these improvements in clinical trials with three able-bodied and three severely disabled volunteers. Benefits: The success of this project will result in a high-accuracy switch access device that is usable by individuals with physical disabilities of all mobility levels. In the United States, there are 30,000 people with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and 50,000 with high-level brain stem stroke, two conditions that can cause severe paralysis. Individuals with high mobility can use pressure switches. Those with medium or low levels can use EMG or EOG, and those with little of no motion can use EEG or LFP (local field potentials). The automatically adjusting sensitivity of the software will adapt to declining and recovering levels of physical ability. This will obviate the need to buy many types of access devices for different stages of a condition