Head-Mounted Vibrotactile Prosthesis for Patients with Chronic Postural Instability

描述（由申请人提供）：基于微机电系统（MEMS）的惯性仪器的尺寸和性能的最新进展使得能够开发新型平衡假体，以通过替代感觉通道向患有慢性平衡功能障碍的患者提供关于头部定向的反馈。需要平衡假体来帮助患有慢性平衡障碍的患者，以及需要通过训练和物理治疗来促进这种障碍的康复的装置。 本文提出的无创、谨慎、交钥匙BALCAP假体提供了以实用和人体工程学方式满足这两种要求的潜力。BALCAP假体使用六自由度（6- DOF）感测来检测姿势不平衡，并经由帽带触觉器直接向头部致动低振幅振动触觉提示，帽带触觉器向佩戴者提供关于俯仰和滚转平面（及其组合）中的头部倾斜的反馈。BALCAP设计为无论参与者是静止还是移动都能正常工作。 第一阶段的努力证明了BALCAP假体的辅助和康复益处的初步可行性。的一部分 在拟议的研究中，改进的BALCAP平衡假体的效用将在一项针对慢性平衡功能障碍患者的扩展研究中进一步评估，该研究涵盖了一系列病因。受试者将接受姿势稳定性和步态评估，以评价两个不同的假设：（1）佩戴BALCAP平衡假体时，表现评分显著改善（“辅助获益”）;（2）与标准治疗相比，在BALCAP辅助治疗一段时间后，即使未佩戴BALCAP，表现评分也会改善（“康复获益”）。 头戴式振动触觉假体，如拟议的BALCAP，将提供直接受益于大量的慢性姿势不稳定的患者。此外，该设备有可能开辟新的研究领域，例如确定最佳的训练方案，以最大限度地提高平衡的剩余保留。实用的、一体式的、非侵入性的、谨慎的和低成本的平衡假体的可用性将提高平衡障碍患者的生活质量，并可能导致该领域的进一步进步。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Recent advances in the size and performance of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based inertial instruments enable the development of a novel balance prosthesis to provide feedback via a substitute sensory channel regarding head orientation to patients with chronic balance dysfunction. There is a need for balance prostheses to assist patients with chronic balance disorders, as well as for devices to facilitate rehabilitaton of such disorders through training and physical therapy. The noninvasive, discreet, turnkey BALCAP prosthesis proposed herein offers the potential to satisfy both requirements in a practicable and ergonomic fashion. The BALCAP prosthesis uses six degrees-of-freedom (6- DOF) sensing to detect postural imbalance and actuate low-amplitude vibrotactile cues directly to the head via hatband tactors that provide the wearer with feedback concerning head tilt in the pitch and roll planes (and combinations thereof). The BALCAP is designed to function correctly whether or not the participant is stationary or moving. The Phase I effort demonstrated initial feasibility for both the assistive and rehabilitative benefits of the BALCAP prosthesis. As part of the proposed research, the utility of an improved BALCAP balance prosthesis will be further evaluated in an expanded study on individuals with chronic balance dysfunction spanning a range of etiologies. Participants will undergo postural stability and gait assessments to evaluate two distinct hypotheses: (1) that performance scores improve significantly while wearing the BALCAP balance prosthesis ("assistive benefit") and; (2) that performance scores improve after a period of BALCAP-assisted therapy vs. standard therapy, even when the BALCAP is not being worn ("rehabilitative benefit"). A head-mounted vibrotactile prosthesis, such as the proposed BALCAP, will provide immediate benefit to a large number of patients with chronic postural instability. Additionally, the device has the potential to open new areas of research, such as determining the optimal training protocol to maximize residual retention of balance improvements. The availability of a practical, one-piece, noninvasive, discreet, and low-cost balance prosthesis will enhance the quality of life for balance-disordered patients and could lead to further advancements in this area.