The ALS Locked-in Communicator

描述（由申请人提供）：标准辅助技术（AT）解决方案不能帮助患有闭锁综合征的人，因为大多数AT输入设备依赖于某种形式的小但可靠的肌肉运动，例如按下按钮，眼球运动或眨眼。该计划将提供一个简单的设备，将标准AT技术提升到生物识别接口的新水平。该方案将为残疾人开发一种四模式交流辅助工具。由于其市场的大部分将是晚期肌萎缩性侧索硬化症（Lou Gehrigs病，或ALS）患者和其他锁定患者，因此将其称为“ALS锁定通信，或TALCOR（发音为“TALKER”）。该计划的目标是开发和验证一种新设备，使严重残疾的人谁不能沟通这样做。TALCOR将提供四种不同的非传统通信方法：1.使用EEG的脑机接口（BCI）; 2.皮肤电反应（GSR）。3.口腔pH值的变化; 4。放大和过滤肌肉运动，EMG：在第一阶段，我们将建立一个原型TALCOR，将在实验室工作台上和健康志愿者身上演示所有四种模式，以及与目前没有沟通能力的患者进行沟通的至少一种方法（或模式）。在第二阶段，我们将升级选定的通信模式，加固设备，改进软件，加强制造和商业化的设计，并在第一阶段选定的模式下对患者进行测试，以显示其实用性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Standard Assistive Technology (AT) solutions do not help people with locked-in syndrome because most AT input devices depend on some form of small but reliable muscle movement, such as pressing a button, eye movements, or blinking. This program will provide a simple device to take standard AT technology to the next level with Biometric Interfaces. This program will develop a four-mode communication aid for disabled individuals. Since a large share of its market will be advanced stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs Disease, or ALS) patients and other locked-in patients, it will be referred to "The ALS Locked-ln COmmunicatoR, or TALCOR (pronounced "TALKER"). The goal of this program is to develop and validate a new device that allows severely disable individuals who cannot communicate to do so. TALCOR will provide four different methods of non-traditional communications: 1. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) using EEG; 2. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). 3. pH changes in the mouth; and 4. Amplified and filtered muscle movement, EMG: In Phase I, we will build a prototype TALCOR that will demonstrate all four modes on the lab bench and with healthy volunteers, and at least one of these methods (or modes) of communication with a patient that currently does not have the ability to communicate. In Phase II, we will upgrade the selected communication modes, harden the device, improve the software, enhance the design toward manufacturing and commercialization, and test the device on patients in the modes selected in Phase I to show its utility.