Body-Machine Interface enables people with cervical Spinal Cord Injury to control devices with available body movements: Proof of concept

Neurorehabil Neural Repair, 2017 · DOI: 10.1177/1545968317693111 · Published: May 1, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores a new way for people with cervical spinal cord injuries (cSCI) to use their remaining body movements to control devices. The system, called a body-machine interface (BoMI), uses sensors on a custom vest to detect shoulder movements. The sensor data is then translated into actions, like moving a computer cursor. Participants practiced tasks like reaching, typing, and playing games using the BoMI over several weeks. The study found that with practice, participants improved their performance in these tasks, indicating that the BoMI can help people with cSCI control assistive devices using their own body movements.

Study Duration

12 weeks

Participants

Eight individuals with chronic cSCI (3 female; ages 29–58), on average 12·50±7·67 years post injury, with C4–C6 injury levels

Evidence Level

Phase 0 interventional non-randomized clinical trial

Key Findings

1
Participants significantly reduced movement time and improved accuracy in reaching tasks over the 24 sessions.
2
Reaching movements became straighter and smoother, showing improved motor control.
3
Participants demonstrated a higher hit rate in the 'Pong' game and an increased typing rate, indicating enhanced spatiotemporal performance.

Research Summary

This study tested a body–machine interface (BoMI) for enhancing functional capabilities in persons with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI). Through practice, participants were able to reduce the movement time and the distance from the target at the one–second mark in the reaching task. The results provide proof–of–concept for the customized BoMI as a means for people with absent or severely impaired hand movements to control assistive devices.

Practical Implications

Assistive Device Control

The BoMI offers a new way for individuals with cSCI to control assistive devices using residual body movements, providing a continuous, proportional, and intuitive controller.

Rehabilitation Potential

Engaging users' residual body movements in functional and entertaining tasks can combine assistive and rehabilitative goals within a single framework, potentially preventing muscle atrophy and maintaining mobility.

Improved Motor Skills

The BoMI can help users recover accuracy, smoothness, and coordination in their movements, key features of unimpaired motor control.

Study Limitations

1
The study lacked a control group with unimpaired users.
2
The study lacked long-term follow up to investigate long-lasting improvement in performance.
3
The main purpose of the study was only to provide a proof of concept on the ability of this interface to detect relatively small movements.

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