Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2014 · DOI: 10.1109/EMBC.2014.6943612 · Published: January 1, 2014
This study introduces a body machine interface (BoMI) designed to assist individuals with severe motor disabilities, particularly those with high-level spinal cord injuries (SCI). The BoMI translates the user's remaining upper body movements into cursor control on a computer, enabling them to perform tasks like typing and playing games. The interface can be adjusted to encourage users to engage and strengthen weakened muscles. By modifying the mapping between body movements and cursor control, the system can prompt users to exercise impaired degrees of freedom. A case study involving an SCI participant demonstrated that the BoMI could help restore symmetry in body movement. The participant, who initially favored their less impaired side, showed improved mobility and strength on their weaker side after using the BoMI.
The portable and low-cost nature of the BoMI makes it suitable for home-based rehabilitation treatments, allowing patients to continue therapy outside of a clinical setting.
The ability to modify the body-to-task mapping enables therapists to design exercises that target specific rehabilitative goals, catering to the individual needs of each patient.
The BoMI can serve as both an assistive device, enabling users to control external devices, and a rehabilitative tool, promoting motor recovery through targeted exercises.