Design and test of home base system for rehabilitation of movement
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
Current trends in rehabilitation of NHS patients suffering from neurological injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injury are to reduce load on trained personal and to increase the use of technology. This should reduce the overall costs and at the same time provide longer and more intense therapy. Prolonged intense therapy would lead to a better recovery. While recovery walking has been in the main focus of rehabilitation, there is no technologically advanced solutions for hand rehabilitation that do not require medically trained personnel and can be used outside the hospital. Improving hand function of a partially paralysed person is a key factor for improving their independence and the overall quality of life.
The aim of this project is to design a portable, inexpensive and user-friendly system for home based neurorehabilitation of hand. The system is based on brain computer interface (BCI) technology and multichannel functional electrical stimulator, which communicate through a computer tablet.
A starting point of the project will be the existing technical solution, a wearable wireless EEG device (Epoch, Emotiv) and multipurpose functional electrical stimulator. The student will design a system that is based on the existing technology but is specifically designed for home based therapy which relies on non-professional users. The project will in all phases be informed by patents and clinicians from the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Glasgow.
A PhD candidate will have a comprehensive support from the supervisory team in the area of BCI technology, clinical research, product design and human factors throughout the project.
The aim of this project is to design a portable, inexpensive and user-friendly system for home based neurorehabilitation of hand. The system is based on brain computer interface (BCI) technology and multichannel functional electrical stimulator, which communicate through a computer tablet.
A starting point of the project will be the existing technical solution, a wearable wireless EEG device (Epoch, Emotiv) and multipurpose functional electrical stimulator. The student will design a system that is based on the existing technology but is specifically designed for home based therapy which relies on non-professional users. The project will in all phases be informed by patents and clinicians from the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Glasgow.
A PhD candidate will have a comprehensive support from the supervisory team in the area of BCI technology, clinical research, product design and human factors throughout the project.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Aleksandra Vuckovic (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Nina Petric-Gray (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509668/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1805061 | Studentship | EP/N509668/1 | 03/10/2016 | 02/10/2020 | Nina Petric-Gray |
| Description | - Designing customised portable Brain Computer Interface (BCI) headsets for home based neurorehabilitation. These headsets were created using 3D scanning software and Autodek's Fusion 360 Generative software. This method enables the shape, weight, strength and comfort of the headset to be optimised, based on given criteria rather than a priori defining the shape of the headset. - Collaboration with Autodesk to 3D print BCI headsets (mentioned above). |
| Exploitation Route | To help Brain Computer Interface companies / researchers further develop headset designs for various applications. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/eeg-headset/ |
| Description | Autodesk Collaboration |
| Organisation | Autodesk |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I provided Autodesk with feedback on their Fusion 360 generative software and ideas for different applications of their software. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Autodesk provided me with training a free license for Fusion 360 software. As well as this they 3D printed 2 physical models to aid my research. |
| Impact | Outcomes include 3D printed headset models used to aid/develop the research. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | EEG headset design collaboration (UESTC, Chengdu) |
| Organisation | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of working at the University of Electronic Science and Technology China (UESTC, Chengdu) was to create a physical prototype of a portable EEG headset in order to test both mechanical and electrical components of the headset. CAD modelling, in Soldiworks and 3D printing using rapid prototyping facilities was used as a quick and affordable means of testing. |
| Collaborator Contribution | With extensive knowledge and development of portable EEG electrical design (portable amplifier, dry electrodes etc.) at UESTC, the focus of this collaboration was to design a casing for these component to enable the portable EEG headset to be used at home as part of a BCI-FES system for neurorehabilitation of the hand in spinal cord injury patients. |
| Impact | A portable EEG headset was 3D printing and mechanically tested using facilities available at UESTC, Chengdu. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Autodesk University London 2019 Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of research work at Autodesk University London 2019 conference both in poster form and power-point presentation. Over 50 people attended the presentation (from different fields of work: academic, industrial...). This opened up questions, some of which I hadn't thought about before regarding my research and also the possibility for future collaborations with companies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://aulondon2019.dryfta.com/ |
| Description | Occupation therapist focus group meetings at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (Glasgow) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Two focus group mettings were held with four occupational therapists at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit (QENSIU) at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. These focus groups were part of a wider study, to assess the feasibility of therapist-caregivers-patients training to use Brain Computer Interface and Functional Electrical Stimulation (BCI-FES) technology for hand therapy in spinal cord injured patients. Occupational therapists at QENSIU were trained to use the BCI-FES system and then therapists trained patients and caregivers to use the system. The foucs group meetings were conducted pre- and post-training to gauge therapist's acceptance of new technology, understanding of BCI-FES, ease of training etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
| Description | Online article - Redshift by Autodesk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview/ article written about my research on 'How a Custom EEG Headset Could Transform In-Home Brain Rehabilitation.' Article intended to create interest on the topic and the novel use of generative software for customised EEG headset designs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.autodesk.com/redshift/eeg-headset/ |
| Description | Poster presentation - 7th International BCI Meeting (Asilomar Conference Centre, Pacific Grove, California) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Poster presented at the 7th International BCI Meeting (Asilomar Conference Centre, Pacific Grove, California). The poster was about 'Patient feedback on self-managed brain computer interface treatment of central neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury: Steps towards service design.' I was able to present and discuss this poster to a wider audience of BCI researchers / professionals. You can find more information about this from the URL below. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/163979/ |