Scientists have created a new controller for patients with paralysis that works by using head and tongue movements to control not only their own power wheelchairs, but even their computers and smartphones.
At Georgia Tech, the results of an innovative study were unveiled, showing how a group of their engineers managed to transform their research prototypes into an actual user-ready version. It was tested by 17 power wheelchair users that were living with tetraplegia, a type of spinal cord injury that affects the hands, arms, legs, trunk, and pelvic organs.
They described the controller as ‘a first-of-its-kind, innovative application’ created for people living with disabilities, which they have named MagTrack.
In conjunction with a group of physicians and clinical therapists at Brooks Rehabilitation, the team managed to show just how easy and useful the MagTrack technology functioned for a number of patients.
Medical director of the spinal cord injury program at Brooks Rehabilitation, Geneva Tonuzi, “To see where the MagTrack project has advanced even just since the early stages of this study is incredible.”
The MagTrack application allows users of power wheelchairs to control their connected devices, such as computers and smartphones, as well as to drive their power wheelchairs using an alternative, multimodal controller. Moreover, the assistive device was created to be wireless, wearable, and adaptable to the user’s particular condition.
On the contrary, other types of devices force you to be sitting in a chair or at a desk to use them. Rather, this one travels with you.
An earlier version of the MagTrack technology was the Head-Tongue Controller (HTC). When testing its performance, it showed its ability to ‘perform complex human-machine interactions that will enhance users’ quality of life’ all through the use of head and tongue movements that are detected by a special type of eyewear with a tiny tracer that is temporarily glued onto the tongue with a bio-compatible adhesive that’s safe for human use.
Using advanced data processing and machine learning models, the commands are generated from these particular motions. Through the combination of tongue and head movements, it allows the user to do a number of daily functions with customizable control, such as scrolling, mouse navigation, drag-and-drop, and even advanced driving maneuvers when they are connected to their power wheelchairs.
The tracers on the MagTrack device can stick to the face for prolonged periods of time, all thanks to a transparent bio-compatible adhesive as well, making it safe for human use.
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