Request for assistance: Training device for upper extremity amputee soldiers re
Gio Ortega
Posts: 1
Introduction: My name is Giovani Ortega, Program Manager: Military Amputee Research Program - Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Purpose: Request for volunteer circuit designer(s) to develop improved training method for soldiers with upper extremity amputation.
Background: In preparation for learning to use myoelectric prosthetic devices (elbows, hands), amputee patients currently use Myoboy trainer - see:
http://www.ottobockus.com/products/upper_limb_prosthetics/myoelectric_hands_757M10_myoboy.asp
Skin surface electrodes convert EMG signal to control a visual feedback display such that the greater the muscle contraction, the greater the signal.· In this manner, patients learn to proportionally control the direction, degree, and speed of movement of the prosthetic motorized hand and/or elbow.· Surface electrodes are placed over pairs of antagonistic muscles such as bicep-tricep or wrist extensors-flexors to control opposite motions (extend-flex of the elbow or close-open of the hand).· Although Myoboy provides visual feedback, it is not very exciting to look at.
Proposition: Because the majority of these wounded warriors are young, they are very receptive to rehabilitation training that involves competitive games.· This project involves designing a circuit that will transform the amplified output signal of the surface electrodes to the same signal that is output from the joystick of a remote control car controller.· In this case one pair of electrodes would control forward-backward car motion while the second pair will control left-right.· I am not well versed in electronic design, but it seems to me that a designer could exploit commercially available radio transmitters for remote control race cars·by bridging·the connection between the two types of output·signals.
Please post your responses as to the feasibility of such a project.· If you would like to contribute your unique talent and skill set to a worthy cause, please feel free to contact me at (202)607-0056 during business hours (EST).· I envision car races where patients compete against each other controlling their cars with EMG signals as an effective and fun way to rehabilitate towards an improved quality of life.
Purpose: Request for volunteer circuit designer(s) to develop improved training method for soldiers with upper extremity amputation.
Background: In preparation for learning to use myoelectric prosthetic devices (elbows, hands), amputee patients currently use Myoboy trainer - see:
http://www.ottobockus.com/products/upper_limb_prosthetics/myoelectric_hands_757M10_myoboy.asp
Skin surface electrodes convert EMG signal to control a visual feedback display such that the greater the muscle contraction, the greater the signal.· In this manner, patients learn to proportionally control the direction, degree, and speed of movement of the prosthetic motorized hand and/or elbow.· Surface electrodes are placed over pairs of antagonistic muscles such as bicep-tricep or wrist extensors-flexors to control opposite motions (extend-flex of the elbow or close-open of the hand).· Although Myoboy provides visual feedback, it is not very exciting to look at.
Proposition: Because the majority of these wounded warriors are young, they are very receptive to rehabilitation training that involves competitive games.· This project involves designing a circuit that will transform the amplified output signal of the surface electrodes to the same signal that is output from the joystick of a remote control car controller.· In this case one pair of electrodes would control forward-backward car motion while the second pair will control left-right.· I am not well versed in electronic design, but it seems to me that a designer could exploit commercially available radio transmitters for remote control race cars·by bridging·the connection between the two types of output·signals.
Please post your responses as to the feasibility of such a project.· If you would like to contribute your unique talent and skill set to a worthy cause, please feel free to contact me at (202)607-0056 during business hours (EST).· I envision car races where patients compete against each other controlling their cars with EMG signals as an effective and fun way to rehabilitate towards an improved quality of life.
Comments
Are there other options for reading a myoelectric signal that you could possibly provide a link to and/or more data? What I mean is, being in the prosthetic industry myself several moons ago, there are other sensing methods that could be used to detect myoelectric signals without going through otto-bock's costly trainer system that you mention.
What you are asking for I think is very doable, but what might be a hang-up for many people is the front end or the sensing part of the application. Generally myoelectric sensors are very expensive, but if we know the parameters of the available sensors, which may involve a small amount of empirical testing on your part to provide us with more feedback on what the output of the sensors look like, then perhaps a compromise could be reached using your sensors of choice to produce the proper signals that the remote control car expects to see.
Welcome aboard!
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Beau Schwabe (Parallax)) : 3/18/2008 3:37:02 AM GMT