Abstract
In recent years, the assistive technologies and stroke rehabilitation methods have been empowered by the use of virtual reality environments and the facilities offered by brain computer interface systems and functional electrical stimulators. In this paper, a therapy system for stroke rehabilitation based on these revolutionary techniques is presented. Using a virtual reality Oculus Rift device, the proposed system ushers the patient in a virtual scenario where a virtual therapist coordinates the exercises aimed at restoring brain function. The electrical stimulator helps the patient to perform rehabilitation exercises and the brain computer interface system and an electrooculography device are used to determine if the exercises are executed properly. Laboratory tests on healthy people led to system validation from technical point of view. The clinical tests are in progress, but the preliminary results of the clinical tests have highlighted the good satisfaction degree of patients, the quick accommodation with the proposed therapy, and rapid progress for each user rehabilitation.
Highlights
The worldwide statistics reported by World Health Organization highlight that stroke is the third leading cause of death and about 15 million people suffer stroke worldwide each year [1]
The functional electrical stimulation (FES) electrodes are mounted on extensors muscles of both hands as shown in Figure 3 and the FES software module is started in order to determine the FES parameters
Before attaching the virtual reality (VR) headset, the therapist sits in front of the patient explaining what he will see by showing him the following: the virtual therapist will raise the hand like in Figure 3; a big arrow will appear on the upper left or right of the screen depending on virtual therapist indications and the patient will hear sounds from the left or the right
Summary
The worldwide statistics reported by World Health Organization highlight that stroke is the third leading cause of death and about 15 million people suffer stroke worldwide each year [1]. In this case, MI is used to induce closed-loop feedback within conventional poststroke rehabilitation therapy This approach is called paired stimulation (PS) due to the fact that it pairs each user’s motor imagery with stimulation and feedback, such as activation of a functional electrical stimulator (FES), avatar movement, and/or auditory feedback [16]. Irimia et al [22] have proved the efficacy of combining motor imagery, bar feedback, and real hand movements by testing a system combining a MI-based BCI and a neurostimulator on three stroke patients. Cho et al [23] present the results of two patients who performed the BCI training with first-person avatar feedback After the study, both patients reported improvements in motor. Even if the number of patients presented in these two studies is low, they support the idea that this kind of systems may bring additional benefits to the rehabilitation process outcome in stroke patients
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