T.120 application sharing for the remote configuration of prostheses

Abstract

We conducted a study to determine whether application sharing and desktop videoconferencing using the Internet constituted a viable method for remotely configuring a microprocessor-controlled lower-extremity prosthesis. A DSL broadband connection (operated at 256 kbit/s) was used to connect two prosthetic care facilities over the public Internet. PC-based videoconferencing was used with application sharing for the remote configuration of the prosthesis and to view information on the load and angle of the prosthetic knee. Fifteen people with trans-femoral amputations had the settings for their prosthesis scrambled before a specialist at another site remotely configured the device. There were no significant differences between the original and online settings. Clinicians at both sites considered that 14 out of 15 sessions were successful (one trial involved technical problems with the knee unit that were unrelated to the telemedicine trial). The clients rated their satisfaction with the technique as excellent (47%), above average (33%) or average (20%). The present study shows that a combination of desktop videoconferencing and T.120 application sharing can be used for the remote configuration of assistive devices.