激情快播鈥檚 Limbitless Solutions is moving forward with its patented hands-free wheelchair technology.
The technology allows patients with limited mobility to use their facial muscles to control their wheelchairs. This is done using electromyography sensors that are placed on a patient鈥檚 temporalis muscles to control a wheelchair or vehicle. When a user clenches their jaw, the wheelchair will respond by moving in the designated direction.
After publishing the results of their first clinical study of the technology in the , the team will begin on-campus testing of the new training video game.
鈥淭he technology has the potential to unlock mobility independence for certain patients,鈥� says Limbitless Solutions president and co-founder Albert Manero 鈥�12 鈥�14MS 鈥�16PhD. 鈥淲e are hopeful to complete further clinical trials on the equipment before working with a wheelchair provider to integrate with their available devices.鈥�
The recent clinical study showed that independent steering was capable for patients who did not have hand function, and positive impressions of the technology were found for patients who had no independent control over their mobility.
Four ALS patients, age 51 to 69, were enrolled in the study. All had impairment of hand function that limited use of the standard wheelchair joystick control. The patients were assessed based on their ability to navigate a wheelchair skills course and their impressions of the new technology in comparison to their current controls.
Limbitless Solutions has been collaborating with Mayo Clinic to evaluate the technology鈥檚 readiness since 2019.
A key component to the next phase of the work is improving training for the patients to learn how to operate the hands-free technology. The team鈥檚 game design students and faculty have been developing a training game that enables practicing the driving commands in a low-stress virtual environment.
The training game is operated through the electromyography sensor control in combination with eye tracking software for hands-free calibration. This combination was designed with the intent of increasing the patient’s impression of autonomy.
A philanthropic was awarded to enable the interdisciplinary research team to develop the virtual training game, called Limbitless Journey, specifically for wheelchair users. Since 2016, 激情快播 associate professors Matt Dombrowski 鈥�05 鈥�08MFA with the and Peter Smith 鈥�05 鈥�12 PhD with have been creating video games for gamified training to support children learning to control Limbitless Solutions鈥� bionic arms.
鈥淚t is very inspiring to see faculty and students from various disciplines in the arts and sciences at 激情快播 collaborate to create these gamified experiences,鈥� says Dombrowski. 鈥淚t truly showcases how 激情快播 leads the charge to create a more positive and inclusive tomorrow.鈥�
Smith says they wanted to develop a safe environment for practice.
鈥淭hey don’t have to worry about losing control or bumping into physical obstacles when they鈥檙e playing the training game,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hen once they gain enough confidence in their skills, we can advance to the next level of training.鈥�
Limbitless Solutions also partners with hospitals nationally to conduct clinical trials evaluating the functionality and the effect of its upper-limb prosthetics on quality of life,聽how children鈥檚 brains develop using prosthetics and the role of video game-based training for learning more complex bionic controls.
Founded in 2014, Limbitless Solutions is a nonprofit and direct support organization at 激情快播 dedicated to increasing accessibility and empowering children and adults in the limb difference community.
Manero received his聽doctoral degree聽in mechanical engineering and his聽尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听补苍诲听产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚聽degrees in aerospace engineering from 激情快播. He joined 激情快播鈥檚 Office of Research in 2017 and holds courtesy research appointments in 激情快播鈥檚聽聽and Mayo Clinic鈥檚 neurology department. He is also a member of 激情快播鈥檚聽Biionix聽research cluster.
