Electric Wheelchair Future Technology

What would be considered pure science fiction material not so long ago, is now becoming reality. The device called ReWalk helps people paralyzed below the waist to stand, walk and climb stairs.

One of first paraplegics to try the exoskeleton is former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof whose life now changed dramatically, as he can once again climb stairs and face people face to face… A new powered exoskeleton suit passed internal tests and has already enabled several disabled to walk again. Suit is making strong converts among those who have worn it.

Powered Exoskeleton that enables the disabled to walk again is the brainchild of engineer Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies, a small Israeli high-tech company. Ironically Amit himself was paralyzed in an accident in 1997.

The suit consists of motorized leg supports, packager of body sensors and a rechargable battery located in a backpack. Currently suite is only useful for disabled that have full function of their arms, as user needs to control the unit via remote control wristband, which contains various settings like: sit, stand, walk, or climb.

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In start of October, a powered wheelchair that moves when user thinks on particular word, was demonstrated by American company Ambient. The electric wheelchair operates by catching the signals sent from user's brain to their larynx (voice box), even when there is no audiable sound. Wheelchair was developed to help people with spinal injuries, or neurological problems like cerebral palsy or motor neurone disease. This revolutionary brain interface allows user to operate computer and other equipment despite serious problems with muscle control. Similar to autonomous remote controlled electric wheelchair we already wrote about, this system allows user even more freedom, as all user has to do is think of the word. System consists of larynx (voice box), which user must be able to operate - and most likely can, even in the event of poor muscle coordination necessary to produce coherent speech.

This breakthrough voice boy system called larynx control system, or shortly "Audeo", was developed by researchers Michael Callahan and Thomas Coleman at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US, who together also founded Ambient. 

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Otto Bock HealthCare, a global manufacturer of prosthetic components began developing a prosthetic knee system in 2006. Project started when company was awarded a three-year $1 million contract to develop a leg that will allow US Army service members to stay on active duty if they choose to, and Otto Bock seem like logical choice, as their C-LEG product was ahead of the competition in this field.

The current C-Leg allows users a choice between two operating modes: one for walking and another for bicycling (or any other preprogrammed activity). The "problem" is switching between modes, as the wearer has to swing the leg forward in a jerky fashion. The new C-LEG will support up to 10 programmable modes, switchable through a small remote control about the size of a car alarm remote. Reprogramming a mode with another special activity will still require a visit to a technician…

The new C-LEG project is currently in the prototype stage, and if there will be no bigger technical problems, the new prosthesis should be available to US army service members in 2009, which means that in 2010 or at most a year after, it will be also available on free market. The new, much improved system will cost the same, as current C-LEG offer - approximately $30.000. C-LEG is special because it is hydraulic prosthetic leg based on technology similar to Segway… C-LEG's CPU brain automatically adapts to changes

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ALTERNATIVES

This is part 3 and conclusion of brain controlled assistive devices future… We have reviewed three products already on the market (or in last stages of development), and today we will check what else is out there, and what alternatives exist… At the end, we will wrap our closing thoughts on cost and whether and when pricing of these devices will fall on more acceptable levels…

OCZ's Neural Impulse Actuator

The newest player in brain controller technology is PC memory maker OCZ, known especially in over clocking community. Their latest brainchild, the Actuator (based on Cyberlink's Brainfingers) claims to bring mind controlled functionality to mass market for a price below $300. Device is identical to Brainfingers, therefore we will not review it in depth. It will suffice to say, that it tracks movement of user’s eyes, monitors brain waves and picks up facial muscle movements uses recorded signals to link to input commands on the computer, allowing user to play Tetris or even a first person shooter, or trigger external commands, i.e. piloting electric wheelchair

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This is part 2 of brain controlled assistive devices future…

In first part of the article, we already reviewed the Cyberlink Brainfingers device, and this is the continuation of the article, covering the other two products on market…

The notion of using brain activity to interact with devices isn't new. A number of schools–such as the University of Minnesota; University of California, San Diego; and Purdue–have research labs devoted to decoding thoughts from the brain and manipulating cursors on a screen, which is especially useful for disabled people. In addition, companies have cropped up in the past couple of years claiming to offer an effective brain-computer interface for video games or for biofeedback purposes. For instance, S.M.A.R.T. BrainGames, a company based in San Marcos, CA, sells EEG caps designed to treat people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder…

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Recently we had an opportunity to see interesting BCI solutions (Brain-Computer Interface), that provide a new communication channel between the human brain and the computer (also allowing operating various devices). As you probably know, mental activity leads to changes of electrophysiological signals like the Electroencephalogram (EEG) or Electrocorticogram (ECoG), and BCI systems detect such changes and transform them into control signals which can, for example, be used as control devices for operating electric wheelchairs.

One of the main goals for BCI devices is to enable completely paralyzed patients (locked-in syndrome) to interact with world around them (use mouse pointer on computer, communicate over internet) and to make their life more accessible (operating electronic devices, driving electric powered wheelchair)…

What seemed to be science fiction yet a decade ago is now a reality. We witnessed the demonstration of three devices, developed by companies with completely different background. The operating details for three devices are way different, yet all devices follow the similar concept, but come at different price tag and availability. Cyberlink’s Brainfingers is already on the market, Emotiv’s is in final stages of development and is scheduled for 2008, and the most advanced one, Guger Technology's g.BCI is still in research and development, although it already shows remarkable advancements.

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