Development of a general purpose computer-based platform to provide functional assistance to people with severe motor disabilities

Research and development into a generic assistive platform, which can accommodate a variety of patients suffering from a wide range of motor disabilities is described. Methodologies were established, whereby the design could be made sufficiently flexible, such that it could be programmed to suit these people in terms of their needs and level of motor disability. This needed to be achieved without redesigning the system for each person. Suitable sensors were chosen to sense the residual motor function of the disabled individual, while being non-invasive and safe for use. These sensors included a dual-axis accelerometer (tilt switch), a 6-key touch sensor and a SCATIR switch (blink/wink sensor). The placement of the sensors, for the purpose of this study, were restricted to sensing arm (dual-axis accelerometer) or finger movements (touch sensors), head and neck movements (accelerometer) and blink/wink and/or eye-brow movements (SCATIR switch). These input devices were used to control a variety of different output functions, as required by the user, while being non-invasive and safe for use. After ethics approval was obtained, volunteers with various motor disabilities were subsequently invited to test the system and thereafter requested to answer a series of questions regarding the performance and potential usefulness of the system. The input sensors were found to be comfortable and easy to use, while performing predictably and with very little to no fatigue experienced. The system performed as expected and accepted all of the input sensors attached to it, while repeating specific tasks multiple times. It was also established that the system was customisable in terms of providing a specific output for a specific and voluntary input. The system could be improved by further compacting and simplifying the design and operation, while using wireless sensors were necessary. It was thereafter concluded that the system, in general, was capable of satisfying the various users’ diverse requirements, thereby achieving the required objectives

Analysis of essential oils from Scutellaria orientalis ssp. alpina and S. utriculata by GC and GC-MS.

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from aerial parts of Scutellaria orientalis L. ssp. alpina (Boiss.) O. Schwarz and S. utriculata Labill. growing wild in Lebanon, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. In S. orientalis ssp. alpina, strongly characterized by sesquiterpenes (41.2%) and particularly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (31.7%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (11.7%) was recognized as the main constituent, together with hexadecanoic acid (7.6%), caryophyllene (7.4%), caryophyllene oxide (6.8%), 4-vinylguaiacol (5.4%) and germacrene D (5.4%). S. utriculata oil was instead constituted above all by monoterpenes (42.2%), particularly oxygen containing monoterpenes (39.9%), and in this oil the main compounds were linalool (20.1%), 4-vinyl guaiacol (15.5%), α-terpineol (8.9%), ( E)-nerolidol (8.9%) and geraniol (8.2%)

A Simple Gaze Tracker for Computer Operation by the Disabled in Education

A compact gaze tracker was developed which consists of a head band and electrodes which process the Electro-Oculo-Gram (EOG) reflecting the patient´s eye movements. We have confirmed that the processed EOG signal correlates well with gaze angle, and we show that the instrument we designed enables a child to move a target on a screen up to 40 degrees left-right from central sight. To achieve this, a signal processing circuit was designed and placed on a head band to minimize noise. Further processing is based on the identification of saccadic eye movements and on the educated calculation of the estimated gaze angle as a result of angle change in both directions. A 75% success rate was achieved to detect transitions of eye positions in 5° steps from +40° to -40°. First tests by normal children suggest that the device may prove useful for communication by the disabled (e.g. patients with no control on hand movements). In such cases, extensive personal training will tap on neurological plasticity to achieve the required performance level for computer mouse command of educational games and for interactive applications in general

A Simple Gaze Tracker for Computer Operation by the Disabled in Education

A compact gaze tracker was developed which consists of a head band and electrodes which process the Electro-Oculo-Gram (EOG) reflecting the patient´s eye movements. We have confirmed that the processed EOG signal correlates well with gaze angle, and we show that the instrument we designed enables a child to move a target on a screen up to 40 degrees left-right from central sight. To achieve this, a signal processing circuit was designed and placed on a head band to minimize noise. Further processing is based on the identification of saccadic eye movements and on the educated calculation of the estimated gaze angle as a result of angle change in both directions. A 75% success rate was achieved to detect transitions of eye positions in 5° steps from +40° to -40°. First tests by normal children suggest that the device may prove useful for communication by the disabled (e.g. patients with no control on hand movements). In such cases, extensive personal training will tap on neurological plasticity to achieve the required performance level for computer mouse command of educational games and for interactive applications in general.Um rastreador visual compacto que foi desenvolvido consiste numa faixa para a cabeça com eletrodos que processam o Electro-Oculo-Gram (EOG), acompanhando o movimento do olhar do paciente. Confi rmamos que o sinal processado pelo EOG correlaciona-se muito bem com o ângulo do olhar, e nos mostra que o instrumento projetado possibilita a criança mover o alvo na tela de 40º esquerda-direita da vista central. Para isso, um circuito de processamento de sinal foi projetado e colocado em uma faixa de cabeça para minimizar ruídos. O processamento adicional foi baseado na identifi cação dos movimentos oculares e o cálculo estimado do ângulo da faixa resultaram na mudança do ângulo em ambas as direções. Uma taxa de 75% de sucesso foi alcançada na detecção das posições do olho numa escala de 5º desde +40º até -40º. Os primeiros testes em crianças sem defi ciência indicam que o dispositivo pode ser viável para comunicação de pessoas com defi ciência (ex. sujeitos que não tem controle dos movimentos das mãos). Nesses casos, o treinamento extensivo de profi ssionais poderá alcançar a plasticidade neurológica requerida para comandar o mouse do computador dos jogos educacionais e aplicações interativas em geral

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil from Aerial Parts of Stachys palustris L. (Lamiaceae) Growing Wild in Southern Italy

The paper reports the composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Stachys palustris L. (Lamiaceae) from Southern Italy. The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation from selected plants and its chemical composition was determined by the GC-MS system on two fused- silica capillary columns of different polarity. The mass fraction of oil was 0.21 % on a dry weight basis. Altogether, 92 compounds were identified accounting for 93.6 % of the total oil, which was characterized mainly by carbonylic compounds (25.4 %), fatty acids and their esters (24.2 %), along with sesquiterpenoidic compounds (16.0 %) and phenols (11.2 %). The major components of the sample were caryophyllene oxide (7.8 %), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.4 %), hexadecanoic acid (6.8 %), (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (6.7 %), (Z)-phytol (6.4 %), thymol (5.8 %), p-methoxyacetophenone (5.1 %), 4-vinylguiacole (3. %), tetradecanoic acid (3.8 %), (E)-caryophyllene (3.6 %), b-ionone (3.3 %) and b-damascenone (3.0 %)

Electromechanical and robotic devices for gait and balance rehabilitation of children with neurological disability: a systematic review

In the last two decades, a growing interest has been focused on gait and balance robot-assisted rehabilitation in children with neurological disabilities. Robotic devices allow the implementation of intensive, task-specific training fostering functional recovery and neuroplasticity phenomena. However, limited attention has been paid to the protocols used in this research framework. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on robotic systems for the rehabilitation of gait and balance in children with neurological disabilities and their rehabilitation applications. The literature search was carried out independently and synchronously by three authors on the following databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PeDro, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The data collected included three subsections referring to clinical, technical, and regulatory aspects. Thirty-one articles out of 81 found on the primary literature search were included in the systematic review. Most studies involved children with cerebral palsy. Only one-third of the studies were randomized controlled trials. Overall, 17 devices (nine end-effector systems and eight exoskeletons) were investigated, among which only 4 (24%) were bore the CE mark. Studies differ on rehabilitation protocols duration, intensity, and outcome measures. Future research should improve both rehabilitation protocols\u2019 and devices\u2019 descriptions

Robot-assisted upper limb training for patients with multiple sclerosis: an evidence-based review of clinical applications and effectiveness

Upper extremities limitation is a common functional impairment in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Novel technological devices are increasingly used in neurorehabilitation to support motor function improvement and the quantitative assessment of motor performance during training in patients with neurological diseases. In this review, we systematically report the evidence on clinical applications and robotic-assisted arm training (RAT) in functional recovery in PwMS. PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) databases were systematically searched from inception to March 2021. The 10-item PEDro scale assessed the study quality for the RCT, and the AMSTAR-2 was used to assess the quality of the systematic review. The 5-item Oxford CEBM scale was used to rate the level of evidence. A total of 10 studies (161 subjects) were included. The selected studies included one systematic review, four RCTs, one randomized crossover, and four case series. The RCTs were scored as high-quality studies, while the systematic review was determined to be of low quality. Shoulder range of motion, handgrip strength, and proximal arm impairment improved after RAT. Manual dexterity, arm function, and use in daily life also ameliorated arm function. The high clinical heterogeneity of treatment programs and the variety of robot devices affects the generalizability of the study results; therefore, we emphasize the need to standardize the intervention type in future studies that evaluate the role of robotic-assisted training in PwMS. Robot-assisted treatment seems safe and useful to increase manual dexterity and the quality of movement execution in PwMS with moderate to severe disability. Additional studies with an adequate sample size and methodological rigour are warranted to drive definite conclusion

Upper limb robotic rehabilitation for patients with cervical spinal cord injury: a comprehensive review

The upper extremities limitation represents one of the essential functional impairments in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Electromechanics assisted devices and robots are increasingly used in neurorehabilitation to help functional improvement in patients with neurological diseases. This review aimed to systematically report the evidence-based, state-of-art on clinical applications and robotic-assisted arm training (RAT) in motor and functional recovery in subjects affected by cervical spinal cord injury. The present study has been carried out within the framework of the Italian Consensus Conference on "Rehabilitation assisted by robotic and electromechanical devices for persons with disability of neurological origin" (CICERONE). PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) databases were systematically searched from inception to September 2021. The 10-item PEDro scale assessed the study quality for the RCT and the AMSTAR-2 for the systematic review. Two different authors rated the studies included in this review. If consensus was not achieved after discussion, a third reviewer was interrogated. The five-item Oxford CEBM scale was used to rate the level of evidence. A total of 11 studies were included. The selected studies were: two systematic reviews, two RCTs, one parallel-group controlled trial, one longitudinal intervention study and five case series. One RCT was scored as a high-quality study, while the systematic review was of low quality. RAT was reported as feasible and safe. Initial positive effects of RAT were found for arm function and quality of movement in addition to conventional therapy. The high clinical heterogeneity of treatment programs and the variety of robot devices could severely affect the generalizability of the study results. Therefore, future studies are warranted to standardize the type of intervention and evaluate the role of robotic-assisted training in subjects affected by cervical spinal cord injury

Effects of robotic upper limb treatment after stroke on cognitive patterns: A systematic review

Background: Robotic therapy (RT) has been internationally recognized for the motor rehabilitation of the upper limb. Although it seems that RT can stimulate and promote neuroplasticity, the effectiveness of robotics in restoring cognitive deficits has been considered only in a few recent studies. Objective: To verify whether, in the current state of the literature, cognitive measures are used as inclusion or exclusion criteria and/or outcomes measures in robotic upper limb rehabilitation in stroke patients. Methods: The systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies eligible were identified through PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science from inception to March 2021. Results: Eighty-one studies were considered in this systematic review. Seventy-three studies have at least a cognitive inclusion or exclusion criteria, while only seven studies assessed cognitive outcomes. Conclusion: Despite the high presence of cognitive instruments used for inclusion/exclusion criteria their heterogeneity did not allow the identification of a guideline for the evaluation of patients in different stroke stages. Therefore, although the heterogeneity and the low percentage of studies that included cognitive outcomes, seemed that the latter were positively influenced by RT in post-stroke rehabilitation. Future larger RCTs are needed to outline which cognitive scales are most suitable and their cut-off, as well as what cognitive outcome measures to use in the various stages of post-stroke rehabilitation