A Patient-Driven Augmented Reality-Based Rehabilitation System to Improve Upper Limb Amputee Outcomes
Abstract
Focus Area: Our proposal addresses the focus area of optimization of Warfighter performance following limb trauma or loss. The successful rehabilitation of injured warfighters with upper-limb loss (ULL) is critically important to restoring their ability to return to active duty. The proposed method will improve the patient’s ability to train and adapt to the prosthetic device before receiving it and the clinician’s ability to effectively counsel patients on the best clinical solution for them. This will help injured warfighters return to active duty and to live fuller lives with prosthetic systems that provide the best functional outcome possible. Patient Population: As of June 2015, the number of battle-injury major limb amputations that occurred in overseas (OEF/OIF/OND) conflicts since 2001 is 1,645. A major limb amputation includes the loss of one or more limbs, the loss of one or more partial limbs, or the loss of one or more full or partial hand or foot. Of these individuals, 293 have had upper-extremity involvement (17.47%). In contrast to the lower-limb amputee population, the typical upper-limb patient is characterized by being younger and healthier, with many years to contribute to military Service. The use of a prosthesis has the potential to enhance the lifestyle and abilities of this young and active population. Unfortunately, nearly one in five people with ULL are abandoning their prosthesis or rejecting it altogether, often due to inadequate training or inconsistent control. This proposal directly addresses this issue. Clinical Application: Our work to date has resulted in the development, validation, regulatory approval, and initial commercial sales of two different suites of technologies that can improve the lives of Warfighters who have suffered ULL and to help them return to active duty. First, our Sense pattern recognition control system (and associated Element low-profile surface EMG electrodes and FlexCell flexible lithium-polymer batteries) can interface with most myoelectric prostheses on the market. Second, our MyoTrain virtual-limb preprosthetic training system has been demonstrated to help individuals with ULL learn to use a sophisticated new way of controlling the prosthesis, called pattern recognition. This system is particularly valuable in the time period before it is feasible to fit the patient with a definitive prosthesis. While the current MyoTrain system helps people with ULL practice improving their ability to create consistent and accurate commands, it does not allow “task-based training.” In other words, it only trains individuals how to execute a single command control, not to complete a “real-world task.” The latter requires coordination of a number of different skills as opposed to execution of a single command such as “open hand.” Thus, we propose to extend MyoTrain by developing a suite of training modules based on activities of daily living and integrating these modules into an augmented reality environment to create a system called MyoTrain AR. We anticipate that this will be very useful to help train Warfighters who have suffered ULL to control their new prosthesis. Timeline to Clinical Impact: We have a strong track record of developing technologies that have a positive impact on the lives of Warfighters with ULL. This includes the current generation of the MyoTrain system, which is already deployed. Turning to the new MyoTrain AR system, it is anticipated that the development work will be completed in the first 12 months of the project. The system is classified as a “Class I Medical Device,” and thus registration and deployment for use with Warfighters is essentially immediately after this 12-month mark, without requiring delay for completion of the clinical study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2010919
Entities
People
- Rahul Kaliki
Organizations
- Infinite Biomedical Technologies (United States)
- United States Army