Rehabilitation System with Neural Feedback for Muscle Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rehabilitation systems for patients with damaged muscles and/or nerves are costly and lack user adherence due to slow recovery progress and lack of feedback, leading to patient discouragement.
Innovation Solution
A rehabilitation system comprising a brain activity sensor, muscle sensor, display, and control unit that provides visual feedback on intended movements of affected body parts, using both neural and muscular activity signals to determine and display intended movements, enhancing user motivation and rehabilitation success.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closed loop neural activity triggered rehabilitation devices are used to facilitate recovery, then recovery effects are improved, but recovery progress is very slow and difficult to perceive by the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that provides visual representation of intended movements to the patient in real-time. The system detects neural signals from the brain, determines the intended movement, and displays it visually, creating a closed-loop feedback system that allows patients to perceive their recovery progress immediately, thereby maintaining motivation and trust in the rehabilitation process.
2Reliability
If closed loop rehabilitation devices are used, then recovery effects are improved, but user adherence is low due to lack of feedback and patient discouragement
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying the intended movement on a screen, allowing patients to see their brain's intended actions translated into visual representations. This immediate feedback creates a sense of control and progress, reducing discouragement and improving adherence to the rehabilitation program.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the intended movement on a display device. This visual copy allows patients to observe and understand their neural commands being translated into meaningful motor actions, enhancing their engagement and commitment to the therapy.
3Reliability
If rehabilitation therapy is provided to patients with damaged muscles and nerves, then muscle and nerve regeneration is achieved, but costs are enormous
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to actively participate in their own rehabilitation by providing them with real-time feedback on their neural activity and intended movements. This self-service approach empowers patients to monitor and adjust their own therapy, reducing the need for constant professional supervision and lowering overall rehabilitation costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system improves user adherence and rehabilitation success by providing early visual feedback on recovery progress, motivating patients to continue therapy and enhancing the association between brain activity and muscular responses.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor system positionable adjacent the brain of the patient for detecting neural signals
Implementation Method 2
a muscle sensor for measuring a muscular activity of the damaged muscle and/or a neural activity of the damaged nerve
Implementation Method 3
A functional stimulation component is operatively connectable to at least one body part, such as a muscle or a nerve. The functional stimulation component stimulates the at least one body part in response to the neural signals detected
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a rehabilitation system (10) for a patient (24) suffering from a damaged muscle and/or nerve, said system (10) comprising: a brain activity sensor (14) for measuring a patient's brain activity related to controlling the damaged muscle and/or nerve; —a muscle sensor (18) for measuring a muscular activity of the damaged muscle and/or a neural activity of the damaged nerve; a display (22) for displaying a representation (34) of an affected body part of the patient (24); and a control unit (20) for determining an intended movement of the affected body part in which the damaged muscle and/or nerve is arranged, and for controlling the display (22) to display a representation (36) of the intended movement, wherein the control unit (20) is configured to determine the intended movement based on the patient's brain activity measured by the brain activity sensor (14) and based on the muscular and/or neural activity of the damaged muscle and/or nerve measured by the muscle sensor (18).