TOPIC 5.
Research on Improving the Sensory or Motor Health
and Functional Status of Individuals
with Disabilities of All Ages

• Writing Rehabilitation System with Dynamic Analysis Tools
• Omnidirectional Wheelchair to Increase the Mobility of Persons with Physical Disabilities
• Development of Noise-based Devices That Enhance Somatosensory Function

SPONSORING OFFICE:
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Abstract:
The task of handwriting has always been linked to the psychological and educational well being of an individual. Even now recent research professes that the lessons of handwriting have such a beneficial impact that such learning is paramount to healthy mental development. Consequently, to lose this important skill due to a stroke or other debilitation is immeasurably distressing. The physical degeneration has an even greater psychologically negative effect. To offset this regression an occupational therapist must spend many hours helping this person gain back some if not all of their handwriting skills. In order to more efficiently facilitate the work of the therapist, the focus of this project is to develop an assistive technology, which can be used by the patient in their home or a professional setting. This system would be capable of physically helping the individual perform handwriting motions and then monitoring their own performance through sensory interfaces. The advantage of this "writing trainer" is that the occupational therapist can preprogram or select routines, which the patient can go through on their own. Working with preeminent authorities in the field the Investigator will develop a system to assist and accelerate the learning or relearning of the art of handwriting.

Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
A comprehensive analysis of the conceptual system will evaluate selected initial designs. The system, which best exceeds the design constraints and parameters will then undergo a final optimization. Kinematic analysis, stress and strain analysis, even life cycle testing will result in a thorough performance mapping of the design. This analytical data from the Phase I research will verify the optimum design which will be fabricated and tested for the Phase II project.

Though the focus of this proposal is for a rehabilitative device, the writing trainer has the potential to be used as an educational aid in the elementary school system. In these two areas alone the commercial potential is almost unfathomable. It has been attested by experts in handwriting study that this system could be envisioned in every school in the country.

Abstract:
Lincoln Laboratories (80%) proposes to collaborate with Utah State University (20%) to develop an omnidirectional wheelchair, which is simple, light, inexpensive, and capable of outdoor navigation. Translation and rotation in any direction is accomplished by rotating the base of the wheelchair with respect to the chair of an existing mid-wheel drive wheelchair. This retrofit requires only one additional motor and two sensors and effectively overcomes the obstacles others have had in trying to commercialize this needed capability. The objectives of Phase I are to determine the design criteria via consumer investigation, and confirm the feasibility of building a control system capable of performing these maneuvers satisfactorily given a variety of terrain and users. This work will draw from the extensive experience the collaborators have had in vocational rehabilitation, and in developing omnidirectional vehicles and control systems.

Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Activities of this proposal will include a market analysis, collection of consumer feedback on product acceptance and user interface issues, and the development of technical feasibility data based on consumer specifications. These activities will result in the following outcomes. First, this project will result in a description of the target market and additional consumer markets that may be appropriate, including the market size and potential revenues from each market. Second, consumer-driven product specifications in the design, ease of use and user interface will be developed as a result of this Phase I project. Finally, technical specifications leading to the development of a prototype device will be a major result of this project. The feasibility of the product design is subsumed in this outcome.

Abstract:
Stochastic resonance (SR), a counterintuitive phenomenon in which slight amounts of environmental noise actually increase the discernability of signals or stimuli, has been demonstrated to produce an effect in networks of sensory cells. Experiments have shown that both healthy young and clinical subjects -- elderly, diabetics, and stroke sufferers -- exhibit a significant increase in somatosensory (tactile and proprioceptive) sensitivity when electrical or mechanical noise is presented at the site of the stimulus. Somatosensory dysfunction in these groups is known to have significant clinical sequellae including gait abnormalities, propensity to fall, and foot ulcers.

The goal of the proposed research is to advance early laboratory results toward a therapeutic electrical stimulation device for enhancing somatosensory sensitivity of individuals in these large clinical populations. Our technical focus will be on demonstrating that SR stimulation produces a true functional benefit. To this end, we will perform tests that represent certain activities of daily living and evaluate whether the use of electrical noise results in better function.

Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
We expect to show that electrical noise applied to certain areas of the foot and ankle produces a demonstrable improvement in elderly subjects' tactile sense and quiet stance stability. These results would lead the way to commercialization of a new class of devices that would not only be beneficial individual's mobility and security, but also would result in significant savings in healthcare for a broad classes of patient groups.

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