In addition to shaking hands with a robot to regain motor skills, stroke patients may be able to retrain their brains and recover hand motion by playing video games with a sensor glove developed at McGill University.
Mechanical engineering students under Rosaire Mongrain produced the Biomedical Sensor Glove in cooperation with Montreal start-up Jintronix.
The prototype has inertial measurement units to track the movement of the wrist, palm, and index finger. Patients play a video game involving a virtual hand that manipulates objects.
Related links
? Robot's handshake helps stroke survivors
? Grandma had a stroke? Teach her to play Wii
? Study: Video games aid post-stroke motor skills
? U.S. Navy submarine sonar tech targets strokes
Associated software produces 3D models and lets patients monitor their progress at home. The system also sends data to treating physicians so they can keep tabs on the recovery process.
"The glove could take on many forms, and even rings alone could be used," Mongrain says. "The technology could also benefit people learning surgery and instruments such as piano."
Similar commercial gloves exist, but cost tens of thousands of dollars. By using cheaper sensors, the Biomedical Sensor Glove would cost about $1,000 to produce. Jintronix has submitted the idea to Grand Challenges Canada, an international development NPO, for funding.
Yet another good reason to keep playing video games.
If you have a question or comment for Tim Hornyak, you can submit it here. However, because our editors and writers receive hundreds of requests, we cannot tell you when you may receive a response.
Crave freelancer Tim Hornyak is the author of "Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots." He has been writing about Japanese culture and technology for a decade. Tim is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. E-mail Tim.
drudge report twin towers conspiracy theories air tran ayman al zawahiri
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.