Research

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20 pages, 5070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Non-Invasive Medical Device for Parkinson’s Patients with Episodes of Freezing of Gait

by Catalina Punin, Boris Barzallo, Roger Clotet, Alexander Bermeo, Marco Bravo, Juan Pablo Bermeo and Carlos Llumiguano

Sensors 2019, 19(3), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030737 - 12 Feb 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6614

Abstract

A critical symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the occurrence of Freezing of Gait (FOG), an episodic disorder that causes frequent falls and consequential injuries in PD patients. There are various auditory, visual, tactile, and other types of stimulation interventions that can be [...] Read more.

A critical symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the occurrence of Freezing of Gait (FOG), an episodic disorder that causes frequent falls and consequential injuries in PD patients. There are various auditory, visual, tactile, and other types of stimulation interventions that can be used to induce PD patients to escape FOG episodes. In this article, we describe a low cost wearable system for non-invasive gait monitoring and external delivery of superficial vibratory stimulation to the lower extremities triggered by FOG episodes. The intended purpose is to reduce the duration of the FOG episode, thus allowing prompt resumption of gait to prevent major injuries. The system, based on an Android mobile application, uses a tri-axial accelerometer device for gait data acquisition. Gathered data is processed via a discrete wavelet transform-based algorithm that precisely detects FOG episodes in real time. Detection activates external vibratory stimulation of the legs to reduce FOG time. The integration of detection and stimulation in one low cost device is the chief novel contribution of this work. We present analyses of sensitivity, specificity and effectiveness of the proposed system to validate its usefulness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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16 pages, 3068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Giok the Alien: An AR-Based Integrated System for the Empowerment of Problem-Solving, Pragmatic, and Social Skills in Pre-School Children

by Maria Luisa Lorusso, Marisa Giorgetti, Simona Travellini, Luca Greci, Andrea Zangiacomi, Marta Mondellini, Marco Sacco and Gianluigi Reni

Sensors 2018, 18(7), 2368; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072368 - 21 Jul 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5472

Abstract

The use of technology for educational purposes is a consolidated reality, and many new tools are constantly being devised and offered for use with both normally developing children and children with special needs. Nonetheless, a detailed analysis of the processes being stimulated and [...] Read more.

The use of technology for educational purposes is a consolidated reality, and many new tools are constantly being devised and offered for use with both normally developing children and children with special needs. Nonetheless, a detailed analysis of the processes being stimulated and of the goals being pursued is often lacking or absent. In this work we describe the design, development and preliminary testing of an integrated system which combines the use of smart devices, a physical cube, augmented reality (AR) technology, a smart TV, and a software application especially designed to stimulate cognitive and social functions in pre-school children. The system was tested with three groups of children (25 children in total) during kindergarten activities. The results show that the system is easy to understand, elicits high levels of participation and social interaction, favors strategic behaviors, and can be used by the children with limited need of instruction and support by the adult. The implications for empowerment in typically developing children and the possibilities for use with children who have specific impairments in social communication are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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16 pages, 3438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Validation of an FPGA-Based Configurable Transcranial Doppler Neurofeedback System for Chronic Pain Patients

by Beatriz Rey, Alejandro Rodríguez, Enrique Lloréns-Bufort, José Tembl, Miguel Ángel Muñoz, Pedro Montoya, Vicente Herrero-Bosch and Jose M. Monzo

Sensors 2018, 18(7), 2278; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072278 - 14 Jul 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3421

Abstract

Neurofeedback is a self-regulation technique that can be applied to learn to voluntarily control cerebral activity in specific brain regions. In this work, a Transcranial Doppler-based configurable neurofeedback system is proposed and described. The hardware configuration is based on the Red Pitaya board, [...] Read more.

Neurofeedback is a self-regulation technique that can be applied to learn to voluntarily control cerebral activity in specific brain regions. In this work, a Transcranial Doppler-based configurable neurofeedback system is proposed and described. The hardware configuration is based on the Red Pitaya board, which gives great flexibility and processing power to the system. The parameter to be trained can be selected between several temporal, spectral, or complexity features from the cerebral blood flow velocity signal in different vessels. As previous studies have found alterations in these parameters in chronic pain patients, the system could be applied to help them to voluntarily control these parameters. Two protocols based on different temporal lengths of the training periods have been proposed and tested with six healthy subjects that were randomly assigned to one of the protocols at the beginning of the procedure. For the purposes of the testing, the trained parameter was the mean cerebral blood flow velocity in the aggregated data from the two anterior cerebral arteries. Results show that, using the proposed neurofeedback system, the two groups of healthy volunteers can learn to self-regulate a parameter from their brain activity in a reduced number of training sessions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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18 pages, 3172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3D Analysis of Upper Limbs Motion during Rehabilitation Exercises Using the Kinect^TM Sensor: Development, Laboratory Validation and Clinical Application

by Bruno Bonnechère, Victor Sholukha, Lubos Omelina, Serge Van Sint Jan and Bart Jansen

Sensors 2018, 18(7), 2216; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072216 - 10 Jul 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3915

Abstract

Optoelectronic devices are the gold standard for 3D evaluation in clinics, but due to the complexity of this kind of hardware and the lack of access for patients, affordable, transportable, and easy-to-use systems must be developed to be largely used in daily clinics. [...] Read more.

Optoelectronic devices are the gold standard for 3D evaluation in clinics, but due to the complexity of this kind of hardware and the lack of access for patients, affordable, transportable, and easy-to-use systems must be developed to be largely used in daily clinics. The Kinect^TM sensor has various advantages compared to optoelectronic devices, such as its price and transportability. However, it also has some limitations: (in)accuracy of the skeleton detection and tracking as well as the limited amount of available points, which makes 3D evaluation impossible. To overcome these limitations, a novel method has been developed to perform 3D evaluation of the upper limbs. This system is coupled to rehabilitation exercises, allowing functional evaluation while performing physical rehabilitation. To validate this new approach, a two-step method was used. The first step was a laboratory validation where the results obtained with the Kinect^TM were compared with the results obtained with an optoelectronic device; 40 healthy young adults participated in this first part. The second step was to determine the clinical relevance of this kind of measurement. Results of the healthy subjects were compared with a group of 22 elderly adults and a group of 10 chronic stroke patients to determine if different patterns could be observed. The new methodology and the different steps of the validations are presented in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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18 pages, 7333 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing Interactive Experiences for Children with Cochlear Implant

by Sandra Cano, Leandro Flórez-Aristizábal, César A. Collazos, Habib M. Fardaoun and Daniyal M. Alghazzawi

Sensors 2018, 18(7), 2154; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072154 - 04 Jul 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have grown exponentially in the education context and the use of digital products by children is increasing. As a result, teachers are taking advantage of ICTs to include mobile devices such as Tablets or Smartphones inside the classroom [...] Read more.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have grown exponentially in the education context and the use of digital products by children is increasing. As a result, teachers are taking advantage of ICTs to include mobile devices such as Tablets or Smartphones inside the classroom as playful support material to motivate children during their learning. Designing an interactive experience for a child with a special need such as a hearing impairment is a great challenge. In this article, two interactive systems are depicted, using a non-traditional interaction, by the following stages: analysis, design and implementation, with the participation of children with cochlear implant in the Institute of Blind and Deaf Children of Valle del Cauca, Colombia and the ASPAS Institute, Mallorca, Spain, who evaluated both interactive systems, PHONOMAGIC and CASETO. Positive results were obtained, showing that the use of real objects can greatly influence the environment in which children interact with the game, allowing them to explore and manipulate the objects supporting their teaching-learning processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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21 pages, 4416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Web-Based Platform to Support Physical Rehabilitation

by Yves Rybarczyk, Jan Kleine Deters, Clément Cointe and Danilo Esparza

Sensors 2018, 18(5), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18051344 - 26 Apr 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4450

Abstract

The enhancement of ubiquitous and pervasive computing brings new perspectives in medical rehabilitation. In that sense, the present study proposes a smart, web-based platform to promote the reeducation of patients after hip replacement surgery. This project focuses on two fundamental aspects in the [...] Read more.

The enhancement of ubiquitous and pervasive computing brings new perspectives in medical rehabilitation. In that sense, the present study proposes a smart, web-based platform to promote the reeducation of patients after hip replacement surgery. This project focuses on two fundamental aspects in the development of a suitable tele-rehabilitation application, which are: (i) being based on an affordable technology, and (ii) providing the patients with a real-time assessment of the correctness of their movements. A probabilistic approach based on the development and training of ten Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) is used to discriminate in real time the main faults in the execution of the therapeutic exercises. Two experiments are designed to evaluate the precision of the algorithm for classifying movements performed in the laboratory and clinical settings, respectively. A comparative analysis of the data shows that the models are as reliable as the physiotherapists to discriminate and identify the motion errors. The results are discussed in terms of the required setup for a successful application in the field and further implementations to improve the accuracy and usability of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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Review

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 553 KiB

Open AccessReview

Scoping Review of Systems to Train Psychomotor Skills in Hearing Impaired Children

by Victor M. Peñeñory, Cristina Manresa-Yee, Inmaculada Riquelme, Cesar A. Collazos and Habib M. Fardoun

Sensors 2018, 18(8), 2546; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18082546 - 03 Aug 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4304

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this work is to provide a scoping review to compile and classify the systems helping train and enhance psychomotor skills in hearing impaired (HI) children. Methods: Based on an exhaustive review on psychomotor deficits in HI children, the procedure [...] Read more.

Objectives: The aim of this work is to provide a scoping review to compile and classify the systems helping train and enhance psychomotor skills in hearing impaired (HI) children. Methods: Based on an exhaustive review on psychomotor deficits in HI children, the procedure used to carry out a scoping review was: select keywords and identify synonyms, select databases and prepare the queries using keywords, analyze the quality of the works found using the PEDro Scale, classify the works based on psychomotor competences, analyze the interactive systems (e.g., sensors), and the achieved results. Results: Thirteen works were found. These works used a variety of sensors and input devices such as cameras, contact sensors, touch screens, mouse and keyboard, tangible objects, haptic and virtual reality (VR) devices. Conclusions: From the research it was possible to contextualize the deficits and psychomotor problems of HI children that prevent their normal development. Additionally, from the analysis of different proposals of interactive systems addressed to this population, it was possible to establish the current state of the use of different technologies and how they contribute to psychomotor rehabilitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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15 pages, 939 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Evidence-Based Systematic Review

by Patricia Mesa-Gresa, Hermenegildo Gil-Gómez, José-Antonio Lozano-Quilis and José-Antonio Gil-Gómez

Sensors 2018, 18(8), 2486; https://doi.org/10.3390/s18082486 - 01 Aug 2018

Cited by 193 | Viewed by 20600

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease that is specially characterized by impairments in social communication and social skills. ASD has a high prevalence in children, affecting 1 in 160 subjects. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an effective tool for intervention [...] Read more.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease that is specially characterized by impairments in social communication and social skills. ASD has a high prevalence in children, affecting 1 in 160 subjects. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an effective tool for intervention in the health field. Different recent papers have reviewed the VR-based treatments in ASD, but they have an important limitation because they only use clinical databases and do not include important technical indexes such as the Web of Science index or the Scimago Journal & Country Rank. To our knowledge, this is the first contribution that has carried out an evidence-based systematic review including both clinical and technical databases about the effectiveness of VR-based intervention in ASD. The initial search identified a total of 450 records. After the exclusion of the papers that are not studies, duplicated articles, and the screening of the abstract and full text, 31 articles met the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) criteria and were selected for analysis. The studies examined suggest moderate evidence about the effectiveness of VR-based treatments in ASD. VR can add many advantages to the treatment of ASD symptomatology, but it is necessary to develop consistent validations in future studies to state that VR can effectively complement the traditional treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensors Applied in Multimodal Systems—Selected Papers from the Second Ecuador Technical Chapters Meeting (IEEE-ETCM))

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