Robotic devices powered by the patient’s own brain can help improve stroke rehabilitation

Stroke survivors who no longer benefit from traditional rehabilitation have gained clinically significant arm movement and control by using external robotic devices powered by the patient’s own brain.

Results of clinical trials were published in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical..

Hoselis Contreras Vidal, director of the Institute for Non-Invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems at the University of Houston, has shown that most patients remain profitable for at least two months after the end of a treatment session, with tests showing long-term benefits. He said it suggests the potential for profit. He is also a prominent professor of electrical and computer engineering at Huroy and Lily Potter Karen.

In this study, a brain-machine interface (BMI) was used to train stroke survivors with restricted movement of one arm. This is a computer program that captures brain activity to determine a subject’s intent and triggers an exoskeleton or robotic device attached to the affected arm. Move according to those intentions. If no intent is detected, the device does not move, ensuring that the subject continues to engage in exercise.

The use of robotics in rehabilitation is nothing new, he said, Contreras-Vidal, co-principal investigator of the study and pioneer of non-invasive BMI systems. However, robot-assisted movements generally do not involve users. This is important to take advantage of the plasticity of the brain so that the patient can relearn movements.

This project confirms that the brain is involved. If the arms are moving, it is because they are commanding them to move. It’s a very powerful concept. “

Jose Luis Contreras-Director, Institute for Non-Invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems, University of Houston, Vidal

By testing the subjects for a period of time prior to the start of the study, researchers were able to confirm that the changes or improvements were due to intervention. In addition to better arm movements, researchers reported that subjects also showed improvement in their hand use.

“This is a new way to measure what’s happening in the brain in response to therapeutic intervention,” said Gerald, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at McGavan Medical College and chair of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Dr. Francisco said. Co-Senior Researcher. “This study suggests that the use of certain types of interventions, in this case upper robots, may develop the intent of certain parts of the brain to move. In the future, it will be important. By paying more attention to, it means that existing treatment programs can be enhanced by engaging in specific parts of the brain that can expand the response to treatment. “

The study was conducted at TIRR Memorial Hermann, where Francisco is Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Neurorecovery Research Center. The project was a collaboration between UH, UTHealth, TIRR Memorial Hermann, the Houston Methodist Institute, and Rice University.

In addition to Francisco and Contreras-Vidal, who are also directors of the BRAIN Center, an NSF Industrial / University Joint Institute, the researchers involved in this project include Nikunj A. Bhagat and UH’s Zachary Hernandez. Nuray Yozbatiran, Rupa Paranjape and UT Health; Dr. Zafer Keser, formerly a member of UT Health. Jennifer L. Sullivan, Colin Losey, Co-Principal Investigator Marcia K. O’Malley with Rice; Dr. Robert Grossmann of the Houston Methodist Institute. O’Malley is also the Director of Rehabilitation Engineering at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

It was funded by the National Center of Neurology and Neurology, Stroke and Mission Connect Institute, which is part of the TIRR Foundation.

“Our people who have been studying the brain for many years predict that the power combined with robotics and the brain-machine interface could bring unimaginable benefits to stroke survivors and other patients with brain damage. “It was,” said Professor Grossman of Neurosurgery at the Houston Methodist. “This study is just the beginning of the future treatment of stroke, spinal cord injury and other traumatic brain injuries.”

The study was conducted over a period of several years, partly because it took time to find subjects who met the criteria, were interested in participating, and could make the promise of the required time. Finally, 10 subjects between the ages of 41 and 71 were enrolled.

Treatment was given 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The final follow-up test was conducted two months after the end of treatment, and Contreras-Vidal said it was unclear if the effect would last for a long time.

That leads to an ongoing project-Contreras-Vidal has a National Science Foundation grant to design a low-cost system that allows people to continue treatment at home.

“If we can take the device and send them home, they can use it for the rest of their lives,” he said.