NON-INVASIVE MOTOR IMPAIRMENT REHABILITATION SYSTEM
The following relates generally to systems, methods and devices for rehabilitation of patients with motor impairment. Electrical signals of a patient may be sensed using electrodes. From the electrical signals, an intent to move or focus level may be determined. Based on the electrical signals, neuromuscular stimulation is delivered to the patient. The stimulation may be delivered through a neuromuscular stimulation sleeve.
1 . A method of rehabilitating a patient with motor impairment, comprising:
receiving electrical signals from electrodes positioned on or in the patient's head;
determining an intent to move a specific body part of the patient from the electrical signals;
determining a focus level of the patient from the electrical signals; and
based on the intent to move and focus level, delivering electrical stimulation through sleeve electrodes of a sleeve positioned on the specific body part of the patient to cause movement of the specific body part.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the intent to move is calculated based on a change in amplitude of the beta frequency band in the received electrical signals.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the amplitude of the beta frequency band decreases by at least 5% for a time of at least one-tenth second.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the intent to move is calculated after the patient goes through a calibration period of about five seconds to about 20 seconds to determine a baseline by which changes are measured.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the focus level is determined by a change in amplitude of the gamma frequency band in the received electrical signals compared to a calibration period.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the amplitude of the gamma frequency band increases by at least 5% for a time of at least one-tenth second.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the patient is focusing on a desired movement of the specific body part.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of the delivered electrical stimulation to the specific body part is a function of at least one feature of the received electrical signals.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one feature is selected from the group consisting of the signal amplitude, the amplitude of the signal in a given frequency range, the amplitude of the signal in a wavelet scale, and the firing rate.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the delivered electrical stimulation is decreased based on a change in strength of the patient.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
tracking an eye movement of the patient with an eye tracking device; and
determining the focus level based on the electrical signals from the electrodes and the tracked eye movement.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the eye tracking device comprises a camera connected to the headset.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the determined focus level of the patient is modified based on whether an eye of the patient is focused on the specific body part of the patient.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging the patient with a rehabilitative videogame that instructs the patient to move an impaired body part of the patient.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising increasing a difficulty level of the videogame if the focus level is below a predetermined threshold.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
during a first rehabilitative session, calculating a stimulation factor based on the electrical signals;
prior to a second rehabilitative session, reducing the calculated stimulation factor; and
delivering the electrical stimulation based on the calculated stimulation factor.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein if the focus level is below a predetermined threshold, providing a visual or aural indication that the patient is not focused.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received electrical signals are received from implanted electrodes implanted within the patient.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the patient.