scholarly journals Manipulation Practice for Upper-Limb Amputees Using Virtual Reality

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjuladevi Kuttuva ◽  
Grigore Burdea ◽  
James Flint ◽  
William Craelius
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Java 3D ◽  
Virtual Objects ◽  
Virtual Hand ◽  
Hand Model ◽  
Challenging Environment

We developed a novel interface that gives upper-limb amputees a virtual hand that can manipulate objects in a challenging environment. The interface registers specific myokinetic activity of the residual limbs, and encodes the intended voluntary movements that are then actualized as virtual hand motions. The composite myokinetic interface-virtual reality (MKI-VR) system consists of an array of pressure sensors mounted in an arm sleeve, sensors of elbow- and shoulder-joint angles, a trained filter derived from the pseudoinverse of a response matrix, and a virtual hand model, programmed in Java 3D. Users can manipulate virtual objects such as balls and pegs in a 3D training environment, while their performance at various difficulty levels is scored. In preliminary tests, upper-limb amputees readily gained the ability to grasp and release virtual objects. We propose the utility of the MKI-VR system both as an assessment tool for rehabilitation engineers, and as a motivator for amputees to exercise and thereby maintain their residual motor ability.

scholarly journals Serious Game for Upper Limb Amputees Rehabilitation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reidner Santos Cavalcante ◽  
Edgard Lamounier ◽  
Alcimar Soares ◽  
Alexandre Cardoso ◽  
Gerson Mendes De Lima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Virtual Reality Training ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Methods And Techniques ◽  
Training Protocols

This work presents a Virtual Reality training environment for upper limb amputees. Based on principles of a serious game, the training environment aims to teach the patient how to control a virtual prosthesis, that lately, will be printed and attached to his forearm. Using a tether with different sensors the patient can interact with the virtual environment. The training protocols were provided by health-care professionals and the interaction technology was developed under their supervision, to ensure high levels of mobility and comfort for the user that are attached to the remaining forearm of the amputee. It was applied a questionnaire that evaluates several points of the game. It was observed that the methods and techniques used for the development of the serious game were shown to be consistent and adequate for the proposed goal.

scholarly journals 298 Review of Rapid Implementation of Virtual Hand Therapy Clinics During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Timon ◽  
B O'Ceallaigh ◽  
E Siney ◽  
N McInerney
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Hand Therapy ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Virtual Hand ◽  
Limb Injuries

Abstract Aim The COVID-19 pandemic led to the introduction of movement restrictions and the concept of social distancing in Ireland, beginning suddenly on March 12th 2020 (1). Following this, virtual consultation via video-call have been identified and integrated as an alternative to in-person consultation. To follow national recommendations and reduce the risk of patient attendance, video consultations were rapidly integrated by the hand therapy team at University Hospital Galway. This service provides a service to 730,513 people across eight counties (2) and was utilised for a range of upper limb injuries, providing vital care to trauma patients post-operatively and to minor injury cases. We wanted to retrospectively assess the implementation of these virtual clinics and how it affected patients. Method Patients were offered virtual hand therapy appointments. Patients were sent a link with their virtual appointment time and date via email. The patient could accept or decline the option of a virtual appointment at this stage. Patient satisfaction was measured via a bespoke survey. Functional outcomes were assessed via the QuickDASH assessment tool (3). Results 44/74 ( 59.5%) of patients responded to the survey. Subjectively, the vast found the service user-friendly, convenient and beneficial. Objectively, the QuickDash score demonstrated low disability and high upper limb function return post injury. Conclusions Implementation of virtual hand therapy was integrated into practise without major issues. Patient satisfaction was very high. Virtual health services have obvious economic and environmental benefits and are essential to providing safe patient care in a social distancing society.

Turning data into reality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Leinster-Evans ◽  
J Newell ◽  
S Luck
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Training System ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Immersive Environments ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Service Support ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
And Training

This paper looks to expand on the INEC 2016 paper ‘The future role of virtual reality within warship support solutions for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers’ presented by Ross Basketter, Craig Birchmore and Abbi Fisher from BAE Systems in May 2016 and the EAAW VII paper ‘Testing the boundaries of virtual reality within ship support’ presented by John Newell from BAE Systems and Simon Luck from BMT DSL in June 2017. BAE Systems and BMT have developed a 3D walkthrough training system that supports the teams working closely with the QEC Aircraft Carriers in Portsmouth and this work was presented at EAAW VII. Since then this work has been extended to demonstrate the art of the possible on Type 26. This latter piece of work is designed to explore the role of 3D immersive environments in the development and fielding of support and training solutions, across the range of support disciplines. The combined team are looking at how this digital thread leads from design of platforms, both surface and subsurface, through build into in-service support and training. This rich data and ways in which it could be used in the whole lifecycle of the ship, from design and development (used for spatial acceptance, HazID, etc) all the way through to operational support and maintenance (in conjunction with big data coming off from the ship coupled with digital tech docs for maintenance procedures) using constantly developing technologies such as 3D, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality, will be proposed.  The drive towards gamification in the training environment to keep younger recruits interested and shortening course lengths will be explored. The paper develops the options and looks to how this technology can be used and where the value proposition lies. 

scholarly journals Virtual Reality in Neurorehabilitation: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1478
Author(s):  
Alexandra Voinescu ◽  
Jie Sui ◽  
Danaë Stanton Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Upper Limb Function ◽  
Meta Analyses

Neurological disorders are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Can virtual reality (VR) based intervention, a novel technology-driven change of paradigm in rehabilitation, reduce impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions? This question is directly addressed here for the first time using an umbrella review that assessed the effectiveness and quality of evidence of VR interventions in the physical and cognitive rehabilitation of patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy, identified factors that can enhance rehabilitation outcomes and addressed safety concerns. Forty-one meta-analyses were included. The data synthesis found mostly low- or very low-quality evidence that supports the effectiveness of VR interventions. Only a limited number of comparisons were rated as having moderate and high quality of evidence, but overall, results highlight potential benefits of VR for improving the ambulation function of children with cerebral palsy, mobility, balance, upper limb function, and body structure/function and activity of people with stroke, and upper limb function of people with acquired brain injury. Customization of VR systems is one important factor linked with improved outcomes. Most studies do not address safety concerns, as only nine reviews reported adverse effects. The results provide critical recommendations for the design and implementation of future VR programs, trials and systematic reviews, including the need for high quality randomized controlled trials to test principles and mechanisms, in primary studies and in meta-analyses, in order to formulate evidence-based guidelines for designing VR-based rehabilitation interventions.

scholarly journals Gamification and Hazard Communication in Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4663
Author(s):  
Janaina Cavalcanti ◽  
Victor Valls ◽  
Manuel Contero ◽  
David Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Hazard Communication ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Compliance Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Recorded Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

An effective warning attracts attention, elicits knowledge, and enables compliance behavior. Game mechanics, which are directly linked to human desires, stand out as training, evaluation, and improvement tools. Immersive virtual reality (VR) facilitates training without risk to participants, evaluates the impact of an incorrect action/decision, and creates a smart training environment. The present study analyzes the user experience in a gamified virtual environment of risks using the HTC Vive head-mounted display. The game was developed in the Unreal game engine and consisted of a walk-through maze composed of evident dangers and different signaling variables while user action data were recorded. To demonstrate which aspects provide better interaction, experience, perception and memory, three different warning configurations (dynamic, static and smart) and two different levels of danger (low and high) were presented. To properly assess the impact of the experience, we conducted a survey about personality and knowledge before and after using the game. We proceeded with the qualitative approach by using questions in a bipolar laddering assessment that was compared with the recorded data during the game. The findings indicate that when users are engaged in VR, they tend to test the consequences of their actions rather than maintaining safety. The results also reveal that textual signal variables are not accessed when users are faced with the stress factor of time. Progress is needed in implementing new technologies for warnings and advance notifications to improve the evaluation of human behavior in virtual environments of high-risk surroundings.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT-SL) in Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Travis H. Turner ◽  
Alexandra Atkins ◽  
Richard S.E. Keefe
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Capacity Assessment

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and highly associated with loss of independence, caregiver burden, and assisted living placement. The need for cognitive functional capacity tools validated for use in PD clinical and research applications has thus been emphasized in the literature. The Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT-SL) is a tablet-based instrument that assesses proficiency for performing real world tasks in a highly realistic environment. Objective: The present study explored application of the VRFCAT-SL in clinical assessments of patients with PD. Specifically, we examined associations between VRFCAT-SL performance and measures of cognition, motor severity, and self-reported cognitive functioning. Methods: The VRFCAT-SL was completed by a sample of 29 PD patients seen in clinic for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Fifteen patients met Movement Disorders Society Task Force criteria for mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI); no patients were diagnosed with dementia. Non-parametric correlations between VRFCAT-SL performance and standardized neuropsychological tests and clinical measures were examined. Results: VRFCAT-SL performance was moderately associated with global rank on neuropsychological testing and discriminated PD-MCI. Follow-up analyses found completion time was associated with visual memory, sustained attention, and set-switching, while errors were associated with psychomotor inhibition. No clinical or motor measures were associated with VRFCAT-SL performance. Self-report was not associated with VRFCAT-SL or neuropsychological test performance. Conclusion: The VRFCAT-SL appears to provide a useful measure of cognitive functional capacity that is not confounded by PD motor symptoms. Future studies will examine utility in PD dementia.

scholarly journals Kinematic of the Position and Orientation Synchronization of the Posture of a n DoF Upper-Limb Exoskeleton with a Virtual Object in an Immersive Virtual Reality Environment

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1069
Author(s):  
Deyby Huamanchahua ◽  
Adriana Vargas-Martinez ◽  
Ricardo Ramirez-Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Inverse Kinematic ◽  
Virtual Object ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
Upper Limb Exoskeleton ◽  
Position And Orientation

Exoskeletons are an external structural mechanism with joints and links that work in tandem with the user, which increases, reinforces, or restores human performance. Virtual Reality can be used to produce environments, in which the intensity of practice and feedback on performance can be manipulated to provide tailored motor training. Will it be possible to combine both technologies and have them synchronized to reach better performance? This paper consists of the kinematics analysis for the position and orientation synchronization between an n DoF upper-limb exoskeleton pose and a projected object in an immersive virtual reality environment using a VR headset. To achieve this goal, the exoskeletal mechanism is analyzed using Euler angles and the Pieper technique to obtain the equations that lead to its orientation, forward, and inverse kinematic models. This paper extends the author’s previous work by using an early stage upper-limb exoskeleton prototype for the synchronization process.

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