Dear everyone!
I work on EMG control and EMG interfaces for bionic (myoelectric) extremity reconstruction. I have a relative with ALS and was wondering if anyone has experience in controlling a computer mouse or wheelchair with EMG?
The scientific literature is almost empty. I have found only one case report.
Glad if anyone has some ideas.
Thank you
Hi Konstantin Bergmeister,
myoelectric prostheses, f.i. after traumatic hand loss, are made f.i. by Otto Bock (www.ottobock.de) since the 1970s. (My polish friend needed two after his chemistry research lab exploded in 1982) With them, You might use a mouse or a wheelchair console. And at Otto Bock, they might build You a special front-end for a prosthesis stump for this.
But I think it's not a good idea to use EMG signals or peripheral nerve signals in ALS to control or steer anything at all: Because of the rapid course of the disease, signals will change in frequency content and amplitude rapidly, deteriorate and vanish at all later on.
If Your relative could not control a mouse any more, he/she might be able to use optical head tracking or eye tracking to do the job, f.i. at www.talktools-gmbh.de or google "eyetracker". For wheelchairs f.i. ww.hidrex.de/produkt-kategorie/reha-technik/rollstuhlsondersteuerung-und-zubehoer/
Yours / Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Dr. med. U. Jobst
Facharzt für Neurologie
Facharzt für Rehabilitative
und Physikalische Medizin
Chefarzt Neurologie und Geriatrie
MEDICLIN Bosenberg Kliniken
66606 St.Wendel
Tel.:+49-6851-14-270
FAX: +49-6851-14-200
Email: [email protected]
www.bosenberg-kliniken.de
Thank you for your reply. He is already using eye tracking for communication. I agree with your concerns regarding EMG, although it might give him some temporary access to controlling any device really.
Best
Konstantin Bergmeister