Showing papers by "Pedro Silva Girao published in 2019"

Physical Rehabilitation based on Smart Wearable and Virtual Reality Serious Game

Abstract: The paper describes a solution for physical rehabilitation of upper limbs based on Virtual Reality (VR) therapeutic serious games and IoT wearable devices expressed by smart sensors embedded in a headband and two gloves. The implemented smart sensors are based in Arduino Nano platform connected to an IMU 9DOF module. In the case of smart gloves, a set of force and flexion sensors (FlexiForce & FlexSensors 2.2) were considered to provide information about the finger flexion and finger force contact. The communication between the wearable modules and the virtual reality computation platform is performed using Bluetooth communication protocol. A software was developed and includes the VR serious games for hands and fingers rehabilitation. A Web API was used to store and process the data acquired by the sensors and to extract information about user physical capabilities and limitations during the training. A cross-platform mobile application was developed for user electronic record including training data visualization purposes. Experimental data obtained during the rehabilitation sessions, including metrics evolution that characterize upper limb and finger motion, are included in the article.

Tailored Virtual Reality for Smart Physiotherapy

Abstract: Remote sensing and Virtual Reality (VR) are technologies that create new development opportunities in the field of serious games with application in physiotherapy. Thus, during a physiotherapy training session expressed by a game round the remote sensing of user body motion provides measurements that can be used for objective evaluation of physical therapy outcomes. In this work is presented a serious game for physiotherapy characterized by Kinect natural user interface and a set of VR games developed in the Unity3D. To provide patient electronic health record, game remote configuration as well as for data presentation for physiotherapist a mobile application was developed. Additionally, several training results expressed by upper limb, neck and spine angles are included in the paper.

Serious Games Based on Kinect and Leap Motion Controller for Upper Limbs Physical Rehabilitation

Abstract: The design, implementation and tests of a system for assessment and monitoring movements, which includes the sensors from Kinect and Leap Motion Controller devices, are discussed in the present chapter. The advantages and some drawbacks of using the two devices for creating virtual environments for motor rehabilitation in which interaction of the user with virtual reality is made through natural user interfaces are described. The IoT architecture for rehabilitation environment, several serious games that our team have developed and the usability evaluation of the system are presented. Our insights, based on our research work during serious games development as well as on literature analysis, mainly focusing these on practicality of the developed serious games and on their acceptability for motor rehabilitation, are also included in the chapter. In the development of a system that includes IoT technology for movements tracking and progress evaluation during motor rehabilitation, the importance of user centered design is underscored.

IoT based model of healthcare for physiotherapy

Abstract: Small and reliable devices that are used not only in clinics or hospital but also in home, give information on movements, activities or other relevant data on person health and functioning. The data acquired by these devices would increase the accessibility to healthcare services and quality of care, in a safe environment. There are scarce data related to integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into information system for physiotherapy or motor rehabilitation. In this work it is presented a framework for IoT based information system for physiotherapy. The presented model for physiotherapy includes: the capacity of IoT based information system to receive inputs from different modalities; support for modularity and common communication technologies for IoT; gateway capabilities and/or edge computing; data storage and analysis in Server, Cloud Server or Microservices. Research is needed for better understanding what is the optimal model and architecture for IoT platforms targeting people with different types of disabilities, as well as an optimal universal design that may increase the quality of care for people with disability.

Patient-specific gamma-index analysis to evaluate 99mTc-MAA as a predictor for 90Y glass microspheres liver radioembolisation dosimetry

Abstract: Radioembolisation (RE) is a minimally invasive therapy for primary/metastatic liver tumours. Yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres (MS) are infused through the hepatic artery. Positron emission tom...

A Preliminary Study of Loop-Time Delays in Iot Platforms: The Thingspeak Case

Abstract: IoT platforms play an important role on modern measurement systems because they allow the ingestion and processing of huge amounts of data (big data). Usually, these platforms run as a service on the cloud and are accessed through open programming interfaces based on ubiquitous internet protocols (such as HTTP). Data analysis is done in batch, from time to time, or when a pre-configured event is triggered. Most of the platforms can also actuate on the physical world by issuing messages, thus closing the loop ingest-analyze-actuate. The continuous investment on IoT platforms has made them extremely reliable and performant, wondering if they can be used to control physical processes. The paper contributes to this discussion by evaluating the loop-time - defined as the delay between ingestion and actuation - of the ThingSpeak platform. The measuring methodology is explained, results are presented, and conclusions are extracted.

Application of force and inertial sensors to monitor gait on legacy walkers

Abstract: Walker assistive devices play an important role in extending the autonomy of elderly people and in recovering the mobility of people affected by locomotion disabilities. The next generation of walkers are hoped to include embedded sensors and data processing capabilities that will allow for the extraction of objective metrics (about gait and body posture) to assist the work of physiotherapists and to enable the self-control nature of walker usage. The paper presents the Andante , our latest proposal of a smart walker intended to monitor and analyze gait in real time. The system makes use of e-textile electrodes to sense the heart rate of the user, load cells to measure the forces applied on the walker legs, and an inertial measurement unit to sense motion and orientation. These signals are sampled locally and transferred over a Bluetooth link to a remote host, where they are processed in real time. Data processing includes the detection, classification, and characterization of the steps. A rich set of parameters is presented for each step, including estimates of balance and motor coordination, step length and azimuth, and lift of the walker frame. This information can be used by physiotherapist to objectively assess the physical condition of the user and tune rehabilitation therapy if needed. The proposed solution can be easily integrated into any commercial walker without any loss of functionality.

Voxel-Based Computational Tools Help Liver Dosimetry Calculations of Multiple (External and Internal) Radiation Therapies

Abstract: Voxel-wise absorbed dose distributions, γ-index agreement test and dose-volume histograms (DVH) for the evaluation of dose distributions have been used in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for several years. Our research group recently adapted these concepts to liver radioembolization (RE) using Yttrium-90 (90Y) glass microspheres (MS). In this work we demonstrate the application of our dosimetry tools to study the dose distributions within the tumor (PTV) and normal liver (NLV) tissues of a patient treated with multiple radiation therapies (RE after SBRT). Voxel-wise biological effective dose (BED) distributions from SBRT and RE were computed and added up. Moreover, we investigated the role of pre-treatment single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the planning dosimetry of RE.

Wearable Devices for Studying Microvascular Reactivity – It Is Feasible?

Abstract: We investigate what information can be obtained on daily changes in microcirculation using wearable technologies in out-of hospital or laboratory setting. The pulse wave, electrocardiogram, body temperature and blood pressure data obtained from seven days with normal physical activity was compared with data from seven days with 50% increase in physical activity. The number of steps and heart rate during daily activities were acquired using an electronic wrist watch. Radial artery and big toe digital artery pulse wave signals, wrist and big toe skin temperature, heart rate variability, were analyzed. The sympathetic nervous system influence on microcirculation was evaluated using frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability. The plantar signal was more influenced by movements artifact than pulse wave signal from radial artery. Low frequency component and ratio of low and high frequency component of heart rate variability, associated with sympathetic branch of autonomic nervous system was higher at night than in the morning and after positional changes. LF/HF ratio decreased in the week with more physical activity. Relevant information on determinants of microcirculation changes can be obtained using multimodal sensing supported by small devices that measure individual and environmental parameters.