Patient self-managed BCI-FES
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Feasibility Study of Patient Self-Managed BCI-FES Hand Therapy for Spinal Cord Injured Patients
IRAS ID
230282
Contact name
Aleksandra Vuckovic
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) affects person’s ability to move and feel sensation from the body. People with injury around neck, suffer from tetraplegia, which affects function of both upper and lower limbs. Although these patients often have a caregiver, their main priority is to regain some upper limb function to increase independence. About half of patients with tetraplegia have an incomplete injury, i.e. have some sensation and control of muscles preserved. Natural recovery takes about a year and is typically accompanied with intense physical therapy while patients are in a hospital. Patients spend on average 4 months at a hospital and once they go home, there have very limited options for further therapy, in particular those living in rural areas.
In this study we want to test the feasibility of patient and caregiver self-managed hand therapy based on the combination of brain computer interface (BCI) and functional electrical stimulation (FES). BCI is a system which consists of an electroencephalographic device (EEG), a computer and a software that can analyse EEG while it has been recorded.
To ensure that the knowledge stays within hospital, we will first train occupational therapist who will then train patients and caregiver. The BCI-FES therapy is based on our previous clinical study with hospitalised patients, in which a researcher administered a therapy. In the current study we use portable BCI-FES with an inexpensive consumer BCI which is designed for non-professionals.
• Primary objective – to assess whether it is feasible that caregivers and patients learn to operate the portable BCI-FES system on their own within 5 training sessions
• Secondary objective – collect feedback of patients and therapists views via semi-structured interviews and questionnaires; assess how stable are system parameters (EEG parameters, electrode location, FES stimulation parameters) over time; asses whether there is any functional and neurological recovery.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
17/WS/0181
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion