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Biomedical Electronic Equipment for Post-Stroke Monitoring (Patented)

The system is a medical device to be used for post stroke patient monitoring to help physician or patient himself asses the trends of his post-stroke state in order to predict  and prevent possible complications and comorbidities such as atrial fibrillation, upcoming cardiovascular crisis and risk of secondary stroke. System is intended for continuous and/or intermittent monitoring of the patients in hospital, ambulatory and recovery follow up. The system is composed of two components: cerebral blood circulation assessment subsystem (or head bio-impedance subsystem) and cardiovascular monitoring subsystem (or cardio-plethysmographic system). Head bio-impedance subsystem make use of surface electrodes to measure complex impedance of the head tissues. The measurements are based on the transmission of an alternating current of an allowable strength between two or more electrodes, reading the voltages on the others. 

 

Impedance can be measured using single frequency or multiple frequencies (electrical impedance spectroscopy). The head impedance reflects two components: head scalp blood circulation and cerebral blood circulation. The latter is the target of the system and should be enhanced by signal processing or by signal acquisition techniques. The signals of the impedance are temporal and spatial. So, the system should deal with both: acquire impedance changes over time (it should be synchronized with the heart cycles) and to see the distribution of the impedances over the head (at least left-right sides). The proposed system does not aim to provide an image reconstruction of the patient’s brain, but to determinate in a qualitative way the shift of the patient’s state: is it worsening or is it stable or even improving. For this purpose, a complex algorithms based on a signal processing, tomographic techniques and data analysis should be implemented. The subsystem can be designed as a futuristic helmet/cap, which with special extremities reaches electrodes positions on the head.

Another part of the system is cardiovascular monitoring subsystem that is used non-directly assess the post stroke patient’s condition as the state of the cardiovascular system is very tightly related with the state of the cerebral blood circulation (as is shown in multiple scientific applications). We anticipate that observables, such as arrhythmias (ventricular premature beats, atrial fibrillation), pulse rate variability, pulse transit time could be of valuable importance to assess post stroke patient’s condition. The subsystem could use electrocardiography (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors in order to detect and calculate such parameters as Pulse Transit Time (PTT), Heart Rate (HR), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Atrial Fibrillation (AF). ECG signal as well could be used to pick reference signal for synchronization of events from both subsystems. The cardiovascular monitoring subsystem can be designed as wrist worn wearable device to be less obtrusive to the user.

Both subsystems compose full system integrating cerebral and cardiovascular blood circulation monitoring. Also, systems can be separated and only less obtrusive wrist worn system can be used for all day monitoring of the patient.

Multi-Modal System for Personalized Management of the Post-Stroke Recovery

Gruppo FOS Lithuania in partnership with KTU and LSMU is creating the multimodal system for personalized management of the post stroke rehabilitation.

Post stroke recovery is long-term and very expensive process, therefore optimization of management, enabling care givers to use modern smart tools will increase the recovery results and finally reduce human resources and costs of care. Integrated systems will be much cheaper than separate devices of clinical use and ensures the shifting the health care from hospital to rehabilitation and home care.

New product: integrated, modular, multimodal system for personalized post-stroke recovery management. The product will include the means for neuromotor function, cardiovascular function and brain structure monitoring. Neuromotor function will be evaluated by simultaneous tracking of movement and brain activity during repetitive exercises and recovery gamification. The system will be able to track dynamic activity (electrical and hemodynamic) of brain by using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and dynamic activity of muscles by using electromyography (EMG). Cardiovascular function (pulse rate and pulse transition time variability, detecting of arrhythmias) will be monitored by a smart bracelet. Structural changes of the brain will be monitored by multichannel bioimpedance measurements. Objective measurements will be combined with subjective data for decision support-based post-stroke recovery management.

New service: New developed product enables a new service – personalization of recovery technologies. Hardware and software means of recovery will be adapted in accordance with status and personal needs of patient. Motor, sensory, cognitive and speech skills will be taken in account. Sensors, their parameters, scheduling, data processing risk warning thresholds and other parameters of the system will be adapted after establishing a personal recovery protocol based on comprehensive clinical investigation. Patient and care givers will be enabled by appropriate interfaces to the service. Recovery procedures – exercises, kinesiotherapy will be supported by the developed service and products.

RECONNECT – ultra pRECise biONic haNd prosthEsis based on spaCe Transmission.

„Gruppo FOS Lithuania“ together with Italian partners (STAM and EMAC) working on the project which main target  is to implement the DIH HERO TTE, RECONNECT project with the idea of technological transfer of a space originated mechanical transmission into a prosthetic arm prototype, to improve its mechanical characteristics, such as: precision, lightness, torque density, reliability and robustness.

RECONNECT will empower the amputees to regain their ability to perform ADL as naturally as possible and will dramatically expand their independence. Bringing such prosthesis to the market could significantly help the society not only directly improving the everyday life of disabled people, but also will ease the burden on government as a lower investment will be needed for their support and care.

 

Collecting the past experience, merging it with the experience made by STAM and EMAC in prosthesis and robotic aid for the hand, a list of topics to address will be reviewed. The main topics to address are:
• Mechanics: to add the ultra-compact planetary gearbox of the degrees of freedom, in order to get more precise and stable movements, higher force, and reduce weight.
• Cost: to add ability to adapt the length of the hand support and the socket, in order to fit different sizes and kinds of amputation, so the prosthesis can be produced in series. Create the ability to adapt electrodes for different injury types. An important design optimization to reduce manufacturing cost is expected, benefitting from serial production methods. All these activities will lead to an affordable yet advanced prosthesis.
• Electronics: to modify the electronic board in order to improve gathered myoelectric gain quality. Additionally, to reduce system energy consumption. Create wireless pairing and control ability. Add precise feedback of pressure applied on the fingers.
• Software: to create an android app with a functional UI, through which the main set of tasks could be selected. Additionally, create the ability to turn on specific movements with signals from the software. Add ability to track battery level and tracking of main parameters of the system.