UPPER LIMB FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT USING HAPTIC INTERFACE
Abstract
A new method for the assessment of the upper limb (UL) functional state, using a haptic interface is presented. A haptic interface is used as a measuring device, capable of providing objective, repeatable and quantitative data of the UL motion. A patient is presented with a virtual environment, both graphically via a computer screen and haptically via the Phantom Premium 1.5 haptic interface. The setup allows the patient to explore and feel the virtual environment with three of his/her senses; sight, hearing, and most important, touch. Specially designed virtual environments are used to assess the patient’s UL movement capabilities. The tests range from tracking tasks – to assess the accuracy of movement – tracking tasks with added disturbances in a form of random forces – to assess the patient’s control abilities, a labyrinth test – to assess both speed and accuracy, to the last test for measuring the maximal force capacity of the UL.
A new method for the assessment of the upper limb (UL) functional state, using a haptic interface is presented. A haptic interface is used as a measuring device, capable of providing objective, repeatable and quantitative data of the UL motion. A patient is presented with a virtual environment, both graphically via a computer screen and haptically via the Phantom Premium 1.5 haptic interface. The setup allows the patient to explore and feel the virtual environment with three of his/her senses; sight, hearing, and most important, touch. Specially designed virtual environments are used to assess the patient’s UL movement capabilities. The tests range from tracking tasks–to assess the accuracy of movement-tracking tasks with added disturbances in a form of random forces-to assess the patient’s control abilities, a labyrinth test-to assess both speed and accuracy, to the last test for measuring the maximal force capacity of the UL.
A comprehensive study, using the developed measurement setup within the haptic virtual environment, was carried out. 19 healthy subjects and a total of 80 patients with various neurological and neuro-muscular disorders took part in the study. In this paper, only some typical characteristics of the upper limb movement, affected by Becker type muscular dystrophy are shown in a quantitave manner and compared to a healthy subject. The numerical results of the comprehensive study were analysed using data mining techniques, leading to the most important numerical parameters and revealed the content validity of the proposed tests.
The developed measurement methodology utilizing haptic interface provides objective, quantitative and repeatable method for the assesment of the upper limb functional state.
Downloads
References
Fugl-Meyr AR et al. The post stroke hemiplegic patient. A method for evaluation of physical performance. Scand J Rehab Med 1970; 7: 13–31.
Wade DT, Collin C. The barthel ADL index: A standard measure of physical disability? International Disability Studies 1988; 10: 64–7.
Wade DT. Measurement in neurological rehabilitation. Oxford: Oxford Medical Publications, 1992.
Bell E et al. Hand skill: A gauge for treatment. Am J Occup Ther 1976; 30 (2): 80– 6.
Wilson PN, Foreman N, Stanton D. Virtual reality, disability and rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation 1997; 19 (6): 219–20.
Ring H. Is neurological rehabilitation ready for ‚immersion‘ in the world of virtual reality? Disability and Rehabilitation 1998; 20 (3): 98–101.
Jones LE. Does virtual reality have a place in the rehabilitation world? Disability and Rehabilitation 1998; 20 (3): 102–3.
Latash ML. Virtual reality: a fascinating tool for motor rehabilitation (to be used with caution). Disability and Rehabilitation 1998; 20 (3): 104–5.
Korpela R. Virtual reality: opening the way. Disability and Rehabilitation 1998; 20 (3): 106–7.
Zupan A. Assessment of the functional abilities of the upper limbs in patients with neuromuscular diseases. Disability and Rehabilitation 1996; 18 (2): 69– 75.
Krebs HI, Hogan N et al. Robot-aided neuro-rehabilitation. IEEE Trans. on Rehab. Eng 1998; 6 (1): 75–87.
Bardorfer A et al. Upper limb motion analysis using haptic interface. IEEE Trans Mechatronics 2001; 6 (3): 253–60.
The Author transfers to the Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) all economic copyrights following form Article 22 of the Slovene Copyright and Related Rights Act (ZASP), including the right of reproduction, the right of distribution, the rental right, the right of public performance, the right of public transmission, the right of public communication by means of phonograms and videograms, the right of public presentation, the right of broadcasting, the right of rebroadcasting, the right of secondary broadcasting, the right of communication to the public, the right of transformation, the right of audiovisual adaptation and all other rights of the author according to ZASP.
The aforementioned rights are transferred non-exclusively, for an unlimited number of editions, for the term of the statutory
The Author can make use of his work himself or transfer subjective rights to others only after 3 months from date of first publishing in the journal Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal.
The Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) has the right to transfer the rights, acquired parties without explicit consent of the Author.
The Author consents that the Article be published under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 (attribution-non-commercial) or comparable licence.
