Monitoring and delivering personalised hand neurorehabilitation through virtual activities controlled by the neural drive

• Grant number: 22/05104-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Agreement: EU-CELAC IG (former ERA.Net - LAC)
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Abdala Elias
• Grantee: Leonardo Abdala Elias
• Principal researcher abroad: Andrés Úbeda
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Alicante (UA), Spain
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/03533-4 - High-density myoelectric signal recording and assessment of an artificial intelligence-based neurorehabilitation system, BP.TT

Abstract

Rehabilitation treatments for neuromuscular disorders are variable across clinical centers and national healthcare systems and are largely dependent on the clinical experience of the practitioners. One of the main difficulties of the treatment is to monitor the progress of rehabilitation before signs of motor improvements. Misinformation may frustrate the patient and the practitioner and limit the recovery. MYOREHAB aims to provide an artificial intelligent system that can monitor and deliver a personalized closed-loop neurorehabilitation intervention of the hand based on the amount of electrical activity generated by the muscles. The project will be divided into three phases. In the validation phase, the rehabilitation technology and protocols will be implemented and tested in healthy individuals. In the clinical assessment phase, the technology will be used to extract clinical metrics useful to readapt physical therapies more efficiently and effectively. In the clinical intervention phase, conventional physical therapy will be complemented with our novel technology to enhance recovery by providing patients with more engaging and effective rehabilitation activities. This project will approach different motor conditions (stroke and spinal cord injury) across institutions in four countries (Spain, Germany, Brazil and Panama) to develop a strong long-term research network between European and Latin American researchers and to provide a transnational framework for standardized motor rehabilitation. (AU)