| Grant number: | 96/12198-2 |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - Thematic Grants |
| Start date: | April 01, 1997 |
| End date: | December 31, 2002 |
| Field of knowledge: | Engineering - Biomedical Engineering |
| Principal Investigator: | Alberto Cliquet Junior |
| Grantee: | Alberto Cliquet Junior |
| Host Institution: | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil |
| City of the host institution: | Campinas |
| Associated research grant(s): | 97/07626-8 - Development of control strategies for restoring function to paralyzed upper and lower limbs.,
AR.EXT 97/06164-0 - Motor control strategies for overcoming obstacles: adaptation to sudden obstacle appearance., AR.EXT |
Abstract
Rehabilitation engineering has been introduced at UNICAMP, and in Brazil, in 1989, by the head of the project (Prof. Alberto Cliquet Jr.). this area of research is related to restoration of movements in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects, using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). However, SCI subjects using this technique are restricted to laboratory setup. In order to make these subjects go beyond the laboratory, it is necessary to eliminate some limitations, such as the insufficient technological level in this area, and the lack of knowledge on the related physiological mechanisms. The basic aims for this project are four: 1. optimization of mechanisms for artificial restoration of movements; 2. generation of artificial sensations associated to these movements; 3. investigation of new mechanisms for neuromuscular control; 4. evaluation of the new man-machine systems. New control techniques must be investigated, aiming at improving rehabilitation techniques, and the new systems must be evaluated quantitatively. In order to reach these aims, NMES-based systems are being developed for restoration of function in paralyzed limbs. Control strategies using sensors and artificial neural networks are being defined. The group is also developing systems for generation of phantom sensations, used for substitution of vision in blind people and for artificial proprioception, associated to restored movements. There is also research on artificial organs, as a myoelectric hand prosthesis and an implantable artificial sphincter for colostomies. (AU)
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