Portable single-channel NIRS-based BMI system for motor disabilities' communication tools

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) offer potential for assistive technology.
• Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a non-invasive method for monitoring brain activity.
• Developing portable and user-friendly BMI systems is crucial for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based brain-machine interface (BMI) system.
• To implement threshold logic for detecting frontal lobe blood volume changes for device control.
• To evaluate the system's efficacy in controlling external devices and assisting individuals with motor disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Development of a single-channel NIRS probe, BMI controller, and infrared emission apparatus.
• Utilizing threshold logic to detect blood volume changes indicative of cognitive tasks.
• Conducting experiments with operators performing mental calculations to control devices like TVs and robots.
• Developing a menu selection program for individuals with motor impairments.

Main Results:

• Operators successfully controlled external devices such as changing TV programs or advancing a toy robot within an average of 11.77 seconds after mental calculation.
• A menu selection program enabled a participant with motor disabilities to successfully select sentences from candidates.
• The developed NIRS-based BMI system demonstrated the capability to control external devices.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable NIRS-based BMI system offers a viable method for controlling external devices.
• This technology has significant potential to provide enhanced control capabilities for individuals with motor disabilities.
• Further development and testing are warranted to optimize the system for widespread clinical use.