Intra-oral remote control. An access device for the severely disabled

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Severely disabled individuals often face challenges with conventional control interfaces.
• Existing assistive technologies may have limitations such as requiring external wires or batteries.
• There is a need for intuitive and non-invasive control systems for augmenting or restoring function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and functionality of a tongue-operated intra-oral remote controller.
• To present a novel assistive device for individuals with disabilities.
• To explore a wireless, battery-free control solution for external equipment.

Main Methods:

• Development of an intra-oral controller integrated into an acrylic palatal plate.
• Implementation of a tongue-operated switch activating a resonant circuit.
• Utilizing electromagnetic coupling between the intra-oral coil and a neck-worn coil for wireless signal transmission.
• Interfacing the system with external electronic equipment.

Main Results:

• A functional tongue-operated switch was successfully integrated into an intra-oral device.
• The system demonstrated wireless electromagnetic coupling for remote control.
• The design eliminates the need for mouth-exiting leads and internal/external batteries.
• The controller is suitable for severely disabled users and can supplement existing control methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed tongue-operated intra-oral controller offers a promising wireless and battery-free solution for controlling external equipment.
• This assistive technology can significantly enhance independence and quality of life for individuals with severe disabilities.
• The system's design is discreet and user-friendly, leveraging natural tongue movements for control.