BCI system with lower-limb robot improves rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients through short-term training:...

In the recent years, the increasing applications of brain-computer interface (BCI) in rehabilitation programs have enhanced the chances of functional recovery for patients with neurological disorders. We presented and validated a BCI system with a lower-limb robot for short-term training of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The cores of this system included: (1) electroencephalogram (EEG) features related to motor intention reported through experiments and used to drive the robot; (2) a decision tree to determine the training mode provided for patients with different degrees of injuries. Seven SCI patients (one American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A, three AIS B, and three AIS C) participated in the short-term training with this system. All patients could learn to use the system rapidly and maintained a high intensity during the training program. The strength of the lower limb key muscles of the patients was improved. Four AIS A/B patients were elevated to AIS C. The cumulative results indicate that clinical application of the BCI system with lower-limb robot is feasible and safe, and has potentially positive effects on SCI patients.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-022-09801-6.