Live Demonstration: A Wearable Multi-Sensory Platform for Closed-Loop Optical Stimulation Control in Treating Muscle Paralysis

A wearable multi-sensory platform for closed-loop optical stimulation control will be demonstrated. The system is developed for restoring hand grasp movement to patients suffering from muscle paralysis, for example, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), by optical stimulating engrafted stem cell-derived motor neurons that reinnervate the extensor and flexor muscles. Movements induced by the stimulation will be monitored by using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to detect the impedance variation caused by muscle contraction, and using inertial measurement units (IMUs) to measure the finger movements. Learning algorithms are employed for pattern recognition and the results are used for closed-loop stimulation control. During the live demonstration, visitors can control a multi-LED stimulator via a number of different hand movements with a wearable EIT system on their forearm and IMUs on their fingers.