Locked-in Syndrome is a severe pontine stroke causing quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism with preservation of only vertical gaze and upper eyelid movement in a conscious patient. We present a case of a Locked-in Syndrome patient who received communication training with augmentative and alternative communication equipment by using eye blinks. After 3 weeks of training, the patient was able to make an attempt to interact with other people, and associate a new word by Korean alphabet selection. Augmentative and alternative communication equipment which uses eye blinks might be considered to be beneficial in improving the communication skills of locked-in syndrome patients.
Communication Aids for Disabled ; Cranial Nerves ; Eye ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Mutism ; Paralysis ; Quadriplegia ; Stroke

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH) is a well-known neurosurgical entity and most of the lesion is managed by surgical treatment. The authors analyze the surgical indication and the treatment results of twist drill craniostomy with closed-system drainage(TDD) for the symptomatic CSDH. METHODS: From March 2001 through December 2003, 31patients who were treated with TDD for the symptomatic CSDH and followed more than 6months were included. The radiologic criteria of TDD in this study were 1) homogeneous density of hematoma on computed tomography(CT), 2) no septation of hematoma on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and 3) thicker hematoma more than twice thickness of skull. Surgical procedures were performed on the maximum thickness of hematoma on CT/MRI. Short and long Steinman pins were used to penetrate the skull and hematoma membrane. As the 5L catheter was inserted through the drill hole, it was kept for 1-7days for the drainage of CSDH. The patients of CSDH were followed with clinical symptoms and CT studies. RESULTS: Most of all the 31 patients were improved. However, one patient was suffered from postoperative epidural hematoma and the other patients have received the secondary operation because of the recurrence of CSDH on 3 months after initial surgery. CONCLUSION: TDD is safe procedure for the symptomatic CSDH if the patients are selected appropriately.
Catheters ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Drainage* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Membranes ; Recurrence ; Skull

In this paper, we used the eletrotactile vision substitution system designed by ourselves to display Chinese characters on the 16x16 electrode array through some simple image processing algorithms and multiplexing technology. Based on this, simple Chinese character recognition experiment was conducted. The result of the experiment shows that the electrotactile vision substitution is a feasible solution for the blind to read simple Chinese characters and the result also solidifies the foundation of further study about more complex real-time image electrotactile display.
Algorithms ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Language ; Touch ; Vision, Ocular

This paper introduces one of the young, energetic and rapidly growing research fields in biomedical engineering-Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which can provide augmentative communication and control capabilities to patients with severe motor disabilities. We summarize the first two international meetings for BCI, and present the most typical research fruits. The problems in current studies and the direction for future investigation are analyzed.
Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; User-Computer Interface

Brain-computer interface (BCI) can establish a direct communications pathway between the human brain and the external devices, which is independent of peripheral nerves and muscles. Compared with invasive BCI, non-invasive BCI has the advantages of low cost, low risk, and ease of operation. In recent years, using non-invasive BCI technology to control devices has gradually evolved into a new type of human-computer interaction manner. Moreover, the control strategy for BCI is an essential component of this manner. First, this study introduced how the brain control techniques were developed and classified. Second, the basic characteristics of direct and shared control strategies were thoroughly explained. And then the benefits and drawbacks of these two strategies were compared and further analyzed. Finally, the development direction and application prospects for non-invasive brain control strategies were suggested.
Humans ; Electroencephalography ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; User-Computer Interface ; Brain/physiology*

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that can create direct connection between brain activity and external devices. In the past 20 years, important' achievements of research on BCI have been made. Now there are lots of research methods based on electroencephalic signals, and researchers are trying to make the BCI system possess the characteristics of real-time and become more natural and practical. This paper presents an overview of real-time and stimulating way to EEG-based BCI research. Through the discussions on the applications of DSP in BCI system, in signal preprocessing and in algorithm optimization, the high lights in real-time research are pointed out. In the discussions about the way to produce EEG signals in BCI, the researchers suggested that the imaging movement be the most ideal way in that it will reduce the discomfort in stimulation by application of the virtual reality technology in BCI system, thus it will be conducive to improvement in the performance of BCI system.
Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Man-Machine Systems ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

A new software therapy instrument is proposed for the rehabilitation of aphasia caused by cerebral disorder, which is different from general drug therapy or physical therapy and is, based on modern speech and biofeedback principles. Aphasia rehabilitation software package on the therapy instrument were designed and implement. The features of the software and its future application were discussed.
Aphasia ; rehabilitation ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Humans ; Software Design ; Speech Recognition Software ; Speech Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted ; methods

Neural interface technology researches, which constitute the intercross science relating to neurophysiology, computational science, microelectronic technology and so on, are of important value in rehabilitation engineering. In this paper, the concept and significance of neural interface were introduced. The applications and methods of different kinds of neural interface system were expounded. Related animal experiments were citated. The recent studies and trends in neural interface technology were also discussed.
Activities of Daily Living ; Animals ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Disabled Persons ; rehabilitation ; Electric Stimulation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Microelectrodes ; Motor Cortex ; physiology ; User-Computer Interface

The motivation of the brain-computer interface (BCI) research and its potential applications are introduced in this paper. Some of the problems in BCI-based medical device developments are also discussed.
Artificial Intelligence ; Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; trends ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Evoked Potentials ; physiology ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation ; instrumentation ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

Brain computer interface (BCI) is an information channel independent of routine brain output ways such as peripheral nerves and muscle organization. As a special human-computer interface mode, it provides a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices so as to exert control over those devices by ways other than primitive human communication. Controlling over mobile peripheral devices such as intelligent wheelchairs or nursing robots is a very important application of BCI technology in the future. This paper describes the newest progress of the above mentioned technology, analyzes and compares key techniques involved, and forecasts future development in this field.
Algorithms ; Brain Diseases ; rehabilitation ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Computer Systems ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Evoked Potentials ; physiology ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; User-Computer Interface