An immersive VR-BCI-robotic interface for visuomotor rehabilitation augmentation.

Neurological conditions such as stroke are a major cause of disability in Canada, estimated to affect 1.5 million Canadians. Canadians living with neurological conditions face many ongoing challenges with reduced functioning and activity limitations. According to the World Health Organization, one in six people worldwide have a stroke. Two out of three survive, but up to 85% suffer from paralysis and only 5% fully restore. At the same time, there are almost no tools to help those who are largely paralysed because most of the existing rehabilitation training equipment requires an ability to control the affected limb to a certain extent.

To help regain motion in those who initially have limited limb control, VIBRAINT Inc. (Ontario, Canada) have developed a cutting-edge rehabilitation robotic device incorporating a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) and virtual reality. BCI can help those who are largely paralyzed, and provides personalized and even at-home rehabilitation. The technology is available early – when rehabilitation is most effective. The VIBRAINT RehUp system was successfully piloted and is now being prepared for regulatory approval and industrial manufacturing.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lauren Sergio

Student:

Partner:

VIBRAINT Inc.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

York University

Program: