Ramón de la Rosa

Man-Machine Interface System for Neuromuscular Training and Evaluation Based on EMG and MMG Signals

This paper presents the UVa-NTS (University of Valladolid Neuromuscular Training System), a multifunction and portable Neuromuscular Training System. The UVa-NTS is designed to analyze the voluntary control of severe neuromotor handicapped patients, their interactive response, and their adaptation to neuromuscular interface systems, such as neural prostheses or domotic applications. Thus, it is an excellent tool to evaluate the residual muscle capabilities in the handicapped. The UVa-NTS is composed of a custom signal conditioning front-end and a computer. The front-end electronics is described thoroughly as well as the overall features of the custom software implementation. The software system is composed of a set of graphical training tools and a processing core. The UVa-NTS works with two classes of neuromuscular signals: the classic myoelectric signals (MES) and, as a novelty, the myomechanic signals (MMS). In order to evaluate the performance of the processing core, a complete analysis has been done to classify its efficiency and to check that it fulfils with the real-time constraints. Tests were performed both with healthy and selected impaired subjects. The adaptation was achieved rapidly, applying a predefined protocol for the UVa-NTS set of training tools. Fine voluntary control was demonstrated to be reached with the myoelectric signals. And the UVa-NTS demonstrated to provide a satisfactory voluntary control when applying the myomechanic signals.

A Robot Controlled by Blinking for Ambient Assisted Living

This article presents a system which allows interaction between a physically disabled person and his environment. It contributes to achieve an Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). This system is controlled by voluntary muscular movements, particularly the orbicular ones. These movements are translated into instructions which are sent by means of a wireless link to a mobile robot that executes them. This robot includes a video camera in order to show the environment of the route that the robot follows on its way to the user. It also includes a subsystem that contains light and sound signals. This system can aid people with reduced mobility, extending the time that older people and disabled people can live in their home environment, increasing their autonomy and their confidence.

Programmable Gain Amplifiers with DC Suppression and Low Output Offset for Bioelectric Sensors

DC-offset and DC-suppression are key parameters in bioelectric amplifiers. However, specific DC analyses are not often explained. Several factors influence the DC-budget: the programmable gain, the programmable cut-off frequencies for high pass filtering and, the low cut-off values and the capacitor blocking issues involved. A new intermediate stage is proposed to address the DC problem entirely. Two implementations were tested. The stage is composed of a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) with DC-rejection and low output offset. Cut-off frequencies are selectable and values from 0.016 to 31.83 Hz were tested, and the capacitor deblocking is embedded in the design. Hence, this PGA delivers most of the required gain with constant low output offset, notwithstanding the gain or cut-off frequency selected.

Adaptive framework for uncertainty analysis in electromagnetic field measurements

Misinterpretation of uncertainty in the measurement of the electromagnetic field (EMF) strength may lead to an underestimation of exposure risk or an overestimation of required measurements. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) has internationally been adopted as a de facto standard for uncertainty assessment. However, analyses under such an approach commonly assume unrealistic static models or neglect relevant prior information, resulting in non-robust uncertainties. This study proposes a principled and systematic framework for uncertainty analysis that fuses information from current measurements and prior knowledge. Such a framework dynamically adapts to data by exploiting a likelihood function based on kernel mixtures and incorporates flexible choices of prior information by applying importance sampling. The validity of the proposed techniques is assessed from measurements performed with a broadband radiation meter and an isotropic field probe. The developed framework significantly outperforms GUM approach, achieving a reduction of 28% in measurement uncertainty.

The UVa-Neuromuscular Training System Platform

This paper presents the portable UVa Neuromuscular Training System (UVa-NTS). It is a myoelectric real-time system for research and upper-limb training. A set of training tools is included: this paper focuses on the game Myo-Pong, a simple graphical table-tennis game included in the UVa-NTS. To measure the performance, a set of control parameters is explained. Thus, Myo-Pong demonstrates the capabilities of the UVa-NTS as a myoelectric real-time system for training and for playing by means of myoelectric control.

A Control System for Robots and Wheelchairs: Its Application for People with Severe Motor Disability

There is a large number of people with disabilities that involve severe reduction of mobility, such as tetraplegia, brain stroke or vascular brain damage. These people usually have great impairments which prevent them from performing their normal daily activities. For our society, this fact means a great effort in cares and specialized attention that, in most cases, involves caregivers assistance dedicated almost exclusively to these patients. Although only a small part of the disabled population can be included in these types of injuries, trying to solve or minimise the problems associated with severe motor disabilities is an especially difficult challenge for research and development in Rehabilitation Technologies (RT). The Laboratory of Electronics and Bioenginnering (LEB) of the University of Valladolid, to which the article authors belong, has been working since 1995 on the development of practical systems in this field. Although, currently, it is impossible to find an effective medical solution for these disabilities, the improvement in patients’ personal autonomy should be achieved through technical means. This approach focuses, primarily, on two actions based upon: • The environment. This action consists in modifying the environment to facilitate mobility, interaction with the ambient and communication. • The patient. In this case, the action consists in developing human-machine interfaces adapted to each type of disability and desired functionality. Additionally, it is necessary to implement the corresponding actuators or systems to be controlled, including prosthetics and orthotics. As regards the adaptation of the environment, the implemented solutions have relied, primarily, on laws that promote accessibility, applied to architecture and urban planning. Thus, significant improvements were achieved to facilitate, mainly, the mobility of motor disabled people who use wheelchairs. In this regard, the buildings, the infrastructure planning and the public transport services have been especially taken into account. In order to achieve a suitable ambient, authorities subsidise the reforms in private homes where disabled people live, in some countries (Spain, 2006). Note that this first action, based on the transformation of the environment, also benefits a wider scope of population, such as the elderly or other people with milder motor disabilities.

Assistance System for Disabled People: A Robot Controlled by Blinking and Wireless Link

Disabled people already profit from a lot of technical assistance that improves their quality of life. This article presents a system which will allow interaction between a physically disabled person and his environment. This system is controlled by voluntary muscular movements, particularly those of face muscles. These movements will be translated into machine-understandable instructions, and they will be sent by means of a wireless link to a mobile robot that will execute them. Robot includes a video camera, in order to show the user the environment of the route that the robot follows. This system gives a greater personal autonomy to people with reduced mobility.