Thesis Project Form
Title (tentative): Development and testing of a low-cost and wearable tactile stimulation system to train and enhance proprioception| Thesis advisor(s): Casadio Maura, Robert Scheidt (USA) Ilana Nisky(Israel) | E-mail: |
| Address: Via Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genova (ITALY) | Phone: (+39) 010 33 52749 |
Description
Motivation and application domain
Neurological diseases often result in somatosensory deficits and motor impairment. Somatosensory deficits include impaired sensations of limb position and movement; cutaneous and deep mechanical pressure and vibration; muscular effort. Most current research and clinical efforts related to stroke rehabilitation focus on motor retraining despite recent literature suggesting that somatosensory retraining is a viable behavioral therapy for improving impaired motor functions.
General objectives and main activities
The thesis project aims at developing and testing a low-cost, wearable tactile stimulation system to train and enhance proprioception.
The project is inspired by the skin stretch technology, but the new system will be designed with the above-mentioned goal. The student will design the mechanical structure, will program the control system, and will test the device with a group of healthy subjects developing the experimental set-up and protocol.
If possible, preliminary data will be collected with chronic stoke survivors.
The project is inspired by the skin stretch technology, but the new system will be designed with the above-mentioned goal. The student will design the mechanical structure, will program the control system, and will test the device with a group of healthy subjects developing the experimental set-up and protocol.
If possible, preliminary data will be collected with chronic stoke survivors.
Training Objectives (technical/analytical tools, experimental methodologies)
The student will learn
1. Designing, building and controlling a robotic system (CAD…)
2. Testing and calibration procedures
3. Mixed software skills (C/C++, matlab, microcontroller programming)
4. Touch sensing applications in haptics and robotics
1. Designing, building and controlling a robotic system (CAD…)
2. Testing and calibration procedures
3. Mixed software skills (C/C++, matlab, microcontroller programming)
4. Touch sensing applications in haptics and robotics
Place(s) where the thesis work will be carried out: Neurolab, Dibris, Unige Biomedical Robotics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University, Israel(if possible)
Additional information
Pre-requisite abilities/skills: Programming skills in Matlab; Interest in developing microcontroller-based technology. Some basic circuit building skills.
Maximum number of students: 1