People with quadriplegia or muscular dystrophy do not necessarily have to be completely dependent on others for care.
The Community Rehabilitation Centre team, which won the 2022 HA Outstanding Team Award, applies innovative and inter-professional technology to the disabled with special needs to enhance patients' self-care ability.
The team tailored and developed three exclusive aids for quadriplegic and aphasia patients with muscular dystrophy, including an eye-tracking digital communication system that uses infrared receivers and transmitters to allow patients to type with their eyes on an electronic keyboard, control Facial expression recognition control system for the height of the hospital bed, and foot control levers to trigger automatic bell calls.
The team also introduced an intelligent standing and mobile robot to assist lower-body paralyzed patients to prolong their standing time, promote their organ functions and improve their ability to take care of themselves in daily life.
Ma Huiling, director of the Community Rehabilitation Center of the Hospital Authority, hopes to expand the loan service of high-end assistive technology equipment in the future. When patients need relevant tools, they will be provided immediately.
The team developed an eye-tracking digital communication system tailored for quadriplegic and aphasia patients with muscular dystrophy, allowing patients to type with their eyes on an electronic keyboard.
(Photo by Huang Xuzhi)
The HA Community Rehabilitation Centre, which won the 2022 HA Outstanding Team Award, is located in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The director of the centre, Ma Huiling, said that the patients received are mainly patients with spinal injuries, brain trauma, and neurological diseases. The patients mainly receive medical treatment. Referral by the medical staff of the Bureau, the Transport Department, etc., and the multi-professional team will formulate technical assistance services suitable for patients.
The center will also set up a high-end rehabilitation technology laboratory ART Lab in 2021, which is the first laboratory in Hong Kong to combine clinical and engineering research teams. In addition to introducing high-end technology, it will also develop local innovations and rehabilitation tools suitable for patients.
Ma Huiling, director of the HA Community Rehabilitation Center, pointed out that after a patient is referred, the center will immediately conduct a comprehensive clinical evaluation of the patient's limb function and perception.
(Photo by Huang Xuzhi)
She pointed out that after a patient is referred, the center will immediately conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment such as limb function and sensory assessment. It will also assess the patient's needs, understand the patient's ability and living habits, and will visit the patient's home to assess the patient's life. environment and then develop a comprehensive training session.
One of the team, Assistant Manager (Technology) of the HA Community Rehabilitation Centre, Yu Jingbang, said that the team had custom-made technology aids for a 57-year-old male patient with muscular dystrophy, quadriplegia and aphasia.
Considering the patient's only remaining eye function, facial expression, limited ability to move the soles of the feet, and their own needs, the team developed an eye-tracking digital communication system, a facial expression recognition control system, and a foot lever.
According to Yu, the patient's wife often has to guess her thoughts from her husband's expression, "Does Mi want to drink water? Is Mi hungry?" Self-communication goals.
The principle of the system is to use an infrared receiver and transmitter. When the eyeball moves, the receiver will know the position of the eyeball.
Chen Jialiang, senior occupational therapist of the Community Rehabilitation Centre of the Hospital Authority, one of the team, said that the accuracy of the system depends on the patient's eye movement ability. The team will also adjust the interface of the electronic screen according to the patient's ability, such as reducing the options on the interface, etc. .
As for the facial expression recognition control system, Yu Jingbang said that the patient can control the height of the hospital bed, turn on and off the TV, and even control the operation of the computer through the face, such as sticking out the tongue and blinking.
The foot control lever can be actuated by the patient's subtle movements and trigger the automatic clock to call his wife for help.
Yu Jingbang said that when developing the above three tools, every second must be counted, because the condition of patients with muscular dystrophy changes rapidly, and patients may lose some functions in a short period of time, and research and development needs to catch up with the speed of changes in the patient's body.
In addition to the products developed in the laboratory, the trial at the patient's home "may be related to two things, but not necessarily." The team needs to conduct 3 to 4 home visits, and hold meetings to discuss the direction of the research and development tools, so the whole process takes 4 and a half. Weeks to 5 weeks to develop and apply a unique and exclusive assistance system.
Yu Jingbang, Assistant Manager (Technology) of the Community Rehabilitation Center of the Hospital Authority, said that when developing the above three tools, every second must be counted, and it is necessary to catch up with the speed of changes in the patient's body.
(Photo by Huang Xuzhi)
The team also introduced an intelligent standing and mobile robot to assist patients with lower body paralysis to extend their standing time at home.
Chen Jialiang said that the patient can use the mobile app to remotely control the robot, bring the robot to the nearest location, and then use the robot to move around. , Move forward and take or place high objects, "not limited to the same position".
In the 3rd and 6th months of the patient's use, the team will conduct door-to-door or telephone interviews to check whether the patient has any problems with the application, and will report it in the form of a questionnaire to collect the patient's application status and usage time.
Chen Chu, after the patient uses the robot, it can promote the function of organs including the intestines and bladder, and improve incontinence.
At the same time, it can also improve their self-care ability in daily life.
The price of the robot and the electric wheelchair in the market is similar, which is about tens of thousands of yuan.
So far, 10 patients have used this tool, and it is believed that more people will use it in the future.
Ma Huiling said that the purchase and introduction of auxiliary tools are based on their functions. The Hospital Authority tries to purchase them at the lowest price, and then refer them to patients. Grassroots patients can apply for CSSA subsidies to use related tools.
She hopes to expand the loan service of high-end assistive technology equipment in the future. When patients need equipment, they can be provided immediately.
She also hopes to expand the scope of services and strengthen inpatient support services, hoping that during the hospitalization, patients "don't need to sleep on a bed all day long, waiting for help from others."
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