Maximizing the information transfer rate of a textile-based myoelectric interface

Project Synopsis

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects 86,000 Canadians and results in motor, sensory and autonomic impairments below the level of the lesion, severely reducing independence and quality of life. Each individual with cervical SCI has an estimated $3 million in lifetime cost of care, contributing to the total annual economic cost of $1.7 billion for traumatic cervical SCI in Canada. Individuals with cervical SCI report that arm and hand function is their top priority for recovery. While some degree of spontaneous recovery is expected after injury, it is usually not complete. After recovery plateaus, assistive technologies are sorely needed to provide increased functional abilities in daily life. Advances in assistive technologies have created a need for users to be able to convey complex commands. This project will investigate wearable methods to control assistive technologies using residual muscle activity, taking into account each user's pattern of impairment after SCI.

Project Objective

To provide an effective, robust and practical means for individuals with neurological or neuromuscular impairments to control complex assistive technologies and thereby increase their independence.