Science, like art, is not a copy of

nature but a re-creation of her.

Jacob Bronowski, (1956)

Problem Solution

Electrocutaneous feedback system for patients with neuropathy

Jan Walter Schroeder - (Ph. D. researcher)

Prof. Dr. Venky Dubey - (Assoc. Prof)

Prof Dr. Tamas Hickish MD

(Consultant in Medical Oncology)

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Cole MD

(Consultant, Clinical Neurophysiology)

Prof. Dr. Ian Swain

(Director of Clinical Science and Engineering)

Dr. David Kerr MD

(Consultant Physician)

Team

Peripheral Neuropathy caused by

- Genetic diseases

- Metabolic/Endocrine (Diabetes)

- Chemotherapy

leads to

- Numbness

- Sensation loss

- Tissue damage and amputations

Background

Problem

- Balance problems

- Restrictions in activities of daily life

- Tissue damage

Absence of force feedback leads to

Solution

- Balance problems

- Restrictions in activities of daily life

- Tissue damage

Absence of force feedback leads to

- Force feedback system

- Vibration alarm for

critical time of pressure

Sensation of touch – Artificial creation

Skin resistance

Sensing Thresholds

Sensor drift

Sensor inaccuracy

Time of critical pressure

Challenges

Engineering

Physiology

Sensor placement

Smart device

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

00.

91.

82.

73.

64.

55.

46.

37.

28.

1 99.

910

.811

.712

.613

.514

.415

.316

.217

.1 1818

.9

Time in sec

Pu

lse w

idth

in

µs

max PW: 160 µs

min PW: 40 µs

Pulse - Frequency: 50 Hz, Amplitude: 84 V

Start Pulse

Start

Start PWM Timer

Increment PW

Button

pressed

End

Decrement PW

Button

pressed

Define max. force

Button

pressed

yes

yes

no

no no

yes

Calibration routine

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Test person

Pu

lse w

idth

in

μs

Max PW Min PW

1.1788213.9203382.6743.733.113.145.383.386.33.57Ratio

44.0050583.22222699413110051261656647Min Pulse Width μs

156.6076311.2222184376488311160140558416168Max Pulse Width in μs

σμ987654321Test person

1.1788213.9203382.6743.733.113.145.383.386.33.57Ratio

44.0050583.22222699413110051261656647Min Pulse Width μs

156.6076311.2222184376488311160140558416168Max Pulse Width in μs

σμ987654321Test person

Estimation of stimulation magnitude

9 healthy test subjects

2 experiment parts

25 attempts

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Series1

Series2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Series1

Series2

2.32

1.16

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Series1

Series2

1.48

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Series1

Series2

0.48

1.1210.921.440.81.320.481.481.161.48μAD

- 2 Part

1.62670.881.121.20.843.161.481.82.321.84μAD

- 1 Part

μ9

987654321Test person

1.1210.921.440.81.320.481.481.161.48μAD

- 2 Part

1.62670.881.121.20.843.161.481.82.321.84μAD

- 1 Part

μ9

987654321Test person

Future

Clinical trial

Alternative Scenarios

Artificial limb

Distance estimation

Brightness

Temperature

Science, like art, is not a copy of

nature but a re-creation of her.

Jacob Bronowski, (1956)

I hope you found

that interesting.

Sensation of touch - Nature

Neuron

Mechanoreceptors

Skin