Project description
Revolutionary sensing solution for spinal cord injury assistive devices
Millions suffer from functional impairments due to spinal cord injury, whether amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or locked-in syndrome. A variety of assistive devices exist that respond to musculature innervated by the cranial nerves, specifically the facial nerves, to assist individuals. However, their functionality is limited. The use of vestigial nerve innervation and even periauricular muscles is a promising concept that could vastly increase the capabilities of assistive devices. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SWIPT-PEMG project will develop a minuscule, minimally invasive, battery-free and extremely low-cost electromyography sensing solution. It will boast significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio over wearable alternatives, and will not require invasive surgeries.
Objective
The over 1 million individuals worldwide with significant functional impairment due to spinal cord injury, Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), or Locked-in Syndrome face hardships in interacting with a world constructed for those with functioning musculature
innervation. The higher the injury to the spine, via contusion or disease progress, the greater the disconnect from the normative way
of operating in the world. Assistive devices that respond to the musculature innervated by the cranial, and more specifically the
facial, nerves can ease the burden on these individuals by giving them an additional vector by which to affect the world around them.
The cranial nerves include those that humans do not commonly use to express on the modern world. These vestigial nerves provided
function to ancestors, but now serve little purpose. One such vestigial musculature innervation are the periauricular muscles which
oriented the ear in phylogenetically lower species. Even more significant though, functional innervation of these periauricular
muscles remain even after the highest spinal cord injury.
By sensing the electromyography (EMG) signal resulting from these vestigial periauricular muscles and relaying that signal to an
external controller via a wirelessly powered implanted EMG sensing and backscatter communication device, one can provide exactly
this revolutionary additional control vector without sacrificing a single otherwise commonly accessible facial motor control unit. The
proposed SWIPT-PEMG will be minimally invasive, of miniscule size, be battery free, can transmit at data rates up to 2Mbps, is
extremely low cost, and is predicted to improve SNR by 25 to 40% over existing wearable systems, thus we will provide control
without cumbersome electronics of EEG, without the invasive and perilous surgeries of ECOG, and without the massive power
demands of both.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
T12 YN60 Cork
Ireland
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