Through non-invasive brainwave sensing and artificial intelligence recognition technology, the system can interpret the patient's movement intentions and control the exoskeleton to assist in lower limb rehabilitation training.
In order to improve the quality and efficiency of rehabilitation for stroke patients, ITRI, with the support of the Industrial Technology Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, joined hands with National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University and National Taiwan University to develop a "brain wave controlled exoskeleton rehabilitation system", and collaborated with Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University Chung Ho Memorial Hospital for clinical verification. Through non-invasive brainwave sensing and artificial intelligence recognition technology, the system can interpret the patient's movement intentions and control the exoskeleton to assist in lower limb rehabilitation training. Among them, the average brain control recognition accuracy measured by stroke patients in Taichung Rongzong reached 92.5%, demonstrating the potential of brain wave control technology in neurological rehabilitation.
Zheng Boxun, director of ITRI's Service System Technology Center, said that traditional exoskeleton rehabilitation equipment mainly assists patient training through preset movement patterns. The brainwave-controlled exoskeleton rehabilitation system developed by ITRI further combines brainwave recognition technology to allow patients to participate in the rehabilitation process through movement intentions. This technology was developed by Ke Liwei, chief technology officer of the Service System Technology Center of ITRI and professor of the Electrical Engineering Department of Yang-Ming National Chiao Tung University. He introduced a self-developed non-invasive brainwave sensing device and recognition algorithm into the system, using a graphene dry electrode brainwave cap to capture signals, identify the user's movement intention, and then control the exoskeleton's auxiliary movements.
In order to improve the efficiency of brainwave signal processing, the team also collaborated with Professor Yang Jiaxiang of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Institute of Electronic Engineering of National Taiwan University to convert the brainwave recognition algorithm originally executed by software into a hardware-accelerated design and complete functional verification through a programmable chip (FPGA). Test results show that the computing performance is 76 times higher than that of traditional computer processors, which helps shorten brainwave signal processing time and improve the real-time control of exoskeleton movements.
In terms of clinical verification, after patients wear brainwave sensing devices and lower limb exoskeletons, the system can analyze brainwave signals, identify movement intentions, and then control the exoskeleton to assist in completing rehabilitation training. With the assistance of Cheng Yuanyang, director of the Rehabilitation Department of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, the team has completed training and testing on stroke inpatients, with an average brain control recognition accuracy of 92.5%. In addition, the team also collaborated with Chen Jiaxin, a physician at the Department of Rehabilitation, Chung Ho Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, to conduct clinical trials to continuously evaluate the feasibility of the system in neurological rehabilitation.
In terms of industrialization, ITRI cooperates with domestic players such as Fubao Technology and Fubao Biomedical to promote lightweight smart rehabilitation equipment and autonomous wearable applications. At present, the team has completed the trial production of brainwave signal processing chips using a 40-nanometer process. Subsequently, they will conduct chip function testing and mass production planning, and will cooperate with industry players to establish a quality management system. They will follow the relevant regulations and product verification procedures of the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, gradually promote the commercialization of the technology, and promote the development of Taiwan's smart medical and rehabilitation assistive device industry.
