Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks to predict tremor signals

Researchers working for the EU Project EXTEND, in collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid (UPM), applied long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks to predict tremor signals using kinematic data recorded from patients with essential tremor. The proposed LSTM-based models were capable of accurately predicting pathological tremor signals, outperforming results from previous studies. This provides a framework towards the development of a more robust control for closed-loop tremor reduction strategies based on electrical stimulation.

More info in the link:
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9904814

EMG-based control of exoskeletons

From June 27th to June 30th 2022, researchers working for the EU Project EXTEND carried out experiments with incomplete spinal cord injury patients. In these experiments, real-time neural-based models were applied to control the exoskeleton Exo-H3 while patients walked, allowing a more intuitive control of the exoskeleton. This work was carried out by the Neural Rehabilitation Group from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), in collaboration with Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM) and the Imperial College London (ICL). Stay tuned for more information.

Experiments for the EXTEND Project

The final injectable implants developed by University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and Fraunhofer-Institute for Biomedical Engineering (FhG-IBMT) were tested in humans for the first time. By using the EXTEND Bidirectional Hyper-Connected Neural Systems (BHNS) paradigm, we were able to perform muscle stimulation. This work was carried out in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Servicio Madrileño de Salud (SERMAS) and Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM). Stay tuned for more information.


Floating EMG sensors and stimulators wirelessly powered and operated by volume conduction for networked neuroprosthetics

Researchers working for the EU Project EXTEND developed semi-implantable devices and validated them in vitro and in vivo. These devices were designed to be used in acute human trials to demonstrate the Bidirectional Hyper-Connected Neural Systems paradigm: distributed networks of intramuscular wireless microsensors and microstimulators that communicate with external systems for analyzing neuromuscular activity and performing stimulation or controlling external devices. This work was carried out by University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), in collaboration with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik (FhG-IBMT).

More info in the link:
https://jneuroengrehab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12984-022-01033-3


 

 

Annual Meeting at Barcelona on March 24th, 2022

The Consortium had a very fruitful and productive Meeting at University Pompeu Fabra (UPF) premises (Barcelona, Spain), where we reviewed the work done in 2021 / beginning of 2022 and planned the next steps until the end of the project (June 30th 2022). We were pleased to meet old friends for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for more information on the latest results.

Survey on the challenges towards the adoption of BCI technologies in rehabilitation.

The Institute of Philosophy (IFS) from CSIC presented the results of three in-depth interviews that were conducted with Spanish speaking individuals who had previously completed a survey as part of a larger, 3-country/language, survey on BCI perceptions. 11 out of 15 of these Spanish respondents (survey) either strongly or somewhat accept the use of BCI in rehabilitation therapy. However, in-depth interviews conducted with these Spanish rehabilitation professionals indicate that they would not apply BCI technologies due to a lack of knowledge about its ethical, legal and social implications.

More info in the link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00146-021-01292-z

 

Experiments for the EXTEND Project at Gregorio Marañón Hospital

During the week of 26-30 July 2021, researchers from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), Neural-Rehabilitation Group – CSIC (Madrid) and Gregorio Marañón Hospital (Madrid) performed experiments using state of the art intramuscular technology to validate in humans the use of high frequency volume conduction to record electromyography and perform muscle stimulation. It was a very fruitful week towards the achievement of several milestones of the project.

Intramuscular EMG-driven Musculoskeletal Modelling: Towards Implanted Muscle Interfacing in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

EU EXTEND Projects researchers tested and compared the use of surface and intramuscular EMG measurements for the estimation of required joint torques using EMG driven modelling framework in healthy individuals and incomplete SCI patients. More info in the link: https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2021.3087137

A jointly publication done by Imperial College of London, CSIC and SESCAM.