University of Southampton and Roke Develop Technology World First to Support Stroke Patients

Description

University of Southampton and Roke Develop Technology World First to Support Stroke Patients PR Newswire ROMSEY and SOUTHAMPTON, England, June 19, 2012 ROMSEY and SOUTHAMPTON, England, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Southampton, in collaboration with Roke Manor Research Ltd (Roke), a Chemring company, has pioneered the use of Xbox computer technology to develop the world's first process that measures hand joint movement to help stroke patients recover manual agility at home. The Xbox Kinect works by monitoring whole limb movements. However, the University team has taken it a step further to create an algorithm that tracks and measures hand joint angles and the fine dexterity of individual finger movements. The ultimate aim is to capture the data while the patients follow exercises on a TV screen. The project aims to help people recovering from a stroke to do more regular and precise exercises so that they recover faster. The data collected will be fed back to the therapists caring for the patient so they can continually monitor progress, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits. This new system has been developed to complement the home-based physiotherapy care already offered to patients in the UK, and follows a recent [1]Stroke Association report which stated that stroke survivors are being denied the chance to make their best recovery because of a lack of post-hospital care.

Informations

• Publié par: roke-manor-research-ltd
• Nombre de lectures: 21
• Langue: English

Extrait

University of Southampton and Roke Develop

Technology World First to Support Stroke

Patients

PR Newswire

ROMSEY and SOUTHAMPTON, England, June 19, 2012

ROMSEY and

SOUTHAMPTON, England

,

June 19, 2012

/PRNewswire/ --

The University of Southampton, in collaboration with Roke Manor Research Ltd

(Roke), a Chemring company, has pioneered the use of Xbox computer

technology to develop the world's first process that measures hand joint

movement to help stroke patients recover manual agility at home.

The Xbox Kinect works by monitoring whole limb movements. However, the

University team has taken it a step further to create an algorithm that tracks

and measures hand joint angles and the fine dexterity of individual finger

movements. The ultimate aim is to capture the data while the patients follow

exercises on a TV screen.

The project aims to help people recovering from a stroke to do more regular

and precise exercises so that they recover faster. The data collected will be fed

back to the therapists caring for the patient so they can continually monitor

progress, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.

This new system has been developed to complement the home-based

physiotherapy care already offered to patients in the UK, and follows a recent

Stroke Association report

[1]

which stated that stroke survivors are being denied

the chance to make their best recovery because of a lack of post-hospital care.

Simon Wickes, Healthcare Business Sector Manager at Roke, said: "Strokes are

the largest single cause of severe disability in the UK and it is estimated that

every year half of the hundred-thousand stroke patients experience upper limb

problems. This project could make a significant difference to the wellbeing of

those affected.

"As Roke has a strong R&D pedigree in mobile and e-health devices, we were

able to provide the technical guidance and support to help the students realise

this exciting and valuable project. Not only is it a cost effective out-of-the-box

solution, by reducing patient recovery times it could also have a positive impact

on the £2.5 billion

[2]

which the care and rehabilitation of stroke patients cost

the UK health and social care system each year."

The

Southampton

and Roke team's next objective is to create a series of

computer games to make the rehabilitation process more interesting for the

patient. The games will adapt to each individual's ability and help motivate

them to reach rehabilitation goals by feeding back higher scores if their joint

movements improve.

Dr Cheryl Metcalf, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton

has been supervising the project. She said: "Recovering from a stroke can be a

daunting and distressing time for patients and their families. Through our

research we know that many people recovering from a stroke find their at-

home exercises repetitive and often demotivating. If they are already finding it

difficult and frustrating to move their hands, they need something to encourage

them to try harder. We wanted to create a more engaging way to help them

recover faster. Using the Kinect we have been able to take a commercially

available product and develop a highly novel tool that aims to be both cost

effective and clinically applicable."

About The University of Southampton

The University of Southampton is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, granted the Royal Charter that enabled the

University of Southampton to award its own degrees in the early weeks of her

reign in 1952

In the six decades to follow,

Southampton

has risen to become one of the

leading universities in the UK with a global reputation for innovation through

academic excellence and world-leading research.

About Roke

http://www.roke.co.uk

Roke, based in Romsey,

Hampshire

, is the principal electronics research and

development centre of Chemring Group Plc. Founded in 1956, Roke is one of

the UK's leading suppliers of innovative solutions and contract R&D, pioneering

developments in electronic sensors, networks and communications technology.

It employs 450 staff and has over 430 patents to its name.

About Chemring

http://www.chemring.co.uk

Chemring is a manufacturing business with facilities in eight countries selling high

technology electronics and energetic products to over eighty countries worldwide.

The Company has a diverse portfolio of products protecting military people and

platforms against a constantly changing threat.

Operating in high margin, niche markets with short product development timescales,

Chemring has the ability to rapidly react to urgent customer needs.

Chemring adopts a balanced strategy of organic growth and small bolt-on acquisitions,

and maintains balanced geographic and market profiles, with a growing presence in

non-NATO countries.

Strong R&D investment for new products and improvements in technology continually

allows Chemring to expand its addressable markets.

http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/

1. Struggling to Recover, Stroke Association,

May 2012

2. Stroke Statistics, a British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association report