Project: ELectrophysiological and VIrtual Reality Assembly for Neurorehabilitation

ELVIRA is a novel headset with advanced built-in virtual reality (VR) technology compatible with neurophysiological measurement technologies. Through the current project, we will design and manufacture the headset to match the CE mark Class II classification to enable clinical use. The integrated headset will help patients suffering with motor disabilities (primarily upper limb) and maximize independent practice for both hospital and home rehabilitation. _x000D_Current “standard of care” solutions are strongly dependent on therapist availability, which seriously limits therapy time. With no interactive feedback on their movements and subjective measurement techniques (questionnaires) only, patients see no progress and may quit the process due to lack of motivation. Recent solutions (robotic, video games) have complicated architectures and strongly depend on hospital staff. Additionally, continuous feedback of the paretic limb during exercise is a strong impediment._x000D_Our headset enables high resolution 3D rendering of VR exercises based on cognitive neuroscience (as compared to basic gaming solutions) and is compatible with neurophysiological technologies, giving objective correlation of patient performance across every therapy session. Interactive exercises in combination with objective measurement and increased intensive practice will help patients to get back to active life quicker. Therapists can focus on qualitative aspects of rehabilitation and accommodate more patients._x000D_ELVIRA, being the first medical grade head-mounted display (HMD) compatible with brain activity measurement, can be introduced early in the rehabilitation process (healthcare guidelines indicate earlier intervention optimizes the brain recovery; NHS, 2008), supporting therapeutic and diagnostic tasks. The headset can be tailored to the different phases (late acute, sub-acute and chronic) of rehabilitation after stroke or brain injury. _x000D_Our primary objective is the creation of an immersive lightweight modular HMD by integrating advanced head tracking algorithms, wide field of view, non-invasive neurophysiological signals and real-time analysis. We will develop (i) a lightweight HMD for medical use, (ii) a wireless lightweight electroencephalogram (EEG) module compatible with the HMD. _x000D_The modules will be developed considering 3 essential parameters: first, electromagnetic isolation to ensure best signal quality; second, real-time signal processing and data correlation with appropriate hardware and software to minimize latencies; third, a modular design to ensure smooth usability of these 2 technologies together or individually._x000D_ ELVIRA brings proven cognitive neuroscience principles into clinical practice for the first time. Research over the last decades has underlined the mirror neuron system where observation and execution of similar goal-directed movements recruit similar underlying brain areas. Then, movements of one body side can be rendered on the other side to reinforce neural pathways on the affected side through movement observation and using positive reinforcement (completing a movement whenever movement intention is detected from the neural signals). Regarding the diagnostic aspects, ELVIRA will provide objective and quantitative measures of hemispheric balance as well as sensorimotor EEG correlates, which are captured automatically while patient performs exercises. _x000D_The creation of ELVIRA is actually placed within the framework of a large-scale strategy to develop a global high-tech solution based on multidisciplinary integration of cutting edge research in the cognitive neuroscience, VR and robotics fields. The long-term objective is to standardize therapy based on this technological integration to facilitate faster recovery after brain injury and stroke. Such integrated solution is essential for providing early therapy to harness optimal times for recovery in occupational, physiological and cognitive aspects. Thus ELVIRA becomes here a first and fundamental component since it allows its usage early stages of rehabilitation (as early as within one week after stroke or trauma). _x000D_To achieve these goals, the project consortium is led by Mindmaze SA, a Swiss SME and R&D company dedicated to the design and development of medical-graded neurorehabilitation systems. The manufacturing of the ELVIRA product will be undertaken by the French P Maatel (Électronique Médicale et Industrielle), who will lead the quality and risk analysis and production. The final phase in the project will underline the testing of the system with healthy participants and patients. MindMaze will partially subcontract the testing phases to CNBI (Defitech Foundation Chair in Non-Invasive BCI) at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne) and CHUV (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois). Following the project completion, the prototype will undergo clinical trials, procedures for medical certification and product launching into the market within 2 years.

Acronym	ELVIRA (Reference Number: 7945)
Duration	01/01/2013 - 31/12/2014
Project Topic	ELVIRA is a unique neurorehabilitation device, integrating immersive virtual reality and neurophysiological signals into a wearable headset maximizing independent practice and objective measurement for motor rehabilitation in hospital and home settings after a brain injury or stroke.
Project Results (after finalisation)	Maatel has contributed to develop the first virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) system powered by physiological signals for neurorehabilitation. _x000D_The system will help patients suffering with motor disabilities and maximize independent practice for both hospital and home rehabilitation. Also, the headset can also be used in other fields such as gaming, where this disruptive technology aims at revolutionizing the gaming and entertainment landscape._x000D_Maatel was responsible for the design and development of the hardware and software part of the head-mounted display module. The tasks include casing and electronic conception, documentation and manufacturing up to prototype validation for the hardware and sotfware part.
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 9

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	MAATEL SAS	Partner	France
2	Mindmaze SA	Coordinator	Switzerland