What we do
About our project
Our primary objectives are to develop knowledge and innovations in three key areas:
- Measuring Arm function and skills at home
- Providing Precise Feedback On Daily Life Arm Movements
- Designing an Inclusive Device
The project consists of two research components: the technical component and the design component, each involving specification, testing, and validation processes. The technical component will concentrate on assessing patients' arm-hand skills at home and delivering tailored feedback on their daily arm-hand movements. Meanwhile, the design component will focus on optimizing usability, user experience, and motivation for diverse patient populations by customizing therapy systems for individual needs.
By developing this knowledge, our project aims to facilitate the seamless transition to home-based rehabilitation. Ultimately, the implemented system will lead to more effective and cost-efficient rehabilitation treatments, benefiting patients and healthcare providers alike.
Our research focus
Assessment and training components involve distinct technical, functional, and design requirements. Standard assessment tests focus on various aspects of arm functions/ capacity, evaluating metrics like speed, smoothness and etc. Designing a versatile training tool is vital, considering usability, user experience, and motivation for all patients. It should identify specific movements needing feedback and customize it for diverse patient groups, improving their movement quality. Precise extraction of requirements is crucial to develop a comprehensive tool that meets all specifications.
Evaluation and Optimization
After extracting all requirements and specifications for assessment and training, an initial sensors-based tool will be designed and tested for use by stroke patients. This tool will encompass sensor configurations, algorithms, user and feedback interfaces, data acquisition, processing, and storage, as well as data transfer capabilities. Additionally, the therapist web app and user design requirements will be developed and iteratively optimized to ensure a comprehensive and effective solution.
Validation in Laboratory Settings
The next step involves validating sensor configurations, algorithms, and the developed tools or demonstrator for their applicability to each patient. This validation will assess factors such as uptake, usage, motivation, user experience, adherence, understanding, and engagement during measurements conducted in laboratory settings.
Validation in Home Settings
Ultimately, this project aims to validate and conduct an initial evaluation of the demonstrator and its components in a setting close to clinical application, involving patients in their at-home situations. This step is crucial for moving towards the transition to home-based rehabilitation, ensuring that the tools and technologies are effective, user-friendly, and applicable in real-life scenarios.
Collaborations
Outside Erasmus MC
Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam
Faculty of Industrial Design, TU Delft
Faculty of 3mE, department of cognitive robotics, TU Delft
Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, EUR
Our team
Dr. Hans Bussmann, principal investigator, promotor
Dr. Ruben Regterschot, co-promotor
Dr. Valentijn Visch, Promotor
Dr. Marco Rozendaal, co-promotor
Dr. Arkady Zgonnikov, co-promotor
Prof. Jane Cramm, advisor
Msc. Sahel Akbari, PhD candidate, technical component
Msc. Samantha Orozco Carvallo, PhD candidate, Design component
Contact us
Hans Bussmann: j.b.j.bussmann@erasmusmc.nl
