Hybrid neuroscience based on cerebral and muscular information for motor rehabilitation and neuromuscular disorders

HybridNeuro project combines the expertise of leading European partners in the field of Neural Interfaces to set up a new pathways of analyzing human motor system and human movements and transfer the academic research into clinical and industrial practice.

In cooperation with the experts from the Medical Faculty at University of Maribor and Science and Research Centre Koper we are developing new computer-aided techniques for analysis of compound muscle action potentials, recorded by surface electromyograms and their decomposition into contributions of individual motor units.

In this bilateral project, surface EMG methodology developed at the University of Maribor has been applied to investigate the main characteristics of muscle excitations in hemiparetic stroke subjects, recruited by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, USA.

Within this research project, we are dealing with the design, evaluation and implementation of a system able to detect the human vital signs using only facial video information coming from a standard handheld device camera.

MIO-A
Exact quantification of muscle control strategies and co-activation patterns in robot-assisted rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients

Basic research project MIO-A started in collaboration with University Rehabilitation Institute of Republic of Slovenia – SOČA. This three-year project aims to introduce and validate unique assessment of muscle activities during robot-assisted rehabilitation of hemiparetic patients and is funded by Slovenian Research Agency.

Within this research project, we are dealing with unobtrusive observations of human vital functions by using intelligent sensors and video devices. Sensor measurements are combined with the information extracted from the videos in order to determine the aptness of observed person for independent living.

Muscle atrophy is a well well-known that defines the loss of muscle mass as a result of illness or injury, unbalanced diet or lack of physical activity. Despite the growing number of researches exploring the findings of muscle atrophy and analyzing its implications, there are still many unresolved issues, especially in terms of objective indicators, methods and procedures of its assessment. The main objective of this project is to define and develop non-invasive procedures for assessment of skeletal muscle atrophy and hypertrophy based on the mechanical response thickening, movement and vibration of muscle fibbers as well as neuromuscular electrical activity.

Essential and Parkinsonian rest tremor are the most frequent movement disorders that hamper independent life of about 9 % of people above the age of 50. They are also among the most commonly misdiagnosed neurologic disorders. About 30 % of patients diagnosed with essential tremor, for example, do actually not suffer from this disorder. The main objective of the NeuroTREMOR project is to design and validate a novel computer-aided system for understanding, diagnosing and remotely managing tremor.