Multimodal closed-loop biofeedback system for neuro-motor rehabilitation

The NeMoRehab project aims to produce a novel neuro-rehabilitation device that supports the therapy of spinal cord injury (SCI), for the first-time combining electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and functional electrical stimulation (FES) into a single system.

Spinal cord injury patients with incomplete paraplegia suffer not only from the restriction due to their impaired movement abilities, reduced everyday independence and pain, but also from the exhausting and slow progress of therapy. FES is a very common therapeutic approach, but it uses pre-defined paradigms without feedback and adaptivity to the variable intra- and inter-individual response.

NeMo Rehab Project

NeMoRehab is a Eurostars project that aims to develop a closed-loop biofeedback solution which will optimize muscle activation and monitoring of corticospinal plasticity by combining electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and functional electrical stimulation (FES) into a single system.

Such an approach allows to customize the treatment for each patient’s specific characteristics, avoiding common problems with other solutions, such as over-stimulation and fatigue. The closed-loop biofeedback system will be applied to clinical and home environments, offering targeted, personalized therapy which allows patients to recover faster and reduce remaining neuro-motor impairments.

Consortium

The project brings together 7 organisations
with extensive experience in the area of digital health solutions:

a consulting company with an extensive experience in developing digital health solutions and deploying them commercially, as well as managing projects. As such, they are the coordinators of NeMoRehab, and in addition are responsible for the software component of the solution, as well as its future commercial exploitation.
with a long experience in the development of nanostructured thin films deposited on different types of substrates to be used as surface dry electrodes. By employing different techniques such as Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD), the research team produces the nanoscale thin films with different architectures and morphologies that provide the electrostimulation to patients.
which has has extensive experience in research of integrated hardware and software systems for biomedical signal acquisition and analysis. For NeMoRehab, BMTI provides expertise on dry electrode / sensor development and characterization, bioelectric measurement and stimulation hardware as well as multimodal data processing and analysis.
an ISO 13485 certified medical device manufacturer active worldwide in the market of neuroscience and neurocare, providing products with a high level of innovation. Within NeMoRehab EEM develops the electronics and oversees the integration of the components to the final prototype.
a clinical partner with extensive experience in the treatment of patients suffering for spine injuries and other motor disabilities. They provide the scientific analysis and validation during the development of the NeMoRehab solution.
which specializes in developing machine learning algorithms that utilize EEG biomarkers derived from functional connectivity measures to support mental disease diagnosis. Their team possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in processing biomedical signals, artificial intelligence, and neuroscience research.
a neurorehabilitation company with a multidisciplinary team of professional therapists, that integrates the latest technologies and therapies to provide full, integrative, and intensive care for patients with central nervous system damage.

Contact

For more information about the project,
contact the INOVA+ coordinator Alfredo Silva


alfredo.silva@inova.business