A Communication Means for Totally Locked-in ALS Patients Based on Changes in Cerebral Blood Volume Measured with Near-Infrared Light

Masayoshi NAITO
Yohko MICHIOKA
Kuniaki OZAWA
Yoshitoshi ITO
Masashi KIGUCHI
Tsuneo KANAZAWA

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Information and Systems   Vol.E90-D    No.7    pp.1028-1037
Publication Date: 2007/07/01
Online ISSN: 1745-1361
DOI: 10.1093/ietisy/e90-d.7.1028
Print ISSN: 0916-8532
Type of Manuscript: PAPER
Category: Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology
Keyword: 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,  human communication,  near infrared light,  discriminant analysis,  brain-computer interface,  

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Summary: 
A communication means is presented for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in totally locked-in state who are completely unable to move any part of the body and have no usual communication means. The method utilizes changes in cerebral blood volume accompanied with changes in brain activity. When a patient is asked a question and the answer to it is 'yes', the patient makes his or her brain active. The change in blood volume at the frontal lobe is detected with near-infrared light. The instantaneous amplitude and phase of the change are calculated, and the maximum amplitude and phase change are obtained. The answer 'yes' or 'no' of the patient is detected using a discriminant analysis with these two quantities as variables. The rate of correct detection is 80% on average.


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