Virtual Reality Helps Diagnose Systemic Dizziness Episodes
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 12 Jan 2017 |
|
Image: The Myo armband helps diagnose vestibular disorders (Photo courtesy of KTU/LSMU).
An innovative portable technology provides a convenient and inexpensive method for diagnosing vestibular system disorders.
Developed jointly by researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU; Lithuania) and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU; Kaunas), the technology is based on the Myo armband, a gesture recognition device worn on the forearm manufactured by Thalmic Labs (Kitchener, Canada), which enables the user to control technology wirelessly using various hand motions, interpreted using a set of electromyographic (EMG) sensors.
The EMG sensors identify electrical activity in the forearm muscles, which is then combined with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer to recognize the gestures. The researchers analyzed data from the Myo, combining it with additional input from Samsung virtual reality (VR) software, synchronizing between the different programming languages and environments in order to analyze vestibular conditions. The technology is currently being tested with healthy volunteers.
“Dizziness is a very common health disorder, experienced by both young and older people. Strong systemic dizziness, followed by imbalance, nausea, paleness, and perspiration interferes with human activities and can cause great anxiety,” said lead author Professor Ingrida Ulozienė, PhD, of LSMU. “If the condition persists, the quality of life, mood and work efficiency suffers. Sometimes dizziness can be a symptom of more serious diseases. Unfortunately, the condition is relatively difficult to diagnose.”
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. Commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, secondary endolymphatic hydrops, and perilymph fistula. Other problems related to vestibular dysfunction include vestibular migraine and complications from autoimmune disorders and allergies.
Related Links
Kaunas University of Technology
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Thalmic Labs
Developed jointly by researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU; Lithuania) and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU; Kaunas), the technology is based on the Myo armband, a gesture recognition device worn on the forearm manufactured by Thalmic Labs (Kitchener, Canada), which enables the user to control technology wirelessly using various hand motions, interpreted using a set of electromyographic (EMG) sensors.
The EMG sensors identify electrical activity in the forearm muscles, which is then combined with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer to recognize the gestures. The researchers analyzed data from the Myo, combining it with additional input from Samsung virtual reality (VR) software, synchronizing between the different programming languages and environments in order to analyze vestibular conditions. The technology is currently being tested with healthy volunteers.
“Dizziness is a very common health disorder, experienced by both young and older people. Strong systemic dizziness, followed by imbalance, nausea, paleness, and perspiration interferes with human activities and can cause great anxiety,” said lead author Professor Ingrida Ulozienė, PhD, of LSMU. “If the condition persists, the quality of life, mood and work efficiency suffers. Sometimes dizziness can be a symptom of more serious diseases. Unfortunately, the condition is relatively difficult to diagnose.”
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. Commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, secondary endolymphatic hydrops, and perilymph fistula. Other problems related to vestibular dysfunction include vestibular migraine and complications from autoimmune disorders and allergies.
Related Links
Kaunas University of Technology
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Thalmic Labs
Gold Member
Handheld Blood Glucose Analyzer
STAT-Site
Syringe Pump
SP50 Series
Glucose Meter
StatStrip®
Latest Patient Care News
- Multicenter Study Quantifies Delays in Care for Emergency Department Boarders
- Real-Time Radiation Monitor Supports Safer Fluoroscopy-Guided Procedures
- FDA-Cleared Finger Cuff Device Enables Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
- AI Avatar Doctor Improves Patient Understanding Before Radiotherapy
- Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
- VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
- Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
- First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
- Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
- Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
- Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs
- Groundbreaking AI-Powered UV-C Disinfection Technology Redefines Infection Control Landscape
- Clean Hospitals Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance, Save Lives
- Smart Hospital Beds Improve Accuracy of Medical Diagnosis
- New Fast Endoscope Drying System Improves Productivity and Traceability
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
AI Tool Uses Mammograms to Detect Common Cardiovascular Diseases
Cardiovascular disease, encompassing hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke, is the leading cause of death in women. Many cases are detected late, as symptoms can be subtle and routine screening... Read more
AI Tool Predicts Post-Heart Attack Trajectories to Personalize Follow-Up
Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) survivors often develop new comorbidities and complications that unfold over years. Predicting which patients will deteriorate and where problems will arise remains... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Wearable Hormone Monitor Enables At-Home Detection of Primary Aldosteronism
Primary aldosteronism, a hormone disorder that affects up to one in five people with hypertension, increases risks of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Many cases are missed because routine testing is... Read more
Contactless AI Tool Detects Hypertension and Diabetes from Facial Video
Hypertension and diabetes are widespread yet often undiagnosed, driving preventable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Screening typically depends on clinic visits or wearable devices, which can limit... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
Biodegradable Gastric Stent Could Eliminate Repeat Procedures After Bariatric Surgery
Gastric leaks are a serious complication after weight-loss surgery that can lead to infection, prolonged hospitalization, and repeated interventions. Conventional drainage stents were designed for the... Read more
Robot-Assisted Surgery Shows Advantages Over Laparoscopy in Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is most often treated with surgery, yet minimally invasive techniques can be technically challenging. Laparoscopic gastrectomy reduces recovery time compared with open surgery but relies... Read more
Medical Imaging
view channel
Study Links Thymus Radiation Dose to Poorer Outcomes in Lung Cancer
Collateral radiation to the thymus during therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may compromise antitumor immunity and disease control. The thymus is a small immune organ in the upper chest that... Read more
Automated AI Tool Enables Uncertainty-Aware Meningioma Volume Tracking on MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guides diagnosis and monitoring in brain tumors, yet routine measurements often rely on subjective reads or simplified two-dimensional calculations. These methods can miss... Read more
Health IT
view channel
Imaging Tool Quantifies Calcinosis Cutis Volume to Monitor Treatment
Calcinosis cutis involves calcium deposits in the skin or soft tissues that can develop anywhere in the body, causing pain, impaired mobility, and disability. Lesions along the spine or buttocks can make... Read more
Digital Symptom Monitoring Supports More Personalized Breast Cancer Care
Metastatic breast cancer, in which tumors spread to other organs, is incurable but increasingly managed with modern systemic therapies. As more treatments shift from hospital infusions to oral or at-home... Read more
Point of Care
view channel
Microneedle Patch Enables At-Home Monitoring of Acute Kidney Injury
Kidney disease is often silent in its early stages, making timely detection difficult outside clinical settings. Early biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin can require blood draws... Read more
Ultrathin Metasurface Could Bring Quantitative Phase Imaging to Portable Devices
Point-of-care imaging often depends on bulky optical systems that have difficulty visualizing nearly transparent cells and tissues without staining. These limitations can slow diagnosis and restrict use... Read more
Business
view channel
Philips and Imricor Collaboration Advances MRI-Guided Cardiac Procedures
Cardiac arrhythmias affect millions of people worldwide and are often treated with catheter ablation. These procedures typically rely on X-ray fluoroscopy, which provides only indirect visualization of... Read more
Abbott LAA Occluder Gains CE Mark for AFib Stroke Risk Reduction
Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk because blood clots often form in the left atrial appendage. For patients who cannot tolerate long-term anticoagulation, minimally invasive closure can provide... Read more
FDA Seeks Feedback on Regulating Generative AI Medical Devices
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering clinical workflows, offering tools that could enhance patient care while introducing risks that differ from those of traditional software.... Read more