We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Virtual Reality Helps Diagnose Systemic Dizziness Episodes

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Jan 2017
Print article
Image: The Myo armband helps diagnose vestibular disorders (Photo courtesy of KTU/LSMU).
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


Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
EEG System
BRAIN QUICK

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: The permeable wearable electronics developed for long-term biosignal monitoring (Photo courtesy of CityUHK)

Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Enable Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring

Wearable electronics have become integral to enhancing health and fitness by offering continuous tracking of physiological signals over extended periods. This monitoring is crucial for understanding an... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.