CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Category: Controls

Tongue Drive System

AbleData does not produce, distribute or sell any of the products listed on this website, but we provide you with information on how to contact manufacturers or distributors of these products. If you are interested in purchasing a product, you can find companies who sell it below.

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To create a prototype of a powered wheelchair contol system operated by a tongue switch in dental retainer for individuals with upper and lower extremity, mobility or neurological disabilities or quadriplegia to navigate a powered wheelchair. The newest version of the Tongue Drive System uses a dental retainer with sensors to help control the system. The embedded sensors within the retainer track the movements of a small magnet attached to the tongue. The wireless retainer is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and makes use of magnetic field sensors on the four corners of the device to track the magnet’s movements. The sensors transmit information to an iPod or iPhone and special software enables the mobile device to control the movements of a cursor on a computer screen or to work as a substitute for a joystick in a powered wheelchair. The Tongue Drive System can be made to interface with any standard electric wheelchair. The new version of the prototype has improved sensitivity and additional tongue movement commands can be programmed into the system and addresses issues with using a headset as a magnet sensor in an earlier version of the prototype. Earlier tests using the older version of the system have been done with 11 patients with high-level spinal cord injuries. These tests showed that after getting used to the device, the people in the study group were able to operate their wheelchairs and computer cursors faster and with more accuracy. The researchers expect even better results from the intraoral Tongue Drive System. AUTHOR: Stanley Darma. TITLE: New Tongue Drive System Uses Dental Retainer to Operate Wheelchair. WEBSITE: medGadget. REF: http://medgadget.com/2012/02/new-tongue-drive-system-uses-dental-retaine....

Available

Price Check
as of: 
07/28/2012
Tongue Drive System