Title :
A 3-channel stimulator for tactile phi phenomenon investigation on sensory communication
Author :
Nohama, Percy ; Lopes, AndrCa M V A ; Cliquet, Alberto
Author_Institution :
CPGEI/CEFET-PR, Curitiba, Brazil
Abstract :
This paper presents a three-channel microcomputer controlled PAM electrotactile stimulator with the purpose of investigating the possibility of restoration of the proprioceptive sense, to paraplegics and quadriplegics, through the tactile phi phenomenon. It generates triangular, elliptical and rectangular envelope waveforms, and it allows programming and visualizing its main parameters: pulse width (10 μs-10 ms) and pulse frequency (0.05-50 kHz), modulation frequency (0.1-10 Hz), current intensity (up to 20 mA), amplitude modulation index (0-100%) and the interburst interval (up to 500 ms). In vivo experiments have shown that it is possible to elicit a controlled moving fused image with good resolution
Keywords :
bioelectric phenomena; computerised control; handicapped aids; mechanoception; microcomputer applications; muscle; neurophysiology; pulse amplitude modulation; sensory aids; 0.05 to 50 kHz; 10 mus to 10 ms; 20 mA; amplitude modulation index; current intensity; interburst interval; modulation frequency; paraplegics; proprioceptive sense; pulse frequency; pulse width; quadriplegics; sensory communication; tactile phi phenomenon; three-channel microcomputer controlled PAM electrotactile stimulator; Amplitude modulation; Frequency modulation; Image restoration; Intensity modulation; Microcomputers; Modulation coding; Pulse generation; Pulse width modulation; Space vector pulse width modulation; Visualization;
Conference_Titel :
Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 1995. Intelligent Systems for the 21st Century., IEEE International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Vancouver, BC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2559-1
DOI :
10.1109/ICSMC.1995.537901
