Tongue-Driven Wheelchair - Watch WebMD Video

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Tongue Driven Wheelchair

Reviewed By: Laura Martin,

SOURCES: 2009 Medical Reference from Medstar Television. John Anschutz, Assistive Technology Center Manager, Shepherd Center, Atlanta. Maysam Ghovanloo, PhD, Engineering Researcher, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

© 1999-2011 Medstar Television

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Narrator:

Jason Disanto is paralyzed below the shoulders. He currently uses a wheelchair that he has to puff on to move, but really likes the new chair he got to test drive as part of a clinical study.

Jason Disanto:

That'll be taking away one less issue.

Narrator:

The new chair is guided by discreet tongue movements, rather than puffs on a straw. It was developed in this busy research lab at Georgia Tech.

Maysam Ghovanloo, Ph.D.:

The tongue does not lose its motion ability even as a result of the highest level in spinal cord injury.

Narrator:

Engineers are taking advantage of that in the design of their tongue drive system. A magnet on the tongue triggers sensors worn near the cheeks. When the tongue moves, those sensors send messages to a computer, which then moves the chair.

Maysam Ghovanloo, Ph.D.:

We have a wireless transmitter on the headset that sends that information to a computer and the computer processes that information and as a result of that, can track it on motion.

Narrator:

The tongue driven chair was put through its paces in an obstacle course.

Jason Disanto:

They were actually edging me on to see if I could do it faster and faster.

Narrator:

Researchers believe they can improve the device and have considered swapping the headset and magnet for a retainer-like device. That pleases those who often work with quadriplegics.

John Anschutz :

That's a device that can last throughout the day, maintain position and the client would not lose control.

Jason Disanto :

To be independent is really important to myself and people in my condition.

Narrator:

Jason believes the tongue drive would be one more step toward that independence. For WebMD, I'm Sandee LaMotte.

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