Evaluation of a Tongue Operated Assistive Technology for Individuals With Severe Paralysis

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: Quadriplegia
Spinal Cord Injury
ALS

Interventions: Device: Usability assessment
Procedure: Tongue Piercing

Registration Number: NCT01124292

Lead Sponsor: Georgia Institute of Technology

Brief Summary: This study was intended to evaluate a new assistive neuro-technology, known as the Tongue Drive System (TDS), by its potential end-users, i.e. individuals with severe disabilities, who are the best experts for indicating the benefits and possible shortcomings of any new ANT. Our goal is to assess the acceptability and usability of the TDS for various tasks that are important in daily lives of these individuals, such as computer access, wheeled mobility, and environmental control.

Detailed Description: A new assistive neuro-technology (ANT), called the Tongue Drive System (TDS), enables individuals with severe disability access their environment with nothing but their tongue motion. The human tongue is inherently capable of sophisticated control and manipulation tasks with many degrees of freedom. It can move rapidly and accurately within the mouth such that the tip can touch every single tooth. The direct connection between the brain and the tongue generally allows it to escape damage even in severe spinal cord injuries (SCI). Unlike the brain, the tongue is accessible, and its location inside the mouth affords a degree of privacy.

TDS consists of a magnetic tracer, the size of a lentil, attached to the tongue by gluing, implantation, or piercing. The tracer generates a magnetic field inside and around the mouth that is detected by an array of magnetic sensors mounted on a wireless headset. Tongue-movement-induced changes in the magnetic field are sent wirelessly to an ultra-mobile computer or smartphone, carried by the user, which processes and translates every tongue motion to a particular user-defined function.

Once an individual with disability is "enabled" to access a computing device, he/she can nearly do everything that an able-bodied individual can do with that device. This includes communicating, education, training, entertainment, and controlling other devices such as powered wheelchairs (PWC), assistive robotic manipulators, and other home/office appliances on a local area network (LAN). Even the individual's own natural or prosthetic limbs can be manipulated to move by functional electrical stimulation (FES).

This study was intended to evaluate the TDS by the ultimate intended users, individuals with severe disabilities, who are the best experts for indicating the benefits and possible shortcomings of any new ANT. Our goal is to assess the acceptability and usability of the TDS for various tasks that are important in daily life such as computer access, wheeled mobility, and environmental control.

Three groups of subjects were recruited:

Group-A: Able-bodied subjects who already have tongue piercing

Group-B: Able-bodied subjects who wanted to receive tongue piercing as part of this trial

Group-C: Subjects with high-level disability, who wanted to receive tongue piercing as part of this trial

Each group of subjects participated in a battery of tasks that quantitatively measures their performance in accessing computers and driving wheelchairs using the TDS.

We also devised acceptable procedures for receiving a magnetic tongue piercing (required in order to use the TDS), and assess its potential safety issues.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 61

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion group-A:

Age 18-65
Able-bodied with a tongue piercing Must have had the tongue piercing for at least 3 months and still be using it
Piercing is located in the midline of the tongue between the tip and the frenulum, almost in the center of the mouth
Can understand and speak English
Have some experience in using computers

Inclusion group-B:

Age 18-65
No overt sign of disability or neurological disease
Do not have a tongue piercing, but are willing to receive one in the midline between the tip and lingual frenulum, almost in the center of the mouth
Can understand and speak English
Have some experience in using computers

Inclusion group-C:

Age 18-65
Have mobility limitations requiring a power wheel chair and also have inadequate upper limb strength to manage a hand or arm control i.e. have severe motor disabilities and need alternative control
Either using or suitable for an alternative control
Able to follow simple commands
Sitting tolerance of at least 4 hours (each experiment session will be no more than 4 hours and the researcher follows the standard pressure relief schedule)
Have some experience in using computers
Be able to move the tongue
Be able to speak or respond to questions by themselves or through an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device
Be able to give consent
Be able to have a caregiver, who can respond immediately in the event of an emergency, available during the period of the study.
Can understand and speak English
Have or are willing to receive a tongue piercing in the midline between the tip and the lingual frenulum, almost in the center of the mouth

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion Group-A:

Original tongue piercing and the insertion site is too wide.
Ongoing difficulties with current tongue jewelry
Tongue piercing not located in the correct position on the tongue
No experience with computers or illiterate
Severe hearing or visual deficiency or impairing neurological disease
Have any ongoing systemic condition deemed to be relevant by the local investigator-clinician
Is pregnant
Cognitive impairment so that unable to follow simple commands
Wounds or ulcers on the head or in the mouth or on the tongue
Using sensitive electronic implantable medical device such as a deep brain stimulator or a pacemaker in the upper body
Intra-oral space occupying lesion or orthodontic appliance
Unable to come to GT or RIC on a regular basis during the study-period
Miss more than two appointments without prior notification
Unable to comply with any of the procedures in the protocol

Exclusion Group-B:

Tongue too short or the tongue web too far extended, making tongue piercing difficult
Have a torus mandibularis or palatini or other space-occupying intra-oral lesion or orthodontic appliance
No experience with computers or illiterate
Severe hearing or visual deficiency or impairing neurological disease
Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, artificial heart valve, congenital heart disease
On an immunosuppressive medication or otherwise immunocompromised
Diabetic or have any other ongoing systemic condition deemed to be relevant by the local investigator-clinician
Ongoing neoplastic disease other than localized basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Have known asthma, physical urticaria or angioedema
Have any current infectious condition
Cognitive impairment to the extent that cannot follow simple commands
Is pregnant
Wounds or ulcers on the head or in the mouth or on the tongue
Using sensitive electronic implantable medical device such as a deep brain stimulator or a pacemaker in the upper body
Space occupying orthodontic appliances
Unable to come SCA or NU for a tongue piercing, 72 hour visit and to GTB or RIC on a regular basis during the study-period
Miss more than two appointments without prior notification
Unable to comply with any of the procedures in the protocol

Exclusion Group-C:

Unable to move the tongue
Have a large object or tube in the mouth blocking tongue motion
Tongue or tongue frenulum short or the tongue frenulum extended far forward, making tongue piercing difficult
Have a torus mandibularis or palatini or other space-occupying intra-oral lesion or orthodontic appliance
Medically or mentally unstable
Known sensitivity or allergy to an adhesive
Using a halo brace or facial pads that would block the use of a headset or headgear
Cognitive impairment to the extent that the subject cannot follow simple commands
Severe hearing or visual deficiency
Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, artificial heart valve, congenital heart disease
On any form of anticoagulation including but not limited to warfarin, heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, factor Xa inhibitors, aspirin, aspirin-containing products, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications that the subject's supervising attending physician states cannot be stopped during the pre-piercing period which may include not only the appropriate medication-specific washout period before the piercing but also up to 5 days after the procedure.
On an immunosuppressive or otherwise immunocompromised
Have a decubitus ulcer stage III or higher or a decubitus ulcer of any stage that is worsening.
Diabetic or have any other ongoing systemic condition, as deemed to be relevant by the local investigator-clinician
Ongoing neoplastic disease other than localized basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Have known asthma, physical urticaria or angioedema
Have any current infectious condition
Is pregnant
No experience with computers or illiterate
Using a sensitive electronic implantable medical device such as a deep brain stimulator or a pacemaker in the upper body
Unable to sit for 4 hours with pressure relief
Wounds or ulcers on the head or in the mouth or on the tongue
No continuous access to a caregiver
Unable to come to the SCA or NMH for a three day stay for tongue piercing and to SCA or RIC on a regular basis during the study-period
Miss more than three appointments without prior notification
Unable to comply with any of the procedures in the protocol

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Able-bodied subject with piercing	Usability assessment	Able-bodied subjects who already have tongue piercing.
Able-bodied subject without piercing	Tongue Piercing	Able-bodied subjects who willing to receive a tongue piercing for this study.
Able-bodied subject without piercing	Usability assessment	Able-bodied subjects who willing to receive a tongue piercing for this study.
Subjects with spinal cord injury	Tongue Piercing	Persons with mobility limitations requiring power wheel chair, able to move tongue, able to follow simple commands, and have some experience with computers. All participants willingly received a mid-line tongue piercing.
Subjects with spinal cord injury	Usability assessment	Persons with mobility limitations requiring power wheel chair, able to move tongue, able to follow simple commands, and have some experience with computers. All participants willingly received a mid-line tongue piercing.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fitts' Law: Horizontal Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Throughput)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Horizontal Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. This data was then fed into an equation, which provided the throughput measure. The unit of throughput is "bits per second". The high value of throughput means better performance. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Center-Out Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, Mouse, and SnP (Movement Time)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Center-out Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. The movement time is the cursor movement time from the initial movement to the final movement for each target. This task is tested by the TDS, keypad, mouse and the sip-and-puff device (SnP). Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Center-Out Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, Mouse, and SnP (Error Rate)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Center-out Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. The error rate is the rate of outside of targets vs. total targets. This task is tested by the TDS, keypad, mouse and the sip-and-puff device (SnP). Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Vertical Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Throughput)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Vertical Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. This data was then fed into an equation, which provided the throughput measure. The unit of throughput is "bits per second". The high value of throughput means better performance. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Vertical Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Error Rate)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Vertical Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. The error rate is the rate of outside of targets vs. total targets. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Center-Out Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, Mouse, and SnP (Throughput)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Center-out Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. This data was then fed into an equation, which provided the throughput measure. The unit of throughput is "bits per second". The high value of throughput means better performance. This task is tested by the TDS, keypad, mouse and the sip-and-puff device (SnP). Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Horizontal Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Error Rate)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Horizontal Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. The error rate is the rate of outside of targets vs. total targets. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Multi-Directional Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Throughput)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Multi-directional Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. This data was then fed into an equation, which provided the throughput measure. The unit of throughput is "bits per second". The high value of throughput means better performance. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Fitts' Law: Multi-Directional Tapping Using TDS, Keypad, and Mouse (Error Rate)	24 months	Subjects used the tongue drive system (TDS) to move the mouse cursor towards targets with various sizes and distances on the computer screen (Multi-directional Tapping task) and select those targets. The computer measured the time it took for the subjects to reach the targets and the accuracy of their selections from the center of the targets. The error rate is the rate of outside of targets vs. total targets. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Information Transfer Rate (ITR)	24 months	Computer randomly highlights one out of six or four commands and the subjects issue that particular command using the tongue drive system (TDS) and the sip-and-puff device (SnP). Subjects are given a time period (T). The time intervals for the TDS:(Group-A)2.0s,1.5s,1.0s,(Group-B \&-C)1.0s,0.7s,0.5s, SnP:(Group-C)1.2s,1.0s,0.7s. The saturated results were observed from the second session during Group-A trials. Therefore, we reduced the time period from the Group-B trial. Moreover, the SnP device needs a certain time period to issue a command and we observed that the minimum possible time period was 0.7 seconds. At the end the percentage of correctly selected commands is calculated and fed into an equation along with the time given to the subjects for each selection.Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Information Transfer Rate (Percentage of Correctly Completed Commands)	24 months	Computer randomly highlights one out of six or four commands and the subjects issue that particular command using the tongue drive system (TDS) and the sip-and-puff device (SnP). Subjects are given a time period (T). The time intervals for the TDS:(Group-A)2.0s,1.5s,1.0s,(Group-B \&-C)1.0s,0.7s,0.5s,SnP:(Group-C)1.2s,1.0s,0.7s. The saturated results were observed from the second session during Group-A trials. Therefore, we reduced the time period from the Group-B trial. Moreover, the SnP device needs a certain time period to issue a command and we observed that the minimum possible time period was 0.7 seconds. At the end the percentage of correctly selected commands is calculated and fed into an equation along with the time given to the subjects for each selection.Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
On-screen Maze Using TDS, Keypad, and SnP (Completion Time)	24 months	Subjects were instructed to use four directional commands (Left, Right, Up, and Down) to move the mouse cursor using the tongue drive system (TDS), keypad, and the sip-and-puff device (SnP) as fast and accurately as possible on a maze. One out of eight maze patterns was randomly selected in each round. The performance measures were completion time (CT) from start to end and sum of deviation (SoD) from the track. SoD was calculated as the sum of all areas between the actual trajectory of the cursor when it was out of the track and the closest edge of the track divided by 1000. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
On-screen Maze Using TDS, Keypad, and SnP (Sum of Deviation / 1000)	24 months	Subjects were instructed to use four directional commands (Left, Right, Up, and Down) to move the mouse cursor using the tongue drive system (TDS), keypad, and the sip-and-puff device (SnP) as fast and accurately as possible on a maze. One out of eight maze patterns was randomly selected in each round. The performance measures were completion time (CT) from start to end and sum of deviation (SoD) from the track. SoD was calculated as the sum of all areas between the actual trajectory of the cursor when it was out of the track and the closest edge of the track divided by 1000. Group-A and -B were scheduled for five consecutive TDS trials with intervals ranging from two to ten days. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Driving a Wheelchair Using TDS vs SnP (Completion Time)	24 months	An obstacle course will be laid out in an open space and the subjects drive an electric powered wheelchair using the tongue drive system (TDS) and the sip-and-puff device (SnP) to drive through the obstacle course. The operator measured the amount of time it takes for the subjects to begin and return back to the starting point and counts the number of collisions with the obstacles. Unlatched and latched: utilize four TDS commands for forward, backward, left, and right motions. Unlatched: hold their tongue to keep the PWC moving. Latched: (5 linear speed levels:Backward, Stop, Forward-1, Forward-2, and Forward-3) Issuing the forward or backward commands can increase or decrease the linear speed. Semi-proportional: Quickly touching the left and right cheeks- forward or backward commands, sliding tongue over the lip- steer the PWC to the left or right. Group-A\&-B:5 consecutive TDS trials (intervals ranging from two to ten days) Group-C:computer and PWC within a week, over 6 weeks.
Driving a Wheelchair Using TDS vs SnP (Number of Navigation Errors)	24 months	An obstacle course will be laid out in an open space and the subjects drive an electric powered wheelchair using the tongue drive system (TDS) and the sip-and-puff device (SnP) to drive through the obstacle course. The operator measured the amount of time it takes for the subjects to begin and return back to the starting point and counts the number of collisions with the obstacles. Unlatched and latched: utilize four TDS commands for forward, backward, left, and right motions. Unlatched: hold their tongue to keep the PWC moving. Latched: (5 linear speed levels:Backward, Stop, Forward-1, Forward-2, and Forward-3) Issuing the forward or backward commands can increase or decrease the linear speed. Semi-proportional: Quickly touching the left and right cheeks- forward or backward commands, sliding tongue over the lip- steer the PWC to the left or right. Group-A\&-B:5 consecutive TDS trials (intervals ranging from two to ten days) Group-C:computer and PWC within a week, over 6 weeks.
Phone Dialing Using the Tongue Drive System (TDS) for People With Spinal Cord Injuries (Completion Time)	24 months	Randomly selected ten-digit target phone number was visually prompted on the top of the smartphone screen, and the subject entered the same number in the following line as quickly and as accurately as possible. If the wrong number was registered, then the subjects were allowed to delete the one by issuing the deleting command.At the end of the number entering, the subject needs to move the cursor at the green colored "CALL" button, in the middle of the bottom line, and it should be selected to complete the trial. The completion time and error rate were considered to evaluate the performance. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Weight Shifting Using the Tongue Drive System (TDS) for People With Spinal Cord Injuries (Completion Time)	24 months	The TDS commands were designated to change the wheelchair mode from driving to tilting and to control the wheelchair angle. The completion time was from the initial mode change to the end of the weight shifting. Testing sessions for Group-C were divided into computer access and PWC navigation within a week, over 6 weeks.
Short Questionnaire at the End of Each Session Group-A&-B:5 Consecutive TDS Trials (Intervals Ranging From Two to Ten Days) Group-C:Computer and PWC Within a Week, Over 6 Weeks.	24 months	Q1.How much thought was necessary to decide where to put your tongue to issue a specific command?1:A lot,5:A Little Q2.Was the speed of the movement of the cursor on the computer screen:1:Too slow,3:Just right,5:Too fast Q3.How difficult was pointing accurately at specific targets on the computer screen?1:Very difficult,5:Very easy Q4.Accurately guiding the powered wheelchair through the obstacle course was:1:Very difficult,5:Very easy Q4.Accurately guiding the powered wheelchair through the obstacle course was:1: Very difficult,5:Very easy (TDS:Q4-1.Unlatched,Q4-2.Latched,Q4-3.Semi-pro,SnP:Q4-4.Latched) Q5.Was the speed of the wheelchair:1:Too slow,5:Too fast Q6.Was the movement of the wheelchair:1:Very jerky,5:Very smooth Q7.Was TDS effective in dialing phone numbers:1:Completely ineffective,5:Very effective Q8.Was TDS effective in doing the weight shift:1:Completely ineffective,5:Very effective

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Trial Locations

Locations (4): Georgia Institute of Technology
🇺🇸
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Shepherd Center
🇺🇸
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Northwestern University
🇺🇸
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
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Chicago, Illinois, United States