VR myoelectric prosthesis training system for amputees

Centre for Culture, Media and Society
  1. Centre for Culture, Media and Society /
  2. Impact VR /
  3. VR myoelectric prosthesis training system for amputees

About this project

Explore the people, research centres and partner organisations behind this project.

Funding partners

Society Awards (Wellcome Trust) National Institute for Health Research

Research partners

Loma Linda University Medical Center Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital

Further reading

Coverage on Channel 4 News Presentation to CHI 2021 conference

Contact us

For more details about research opportunities, our impact and more

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VR myoelectric prosthesis training system for amputees

Myoelectric-powered prostheses can be more functional and advantageous than passive or body-powered equivalents, but using them to the full can require extensive training

Rendering of a VR studio apartment used to help patients with gaining familiarity with their prosthetics. There are floor to ceiling windows at the back of the apartment that extend to the roof. A grey sofa with a coffee table sits in front and there is a blue kitchen on the right with the dining area opposite

In recent years, computer technology has brought new opportunities for improving patients’ training, resulting in more usable and functional solutions. Virtual Reality (VR) is a representative example of this type of technology.

Our preliminary findings suggested that myoelectric-powered training enhanced with VR can simulate a pain-free, natural, enjoyable, and realistic experience for the patient. It was also suggested that VR can complement prosthesis training by improving the functionality of the missing body part.

Finally, it was shown that VR can resolve one of the most common challenges for a new prosthesis user, which is to accept the fitting of the prosthetic device to their own body.

A kitchen used as part of the impact VR project. There is a blue kitchen on the left of the image, a corridor in the middle and a seating area with a television on the right. The television has the text 'impact VR' on the screen

Testimonials

“It felt like it was my arm in my kitchen. The kitchen setup was the same as my kitchen. I saw the apples in the fruit bowl and picked up one with my arm. It was like I was picking up things with my real arm.”

“I was surprised, it’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that. Now after seeing what I have seen there I could have operated one. First time I’ve ever done it like, first time I’d had one of these sort of arms.”

“Brilliant, brilliant. It were absolutely brilliant. I give it 10 out of 10.”

“It was reasonably easy and straightforward. It wasn’t complicated or intrusive for me. I enjoyed using a hand for the first time in my life!”

Grants

  • Imagine Project (Sheffield Hallam University). Internal SHU funding. January to June 2014.
  • Society Awards (Wellcome Trust). February 2016 to 31 October 2017.
  • NIHR i4i. October 2017 to September 2020.
  • Internal Funding (Sheffield Hallam University)

Collaborations

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital.

Funding partners

Logo that says 'wellcome trust' in purple on a white background
Society Awards (Wellcome Trust)
Logo for the National Institute for Health Research
National Institute for Health Research

About this project

Explore the people, research centres and partner organisations behind this project.

Funding partners

Society Awards (Wellcome Trust) National Institute for Health Research

Research partners

Loma Linda University Medical Center Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital

Further reading

Coverage on Channel 4 News Presentation to CHI 2021 conference

Contact us

For more details about research opportunities, our impact and more

Email us

Publications

Phelan, I., Arden, M., Matsangidou, M., Carrion-Plaza, A., & Lindley, S. (2021, May).Designing a Virtual Reality Myoelectric Prosthesis Training System for Amputees. In Extended Abstracts of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. (pp. 1-7). https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3411763.3443454#

Phelan, I., Furness, P. J., Matsangidou, M., Babiker, N. T., Fehily, O., Thompson, A., Carrion-Plaza, A., & Lindley, S. A. (2021).Designing effective virtual reality environments for pain management in burn-injured patients., Virtual Reality, 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-021-00552-z

Phelan, I., Furness, P. J., Matsangidou, M., Carrion-Plaza, A., Dunn, H., Dimitri, P., & Lindley, S. A. (2021).Playing your pain away: designing a virtual reality physical therapy for children with upper limb motor impairment., Virtual Reality, 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-021-00522-5

Phelan, I., Furness, P. J., Dunn, H. D., Carrion-Plaza, A., Matsangidou, M., Dimitri, P., & Lindley, S. (2021). mmersive virtual reality in children with upper limb injuries: Findings from a feasibility study.,Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, 401 – 414. DOI: 10.3233/PRM-190635

Chau, B., Phelan, I., Ta, P., Chi, B., Loyola, K., Yeo, E., ... & McCowan, B. (2020). Immersive virtual reality for pain relief in upper limb complex regional pain syndrome: a pilot study. , Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(4-6), 47. PMID: 32802594

Phelan, I., Furness, P., Fehily, O., Thompson, A., Barker, N., Lamb, M. & Lindley, S. (2019).A mixed-methods investigation into the acceptability, usability and perceived effectiveness of active and passive virtual reality scenarios in managing pain under experimental conditions., Journal of Burn Care & Research, 40(1), 85-90. DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/iry052

Furness, P., Phelan, I., Babiker, N., Fehily, O., Thompson, A. & Lindley, S. (2019). Reducing pain during wound dressings in burn care using virtual reality: a study of perceived impact and usability with patients and nurses., Journal of Burn Care & Research, 40(6), 878-885. DOI: 10.1093/jbcr/irz106

Chau, B., Phelan, I., Ta, P., Humbert, S., Hata, J., & Tran, D. (2017). Immersive virtual reality therapy with myoelectric control for treatment-resistant phantom limb pain: Case report. ,Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 14(7-8), 3. PMC: PMC5880370

Phelan, I., Arden, M., Garcia, C. & Roast, C. (2015). Exploring virtual reality and prosthetic training., In: T. Hollerer., V. Interrante., A. Lecuyer & J.E, Swan (eds.) Proceedings 2015 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference (VR). Arles, France, 23-27 March, 2015. Piscataway, NJ, IEEE, 353-354. DOI: 10.1109/VR.2015.7223441

Research team

Ivan Phelan

Ivan Phelan

Impact VR director, Principal Research Fellow

Ivan Phelan's profile

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