title: Fiber Bragg grating sensor-based communication assistance device.
abstract: Improvements in emergency medicine in the form of efficient life supporting systems and intensive care have increased the survival rate in critically injured patients; however, in some cases, severe brain and spinal cord injuries can result in a locked-in syndrome or other forms of paralysis, and communication with these patients may become restricted or impossible. The present study proposes a noninvasive, real-time communication assistive methodology for those with restricted communication ability, employing a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. The communication assistive methodology comprises a breath pattern analyzer using an FBG sensor, which acquires the exhalation force that is converted into strain variations on a cantilever. The FBG breath pattern analyzer along with specific breath patterns, which are programmed to give specific audio output commands, constitutes the proposed fiber Bragg grating sensor-based communication assistive device. The basic communication can be carried out by instructing the patients with restricted communication ability to perform the specific breath patterns. The present approach is intended to be an alternative to the common approach of brain–computer interface in which an instrument is utilized for learning of brain responses.
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science, Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Bangalore 560012, IndiabIndian Institute of Science, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Srivani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padma
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science, Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Sharath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umesh
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science, Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science, Department of Electrical Communication Engineering, Bangalore 560012, IndiacIndian Institute of Science, Applied Photonics Initiative, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Talabattula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science, Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, Bangalore 560012, IndiacIndian Institute of Science, Applied Photonics Initiative, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Sundarrajan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asokan
mesh_terms: D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted