Articles - Adaptive Tech en-us http://www.thescizone.com/news N/A http://www.thescizone.com/news michael@thescizone.com 20 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1671/1/Specially-designed-carts-mean-mobility-no-longer-a-problem-for-disabled-golfers/1.html When he was on his game, Dany Baker could shoot a round of golf within a stroke or two of par at his favorite course near Hillsboro.So when he lost movement in his legs as a result of a spinal cord injury in a 1993 automobile accident, Baker was determined to get back on the course.Baker's friends rigged a homemade adaptive cart, fastening a sliding seat from a bass boat onto a golf cart. That sent him back to the links. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1663/1/Research-aims-to-put-tongues-in-control-of-devices-/1.html The tireless tongue already controls taste and speech, helps kiss and swallow and fights germs. Now scientists hope to add one more ability to the mouthy muscle, and turn it into a computer control pad. Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person's mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard - and tongue into the key that manipulates it all. "You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue," said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team's research. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1629/1/Colours-Wheelchair-Paraplegic-Athlete-Ricky-James-to-Compete-on-His-Adapted-Motocross-Bike-at-X-Games-14/1.html Ricky James, 19 years old from Murrieta, Ca. has been selected to compete in a new exhibition sport "Adaptive Motox" at X Games 14 in Carson California on August 1, 2008. James suffered a spinal cord injury in a motocross crash in 2005 leaving him a paraplegic at the age of 16. Ricky did not let his injury stop him from doing what he loved most. Barely 6 months after his injury Ricky started designing adaptive components that would allow him to ride his dirt bike again. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1606/1/Device-puts-steering-at-the-tip-of-the-tongue/1.html A new device that uses a tiny magnet can help disabled people steer a wheelchair or operate a computer using only the tip of the tongue, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.The magnet, the size of a grain of rice, lets people direct the movement of a cursor across a computer screen or a powered wheelchair around a room.It is easily implanted under the tongue, the team at the Georgia Institute of Technology said. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1586/1/Student-innovations-benefit-patients/1.html Every other weekday morning, a patient named Joe swims in the 12th-floor pool of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Having sustained a C6-C7 spinal cord injury, Joe is unable to use his fingers and has limited movement in his arms and triceps. In order to swim, he needs a special pair of goggles that accommodate the lack of dexterity in his fingers. A one-of-a-kind model, the Tap-Tight Goggles are equipped with an overhead strap and ratchets that allow Joe to adjust the straps easily using the palms of his hands.Four freshmen enrolled in the Engineering Design and Communication course sequence in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences developed Joe's goggles. The goggles are just one example of dozens of prototype technologies created by students in partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago each year. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1530/1/9-Out-Of-10-Patients-Walk-Again-In-Some-Form-With-Device-Therapy/1.html On average, it happens every hour of every day - someone suffers a spinal cord injury** that can leave them paralyzed for life. An innovative device from the Christopher Reeve Foundation is helping some patients get out of their wheelchairs and back on their feet. Aaron Wolfe has lived in this wheelchair for more than two years - ever since a robber's bullet hit his spine and paralyzed his legs. Now he spends every day trying to get out of it. Thanks to a new device, he's doing it. Through the Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation, Aaron is undergoing therapy at Ohio State University Medical Center.  michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1455/1/New-Technology-Can-Be-Operated-By-Thought/1.html Wadsworth Center scientists have succeeded in developing a BCI that provided people who are severely disabled with the ability to use their personal computers. For example, they were able to word-process, send e-mail messages, and remotely turn on or off the lights or TV in their homes. A laptop computer and cap allow for portability and ease of use.Neuroscientists have significantly advanced brain-machine interface (BMI) technology to the point where severely handicapped people who cannot contract even one leg or arm muscle now can independently compose and send e-mails and operate a TV in their homes. They are using only their thoughts to execute these actions. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1422/1/Paralyzed-Golfer-Gets-High-Tech-Help/1.html Golf Tournament Raises Money For Spinal Cord PatientsSpinal cord injuries can be debilitating, but a Norwood man said recreation is still possible, and in some cases, vital.NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that Jerry Donovan said a high-tech chair put him back on the golf course."My golf games have gotten a lot better. Before I wasn't really paying attention to my score. I buried a hole a couple of weeks ago in Norwood, and it just changed my whole attitude," Donovan said. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1322/1/Walk-proceeds-buys-equipment/1.html More than $4,000 has been raised for spinal cord injury research and quality of life projects through the different events that comprised the fifth annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion experience. The 2007 events were locally co-sponsored by Powell River Brain Injury Society and Model Community Project for Persons with Disabilities Society. This year, the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion organizers' goal is the purchase of a standing frame to be stationed at the Powell River Recreation Complex. michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.thescizone.com/news/articles/1267/1/THE-HANDS-OF-AN-ARTIST/1.html The last thing Kevin White remembers from the evening of his accident is the brilliant June sky and thinking "what a beautiful sunset it would be." That was back in 1984, when Kevin, just nine credit hours short of his commercial art degree from Cuyahoga Community College, suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic confined to a wheelchair. "A friend was driving the car," he says. "We were just going home, and I just happened to be a passenger. I only go by what they tell me, that we were blindsided by a drunk driver. No one else got hurt out of that ... And that was that. We were almost there, just three blocks from home." michael@thescizone.com (Michael Feger) Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400