gh A PUPPET CURES A PUPPETEER

The recent “High Technologies of the 21st Century” exhibition comprising diverse and rather large-scale projects included one chamber project. However, it is difficult to overestimate its importance. The exhibition stand represented a device prototype resembling a marionette puppet connected to a computer. The ones who wished could “play” by pressing by different fingers on the keys and operating the puppet movements. Meanwhile, complicated diagrams appeared on the computer – the information, with the help of which a specialists can learn a lot about condition of neuromuscular apparatus of “the player with a puppet”. The biological feedback device was developed and its prototype model was produced in the town of Sarov (Nizhny Novgorod Region) by specialists of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center – All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics.

The device is indented for development of patients’ manual motility. The point is that while we are healthy, everything seems simple to us. A healthy adult easily, without thinking about that, controls hands’ movements, among other things he/she can press the required keys with predetermined force in required sequence. In short, he/she controls the movements well, including the movements of fingers. And what if motility is damaged due to a disease or, for instance, an accident? For example, if a hand is fractured in such an unfortunate way that bone fragments pinched the nerve and the fingers move badly. It is clear that in such a case a precise diagnosis is needed first, and it is better to express the problem in figures for the diagnosis. And then, in the course of treatment, it is needed to control its results – and this should also be done not at the “better-worse” level but quantitatively. This is where the device invented and patented by the Sarov researchers would help.

Its mode of functioning is as follows. The keys equipped with sensors enable to measure the effort, which a finger makes when pressing the key, and the specially developed software connected with the computer keys helps to “pull out” from the obtained data the most of information about the state of the patient’s neuromuscular apparatus. Besides, the complex also allows to develop the neuromuscular apparatus, i.e., to make peculiar physical exercises for fingers, thus helping a patient to control them “consciously”.

Certainly, such a device will be useful for patients of any age. However, the authors specially emphasize that it will prove particularly useful to children, so they produced not simply impersonal keys but something like a toy – a puppet, the movements of which can be controlled with the help of “smart keys”. Certainly, in such a case a child occupies him/herself with more pleasure – it is interesting for a child and diagnostics and treatment are performed in the form of a play, thus providing a high efficiency of a process. A unique playing method developed by the authors enables to solve quite a wide range of tasks – from diagnostics through treatment (kinesitherapy, originating from the Greek words “kinesis” – movement and “therapy” - treatment) of neurologic diseases, including infantile cerebral paralysis.

The new device efficiency was highly appreciated by physicians – specialists of the Burdenko Research Institute of Neurosurgery (rehabilitation department), Center for Psychological and Pedagogical Rehabilitation and Correction called “In Taganka street” and the Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy. It has turned out that a peculiar device allows to reduce rehabilitation period and to improve its quality, particularly in children medical practice, and to improve patients’ quality of life and spirits both at the physiological and emotional levels.

Unfortunately, it is still impossible to buy such a remarkable device. The researchers have developed, patented and manufactured it and tested the model sample. They have even accomplished preliminary technical tests and developed design documentation. But to continue the work they need investments: production prototype is to be produced and preclinical and clinical trials should be performed, and finally, medical certification and licensing phases are mandatory. So, a lot of time and money is still needed. Let us wish success and patience to the authors. Hopefully they will succeed, and the device developed by them is able to help a lot of patients.

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