Enhanced Virtual Reality interactive system for the rehabilitation of patients affected by neuromuscular pathologies

An innovative system for motivational therapeutic approaches
BTS NIRVANA is the first markerless system offering a complete audio and visual sensory immersion in a virtual setting, without requiring invasive devices that may limit or modify interaction.

BTS NIRVANA generates scenarios that can be projected over horizontal and vertical surfaces. Due to the optical
system, the patient can interact with the virtual environment in the most natural way through movements on the projection plane. Each task, besides presenting several modalities and increasing difficulty levels, is defined by multiple sensory feedback. Compared with a conventional therapeutic approach, the patient receives major cognitive and motor inputs, leveraging on his motivation to perform more difficult and challenging exercises.

An effective therapeutic support for rehabilitation centers
BTS NIRVANA is applicable for any rehabilitation facility treating patients affected by cognitive and motor deficits that involve both upper and lower limbs. BTS Nirvana is effective where there are impairments caused by central nervous system disorders, (i.e. stroke or traumatic brain injury) or by chronic and progressive neurological diseases (i.e. Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis).

The system, defined by its versatility, offers practitioners a set of exercises for the upper limbs, the lower limbs and the trunk. Some of these exercises, aimed at regaining motor control and reducing impairment, can be used independently depending on the disease: Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and hemiplegia. Some others, defined by specific visual and audio feedback or execution modalities, are explicitly dedicated to a unique pathology. For example: visual feedback can be used for Parkinson’s; rhythmic cueing for hemiplegic; spatial exploration for treating patients presenting neglect.

Metrics, reporting, integration with additional analysis devices
Every exercise is provided with metrics allowing the practitioner to monitor patient’s performance and consequently to modify the exercise difficulty level. The score also acts as a major motivational
incentive simultaneously being visualized by the patient. The parameters acquired from every trial can be completed with a video report. The medical and personal data recorded on the dedicated RFID card together with the built-in database engine provide the perfect tool for patient followup evaluating improvements and providing information about the entire rehabilitation cycle.

A report, with the exercise list and the score for every task, is automatically generated after every trial to keep track of the therapy. A temporal report can also be created to evaluate how effective the treatment is. Optionally, BTS NIRVANA can be integrated with the BTS EMG systems to obtain a complete functional evaluation of the subject, further investigating the different task execution strategies.