Wheelchair steered by tongue piercing developedRSS Feed

Spinal injury sufferers could soon be helped by a unique new technology that would allow them to steer a wheelchair using a tongue piercing.

The patient has a magnetic stud fitted in their tongue connected to a headset with sensors which picks up the magnetic force - allowing them to steer the wheelchair by moving their tongue.

Bioengineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in America intended to find a technique more convenient to some of the current mobility methods in those with spinal injury.

The tongue was chosen due to the fact that when the neck is broken, the nerves to the tongue usually still function as they are connected to the brain. In addition, the tongue is a strong muscle which does not tire easily.

In other news, the Tewkesbury Admag has reported that a new hospital bed could improve quality of life for spinal injury patients.

Health care bed provider Nexus has worked alongside medical professionals to understand the needs of people with spinal injury and has developed a lateral tilting bed with up to 28 adjustable powered functions.

News by Serious Law. Expert legal assistance for those affected by spinal injury

Posted by Paul Breen
 

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