DRAMA: Developments in rehabilitation of the arm - A multimedia approach

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 97.0281-2

Key words (English)

Skin deformation; physically-based deformation; geometric deformation;

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: DE4203

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.1 Information technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

MIE Medical Research Ltd (UK).; Signo Motus S.R.L. (I); Scuola Superior S. Anna - Laboratotio Percro (I); Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (CH); Klinik Berlin (D); Centro Neurolesi Messina (I); North Staffordshire Hospital (GB); Belgian MS Society; National, Flemish and French Community (B)

Abstract (English)

In order to provide users with the required multimedia demonstration material, a high performance computer graphics model was developed. The user has a complete 3D model of the patient with which he/she can visualize all the details of the movements. Our work has been mainly the creation of a graphical representation of the virtual patient.
Firstly, the movements of the Fugl-Meyer test have been captured. Then, these movements are used to animate the skeleton of the virtual patient. The deformation of the skin is simulated by a mechanical model. Our physical model is based on the application of forces over all points that compose the mesh
The third step is the construction of the user interface to visualize in real-time the body animation. A Web application has been developed for this project in which the user can control the animation of the virtual human and can change the point of view of the camera. The final result of the virtual patient is a set of animation files in VRML format. VRML is a modeling language that is used to describe 3D scenes, object animations and their responses to time and user-initiated events.
Optimization for the rendering speed
Since these movements are played in 3D, the main limitation is the complexity of the 3D model (i.e. the number of polygons). It has been decided that it should be possible to play the CD-Rom on mid-range PCs (Pentium II 400 MHz). The movements have been divided into two sets depending on which part of the body is animated. A surface that is animated requires much more polygons.
- Arm and body movements. For these movements, we consider that the hands do not move. The hands have been simplified by reducing the number of polygons on the corresponding skin surface.
- Hand movements. In the Fugl-Meyer test, some of the movements focus on the hands only. Other body parts do not necessary move. In that case, the animation file contains only the hand animation; the arms and the body have been removed.
Quality of the animations
The help of medical partners has been appreciated. After providing the first draft of the movements, the medical partners have sent back their comments on the correctness of the movements. The movements have been corrected accordingly. This process was necessary to be sure that the recorded movements are correctly simulated.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0281-2