An Assistive Magnetic Skin System: Enabling Technology for Quadriplegics

Abstract

People with quadriplegia no longer have control over their legs, neither the hands and cannot continue living their life independently. On top of that, severely injured quadriplegics (i.e., C1 and C2 injuries) suffer from speaking difficulties and minimal head and neck movements. With the advancement in wearable artificial skins and the Internet-of-Things, realizing comfortable and practical solutions for quadriplegics is more tangible than ever. Herein, a comprehensive assistive magnetic skin system is presented that allows quadriplegics, including the severely injured ones, to move around individually and control their surroundings with ease. The system tracks facial expressions by tracking the movement of magnetic tattoos attached to the face, using magnetic field sensors incorporated into eyeglasses. The magnetic tattoos are made of highly flexible, stretchable, breathable, and biocompatible magnetic skins. In combination with smart-glasses, smart-wheelchair, and smart-gadgets, the users can move around and control their environment with their facial expressions. The system is also designed to allow quadriplegics to perform outdoor activities effortlessly. It supports line-of-sight communication and does not require pretethering to the smart-gadgets, unlike the existing solutions. Thus, enabling the user to walk on pathways, activate pedestrian lights, control public elevators, and perform various outdoor activities independently.