Biomechanics Sensor Node for Virtual Reality: A Wearable Device Applied to Gait Recovery for Neurofunctional Rehabilitation

Brandão, Alexandre Fonseca; Dias, Diego Roberto Colombo; Reis, Sávyo Toledo Machado; Cabreira, Clovis Magri; Frade, Maria Cecilia Moraes; Beltrame, Thomas; de Paiva Guimarães, Marcelo; Castellano, Gabriela

In several segments of the health areas, sensing has become a trend. Sensors allow data quantification for use in decision making or even to predict the clinical evolution of a given treatment, such as in rehabilitation therapies to restore patients’ motor and cognitive functions. This paper presents the Biomechanics Sensor Node (BSN), composed of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), developed to infer input information and control virtual environments. We also present a software solution, which integrates the BSN data with Unity Editor, one of the most used game engine nowadays. This asset allows Unity-developed virtual reality applications to use BSN a secure interaction device. Thus, during rehabilitation sessions, the patient receives visual stimuli from the virtual environment, controlled by the BSN device, while the therapist has access to the information about the movements performed in the therapy.