Highlights

• Control Bionics is engaged in building a suite of assistive technology devices for people with communication challenges.
• NeuroNode Trilogy is one of the best-performing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions globally.
• Control Bionics’ Trilogy solution features eye gaze system, allowing users a personalised experience to communicate.
• Users experience a 47% increase in typing speed when using eye-gaze with electromyography (EMG) switching.

Medical device company Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) is dedicated towards developing speech generating devices and accessories to address complex cases of loss of speech and mobility.

In a bid to deliver on its vision to give voice to patients with disability to communicate verbally or via text, CBL has brought to life the world’s fastest, lowest-fatigue eye gaze system. The company has combined its flagship product NeuroNode Trilogy with eye-gaze camera technology for faster and less fatigue communication.

Also read: How Control Bionics is set to make a strong mark in assistive technology market

Miraculous eye-gaze system for AAC users

The wearable, wireless device, ‘NeuroNode’, activated by electromyography (EMG), captures and processes neuroelectric signals into electronic commands. The system allows non-verbal people with severely impaired movement to control a computer for speech generation, gaming, email and text, with ease and speed.

CBL has further combined NeuroNode with other access methods such as eye-gaze camera technology to allow patients to use their eyes to control a cursor on a screen simply by looking where they want the cursor to move; and then to select anything under the cursor. This eliminates the need of a keyboard, mouse, joystick or touchscreen.

The combination offers fast, intuitive communication and control through text, text-to-speech, emails, phone-messaging, web surfing and robotics.

Related read: NeuroNode Trilogy: A powerful access method for communication challenges

Recent research affirms its capability

Image source: Company website

According to a study conducted by a student at RMIT University, eye gaze combined with EMG switching outperformed traditional eye gaze AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) systems.

The research was conducted with the objective to compare speed and accuracy of communication using CBL’s Eye Gaze Duo (eye gaze AAC system with ‘dwell’ selection) and NeuroNode Trilogy (eye gaze with EMG switching).

During the study, participants had to type the phrases they were given as quickly as possible without making any errors. During the study, 50% participants used the eye gaze with dwell first and then used eye gaze with EMG switching, while 50% participants started on eye gaze with EMG switching, then by eye gaze with dwell.

It was observed that the typing speed was 47% higher when participants used eye gaze with EMG switching as compared to using eye gaze with dwell.

Also, as per the participants, the eye gaze with EMG switching was less fatiguing, less stressful, and induced less mental overload than eye gaze with dwell. They found that the eye gaze with EMG switching system could be operated more naturally.

Image source: Company announcement

Understanding EMG better

EMG (electromyography) refers to the measurement of electrical activity associated with the activation of a muscle group as detected by non-invasive electrodes on the surface of the skin. The technology has applications in various kinds of clinical and research settings.

However, Control Bionics achieved the technological breakthrough of using EMG for NeuroNode for AAC after investing a period of over 10 years. It has been done with the prime goal of assisting people living with severe motor impairments.

Stock information: CBL shares were trading at AU$0.230 on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) midday on 8 June 2022. The company has a market capitalisation of AU$20.42 million.

Do read: How Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) can ease the lives of disabled patients