Dhanbad: A team of students, research scholars, and faculty members from the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad has been honored with the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Appreciation-2023 for their groundbreaking development of an EEG (electroencephalography)-Signal-Controlled Pneumatic Medical Bed for patients with severe motor disabilities.
The award recognizes the team’s innovative work in designing a medical bed that can be controlled by brain signals, providing a significant advancement for individuals with paralysis or severe motor impairments. The team, led by Dr. Zafar Alam, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT (ISM), developed the device with a budget of Rs 2 lakh, funded by the institute’s innovation hub, NVCTI.
The award was presented at a ceremony organized by the Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) at the India International Centre in New Delhi. The event was graced by distinguished personalities, including Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India; RA Mashelkar, former Director-General of CSIR; and Renu Swarup, former Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, among others.
The team included research scholar Ashish Siddharth and students Yalla Mark Vishal, Inampudi Sai Amith, and Manmohan Labh. The device, developed between 2021 and 2022, allows patients to control the position of their medical bed using EEG signals captured through a brain-computer interface. This innovation aims to reduce the physical strain on nursing staff by allowing patients to adjust their beds independently, thereby improving efficiency in healthcare settings.
Dr. Zafar Alam explained, “The brain sends signals in the form of small electrical impulses through the nervous system, known as electroencephalography signals. These signals are studied to analyze a person’s thoughts and actions. Using machine learning, we trained a model to detect whether a patient intends to raise or lower the bed.”
Ashish Siddharth, a research scholar involved in the project, added, “The system uses pneumatic actuators that control the bed’s movement. These actuators, powered by compressed air, create a cushioning effect, making the system both effective and comfortable for the patient.”
The innovation not only enhances the quality of life for patients with severe motor disabilities but also contributes to more efficient medical care by reducing the workload of healthcare staff. This award underscores the potential of technology in addressing real-world challenges and improving patient care in healthcare facilities.
