Brain-Computer Interface-controlled Upper Limb Robotic System for Enhancing Daily Activities in Stroke Patients

This study introduces a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)-controlled upper limb assistive robot for post-stroke rehabilitation. The system utilizes electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrooculogram (EOG) signals to help users assist upper limb function in everyday tasks while interacting with a robotic hand. We evaluated the effectiveness of this BCI-robot system using the Berlin Bimanual Test for Stroke (BeBiTS), a set of 10 daily living tasks involving both hands. Eight stroke patients participated in this study, but only four participants could adapt to the BCI robot system training and perform the postBeBiTS. Notably, when the preBeBiTS score for each item was four or less, the BCI robot system showed greater assistive effectiveness in the postBeBiTS assessment. Furthermore, our current robotic hand does not assist with arm and wrist functions, limiting its use in tasks requiring complex hand movements. More participants are required to confirm the training effectiveness of the BCI-robot system, and future research should consider using robots that can assist with a broader range of upper limb functions. This study aimed to determine the BCI-robot system's ability to assist patients in performing daily living activities.