Authors:
Steve Pettifer
1
;
Toby Howard
1
;
Ben Blundell
1
;
David Edwards
1
and
Ilan Lieberman
2
Affiliations:
1
The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
;
2
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
Keyword(s):
Virtual Environments, Phantom Limb Pain.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Environments
;
Computer Vision, Visualization and Computer Graphics
;
Hardware Technologies for Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Environments
;
Interactive Environments
;
Virtual Reality Tools and Languages (X3D, VRML, Java3D, OpenGL, ...)
Abstract:
Phantom Limb Pain is a debilitating condition that affects a significant percentage of patients after loss of an arm or leg. These patients experience chronic pain and other unpleasant sensations in the missing limb, and the pain resists treatment. Previous research has demonstrated that pain levels can be reduced in some patients when they are immersed in a virtual environment that presents a 3D computer graphics visualisation of their missing limb, the movements of which are controlled by sensors attached to the remaining limb. In this paper we describe a novel approach to the implementation of such a system, using the Kinect game device for limb motion tracking, in conjunction with wireless motion sensors worn by the patient. We present some preliminary, but very encouraging, results based on an informal trial with a patient.