SBIR-STTR Award

This project develops and tests a Bluetooth compliant tongue-based electronic controller (a.k.a. “Mouth Mouse”), designed to give people with upper limb disability control of peripheral devices including computers and communication systems, home automation, and powered wheelchairs, as well as many other Bluetooth compliant devices and new technologies to come in the future. The Mouth Mouse is encased in an oral appliance or retainer and the user slides the tongue across the roof of the mouth to move a cursor, make selections, or issue commands to a computer or other interactive technology. Phase I of this project includes engineering analyses and fabrication on the Bluetooth Mouth Mouse and usability and acceptance testing.

This SBIR II project further develops Mouth Mouse, a Bluetooth-compliant tongue-based electronic control designed to give people with upper limb disability control of peripheral devices including computers and communication systems, home automation, and powered wheelchairs, as well as many other Bluetooth-compliant devices and emerging new technologies. The goal of Phase II is to reduce the size of the device so that speech is intelligible while using the Mouth Mouse. This is achieved by three specific aims. Aims 1 and 2 are designed to reduce the size of the Mouth Mouse device and to develop a workflow that is scalable as a commercial product and Aim 3 provides necessary data to critically evaluate performance and the market readiness of the Mouth Mouse in an intended use setting by participants with severe upper limb disabilities. The outcome of this project is a highly effective and easy-to-use computing and communication input device, which provides individuals with paralysis easier and improved access to technologies needed to succeed in academia and the workplace, and greater independence at home and in the community.