NCT07218991

Wearable Echolocation Aids Using Parametric Sound

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 100 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to study a novel device designed to aid patients with impaired vision to safely navigate their environment. Subjects for this study will be individuals with normal vision, either with or without correction. The subjects will wear a device to simulate impaired vision and will be asked to walk a path with randomly placed obstacles during two trials. One of the trials will consist of the subject wearing the simulator alone. The other trial will consist of the subject wearing the simulator and the study device. The study device is designed to be worn by the study subject and will emit tones to indicate obstacles in the environment as the subject walks on the path with random obstacles. The tones will indicate that there is an obstacle in the individual's path and will increase in intensity as the subject moves closer to the object.Invest

Detailed description

The objective of this project is to study visually impaired individuals' ability to develop echolocation skills using simple, wearable, echolocation devices that will not be cost prohibitive to most Americans and that would allow for greater availability to the visually impaired community. These echolocation devices emit parametric sound, a directional beam of ultrasound waves that interact with sound waves and surrounding objects, through goggles, watches, lanyards or even walking canes. This allows the visually impaired individual to detect sound waves as they reflect off their surroundings and return to the patient's ears in unique patterns resembling their external environment. This device would enable individuals to create a raw mental image of their surroundings and any obstacles along their path. The primary endpoint for this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of such echolocation devices as an adaptive low vision navigation aid on healthy subjects using low vision simulation goggles. Several metrics will be observed and recorded to measure how well echolocation technology addresses challenges associated with visual impairment and downstream factors. These metrics will include gait initiation, termination analysis via the Zeno-Walkway system, electromyography (EMG) of key muscles involved in gait termination, participant preference of echolocation wearable device modularity, and general survey questions. The secondary study endpoint is to implement the use of echolocation technology among members of the blind or visually impaired population as a clinical aid and study the impact that this technology has on their quality of life and added downstream health implications longitudinally. A final objective of this study is to seek feedback, not only on the use of any echolocation device to navigate but, to obtain feedback on subjects' experience with the specific study device, the Wearable Echolocation Device.

Conditions

• Low Vision

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Wearable Echolocation Device	The device features many parametric speakers housed in a plastic case. The parametric speakers emit directional sound waves that return to the source with varying wavelengths depending on the distance of the surrounding objects. The device is designed to be worn by the subject either using a lanyard on the subject's neck, or on the subject's wrist.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-21
• Primary completion: 2027-06-14
• Completion: 2028-01-31
• First posted: 2025-10-21
• Last updated: 2025-10-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States