This document discusses ERICA, a study using assistive technology to allow non-verbal children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to communicate. It focuses on using EEG-based games to assess awareness levels for patients who are conscious but unable to speak due to medical conditions like mutism. The technology aims to evaluate awareness in PICU patients frequently throughout the day to listen to their needs and guide their recovery from traumatic injuries or comas. The study is particularly important for younger patients, in whom injuries may have more severe and long-lasting effects.

1. E.R.I.C.A.
Electroencephalographic Resuscitation Index Computer Aided
Roberto Mancin
a study about mutism in
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

2. Input
Sensory
Output
Free will Motor
Child-Computer-Interaction
First Inch
MUTE
MUTE
MUTE
01011

3. Last mile
Sensory Free will
ASG EEG
Last mile vs First inch in PICU
First Inch

4. ERICA: a study about mutism in PICU
• Access to Assistive/Augmentative Serious
Game (ASG) by children who can hear but
cannot talk
• Medical: inopportunity to speak but can hear
• Selective: inability to speak but can hear
• LIS (akinetic): voiceless and paralyzed but…
• CLIS: Complete Locked-In Status but ???
• Brain death

5. 29/8/1992: from bike to coma

6. From Deep Coma to Recovery
Deep Coma
Arosual (eye opening)
Awareness (no reflex movements)
Phase 0: inability to answer: yes/no/?
Phase 1: ability only to answer: yes/no/?
Out of ICU
(…)
Out of hospital
(…)
Recovery

7. Phase 0

8. Demo: youtu.be/e-u7_F5GNTE

9. ERICA
Electroencephalographic Resuscitation
Index Computer Aided
• It is assumed that the
younger is the patient the
more severe and potentially
irreversible are traumatic
effects

10. ERICA
Electroencephalographic Resuscitation
Index Computer Aided
• In phase 0 awarness level is
variable with time
• A Computer Aided Index is a
very important tool
• to evaluate awarness
level in PICU many times
during the day
• to listen to the deep…

11. Questions?