Feasibility of a One Degree-of-Freedom Linear Robot for Bed-Bound Stroke Rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Berezny ◽  
Dar Dowlatshahi ◽  
Mojtaba Ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Minimal System ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Leg Extension ◽  
Resistive Forces ◽  
Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Hospital Equipment ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract A 1DOF lower limb rehabilitation robot is presented for delivering leg extension therapy to bed-bound stroke patients. Such a compact and minimal system may be beneficial in terms of compatibility with pre-existing hospital equipment, ease-of-use, safety, and cost. A set of design criteria was created based on the literature and on previous field work at a local hospital. The device uses admittance control to apply assistive or resistive forces, and can also use haptic feedback to increase user engagement. A pilot study on six healthy participants was used to determine the feasibility of such a minimal system in administering assistance or resistance through the leg extension exercise. Results indicate that a single DOF is capable of decreasing trajectory error with assistance and increasing user effort with resistance. Observations confirm that the minimal system is effective; however, extending the robot with additional DOFs so that it can target multiple bed-bound exercises may help to increase therapy duration.

Factors affecting patient and physician engagement in remote healthcare for heart failure: a systematic review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Naher ◽  
Jennifer Downing ◽  
Kathryn A Scott ◽  
Munir Pirmohamed
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Remote Care

BACKGROUND Adult chronic heart failure mainly affects an elderly population with multiple co-morbidities that often require frequent medical visits to prevent poor health outcomes. However the heart failure disease process reduces their independence by reducing mobility, exercise tolerance and cognitive decline. Remote care technologies can bridge the gap in care for these patients by allowing them to be followed up within the comfort of their home and encourage their self-care. However, patients, carers and healthcare professionals need to engage with the technology for it to be useful. OBJECTIVE This systematic review explored qualitative primary studies of remote care technologies used in heart failure, to determine the factors that affect user engagement with the technology. This is explored from the perspective of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. METHODS Relevant studies published between 1/1/1990 – 19/9/2020 were identified from EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Pubmed, Cochrane library and Scopus. These studies were then synthesized using thematic analysis. Relevant user experiences with remote care were extracted using line-by-line coding. These codes were summarised into secondary codes and core concepts, which were further merged into overarching themes that encapsulate user experience with remote care. RESULTS The review included 47 studies, which led to the generation of 5 overarching themes which affect engagement: (a) ‘Convenience’ relates to time saved by the intervention; (b) ‘Clinical Care’ relates to perceived quality of care and health outcomes; (c) ‘Communication’ involves feedback and interaction between patients, staff and carers; (d) ‘Education’ concerns the tailored information provided; and (e) ‘Ease of Use’ relates to accessibility and technical barriers to engagement. Each theme was applied to each user base of patient, carer and healthcare professional in a different manner. CONCLUSIONS The 5 themes identified highlight aspects of remote care that facilitate engagement, and should be considered in both future design and trials evaluating these technologies.

scholarly journals Parallel Robot for Lower Limb Rehabilitation Exercises

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Rastegarpanah ◽  
Mozafar Saadat ◽  
Alberto Borboni
Keyword(s):  
Full Range ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Calculated Length ◽  
Matlab Program ◽  
Kinect Camera ◽  
Singularity Locus ◽  
Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Exercises ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Lower Limb Rehabilitation

The aim of this study is to investigate the capability of a 6-DoF parallel robot to perform various rehabilitation exercises. The foot trajectories of twenty healthy participants have been measured by a Vicon system during the performing of four different exercises. Based on the kinematics and dynamics of a parallel robot, a MATLAB program was developed in order to calculate the length of the actuators, the actuators’ forces, workspace, and singularity locus of the robot during the performing of the exercises. The calculated length of the actuators and the actuators’ forces were used by motion analysis in SolidWorks in order to simulate different foot trajectories by the CAD model of the robot. A physical parallel robot prototype was built in order to simulate and execute the foot trajectories of the participants. Kinect camera was used to track the motion of the leg’s model placed on the robot. The results demonstrate the robot’s capability to perform a full range of various rehabilitation exercises.

scholarly journals Smallholder: an inconvenient label in the adoption of water pumping technologies?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlo Intriago Zambrano ◽  
Ruben van Dijk ◽  
Martin van Beusekom ◽  
Jan-Carel Diehl ◽  
Maurits W. Ertsen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
External Support ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Water Pumping

<p>Use of water pumping technologies (WPTs) to drive pressurized systems in smallholder irrigation schemes is one of the key interventions to secure water, hence to increase yields and to potentially alleviate poverty, as well as to foster local and global good security. Whichever the chosen WPT, smallholders face many decision-making variables when considering them: finances, information, technical performance, ease of use, market characteristics, and even environmental concerns are amongst them. We will present evidence that suggests that the way smallholders deal with those factors cannot be predicted based on mere land size-based classifications that are used in many existing policy studies and actual policies. As there are not many specific studies that focus on understanding the influence that the aforementioned variables, directly and indirectly, have on smallholders’ adoption of WPTs, we conducted field work in three different contexts—Nepal, Indonesia and Malawi—to identify the multidimensional gaps and relations between farmer and technology.</p><p>Due to the nature of the study, which comprised several (subjective) variables across a number of contexts and individuals, a triangulation of data collection techniques (e.g. direct observations, semi-structured interviews, surveys) was preferred. The main research method was Q-methodology, an increasingly popular inverted technique of factor analysis that combines the strengths of qualitative and quantitative research. Furthermore, one of its main advantages is that representativeness of the subjectivity does not depend on large samples of respondents but rather on their diversity.</p><p>By this process, it became evident that clustering farmers under the “smallholders” label—in line with the traditional farm size-based approach—did not reflect their heterogeneity in the WPTs’ adoption process. As a matter of fact, some smallholders are willing (and able, at times) to make substantial investments in WPTs for agricultural irrigation, thus moving away from the “external support-reliant-farmer” image. In conclusion, smallholder’s behaviour, thus decision making, is highly contextualized and cannot be underpinned by solely and simplistically looking at the holding size.</p>

scholarly journals Anticipative interfaces for emergency situations

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38
Author(s):  
Klaus Kremer
Keyword(s):  
Situation Awareness ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Interactive Simulation ◽  
Information Retention ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Tunnel Vision ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
The Impact

This case study explores concepts and methodologies in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design with a view to increasing information retention and memorisation through the inclusion of human-centred design principles. It focuses on the participants’ individual context, mental state and abilities. In emergencies, visual perception and situation awareness may be restricted due to the impact of sensory symptoms (panic, tunnel vision or limited motor skills), thus calling for a linear course of action. This applied research project, ‘Floodscape’, is a mobile application designed to educate its user about possible inundation zones resulting from a tsunami. Ongoing user engagement through interactive simulation is the prime focus of the initial (dormant) state of the app. In case of an actual tsunami the app registers the event and adapts its UI accordingly. Crucial life-saving wayfinding information will then be displayed in a contextual manner considering contrast, typography, limited user attention and ease of use.

scholarly journals Social, Organizational, and Technological Factors Impacting Clinicians’ Adoption of Mobile Health Tools: A Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Jacob ◽  
Antonio Sanchez-Vazquez ◽  
Chris Ivory
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
English Language ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Technological Factors ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Social Organizational

BACKGROUND There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the potential of Mobile Health in reducing healthcare costs, enhancing access, and improving the quality of patient care. However, user acceptance and adoption are key prerequisites to harness this potential, hence, a deeper understanding of the factors impacting this adoption is crucial for its success. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review is to systematically explore relevant published literature in order to synthesize the current understanding of the factors impacting clinicians’ adoption of mHealth tools, not only from a technology perspective but also from social and organizational perspectives. METHODS A structured search was carried out of Medline PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and SAGE database for studies published between January 2008 and July 2018 in the English language; yielding 4993 results, of which 171 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS The technological factors impacting clinicians’ adoption of mobile health were categorized into 8 key themes: Usefulness, Ease of use, Design, Compatibility, Technical issues, content, Personalization and convenience. These were in turn divided into 14 sub-themes altogether. Social and organizational factors were much more prevalent and were categorized into 8 key themes: Workflow related, Patient related, Policy and regulations, Culture or attitude or social influence, Monetary factors, Evidence base, Awareness, and User engagement. These were in turn divided into 41 sub-themes, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when addressing potential barriers to mHealth adoption and how to overcome them. CONCLUSIONS The study results can help inform mHealth providers and policy makers regarding the key factors impacting mHealth adoption, guiding them into making educated decisions to foster this adoption and harness the potential benefits. CLINICALTRIAL NA

scholarly journals Augmented Virtuality Using Touch-Sensitive 3D-Printed Objects

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2186
Author(s):  
Gianpaolo Palma ◽  
Sara Perry ◽  
Paolo Cignoni
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Hand Tracking ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
User Interactions ◽  
The Real ◽  
Augmented Virtuality ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
3D Fabrication

Virtual reality (VR) technologies have become more and more affordable and popular in the last five years thanks to hardware and software advancements. A critical issue for these technologies is finding paradigms that allow user interactions in ways that are as similar as possible to the real world, bringing physicality into the experience. Current literature has shown, with different experiments, that the mapping of real objects in virtual reality alongside haptic feedback significantly increases the realism of the experience and user engagement, leading to augmented virtuality. In this paper, we present a system to improve engagement in a VR experience using inexpensive, physical, and sensorized copies of real artefacts made with cheap 3D fabrication technologies. Based on a combination of hardware and software components, the proposed system gives the user the possibility to interact with the physical replica in the virtual environment and to see the appearance of the original cultural heritage artefact. In this way, we overcome one of the main limitations of mainstream 3D fabrication technologies: a faithful appearance reproduction. Using a consumer device for the real-time hand tracking and a custom electronic controller for the capacitive touch sensing, the system permits the creation of augmented experiences where the user with their hands can change the virtual appearance of the real replica object using a set of personalization actions selectable from a physical 3D-printed palette.

scholarly journals PENGEMBANGAN PERALATAN PRAKTIKUM PADA MATAKULIAH FISIKA KEBUMIAN LANJUT

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Nur Islami
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
Physics Education ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Development Method ◽  
Education Study ◽  
Geoelectrical Resistivity ◽  
The University

One of the courses in the Physics Education Study Program that requires direct observation in the field is Advanced Earth Physics. In this course there is one subject that discusses about Groundwater. This study aims to develop a geoelectrical resistivity equipment that can be used in field work by students of the Riau University Physics Education Study Program. The method used was the Research and Development method. The need for tools was analyzed so that ideas for making tools emerge. The tool is designed in such a way as to consider the level of safety, ease of use and antil the acuracy. The results showed that the tools developed were successfully made well. The equipment was validated by experts and field tested. Four experts of Physics lecturers gave an average rating of 3.7on a scale of 4. Thus this tool can already be used in Advanced Earth Physics lectures in the Physics Education Study Program at the University of Riau.

scholarly journals Serious Game Platform with Haptic Feedback and EMG Monitoring for Upper Limb Rehabilitation and Smoothness Quantification on Spinal Cord Injury Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Gutiérrez ◽  
Delia Sepúlveda-Muñoz ◽  
Ángel Gil-Agudo ◽  
Ana de los Reyes Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Haptic Feedback ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Arm Muscles ◽  
Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Injured Patients

Cervical Spinal Cord injury (SCI) is a neurological disease that produces, as a consequence, impairments of the upper limb function. This paper illustrates a virtual reality platform based on three serious games for upper limb rehabilitation with electromyography monitoring, providing force feedback to the patient. In the rehabilitation process proposed, haptic feedback was provided to the patients to strength the arm muscles by means of the Novint Falcon device. This end-effector device was used to manipulate the serious games. During the therapy performance, the system recorded electromyography signals from the patient’s arm muscles, which may be used to monitor muscle contraction. The work presented a virtual reality system developed for spinal cord-injured patients. Each virtual reality environment could be modified in strength and duration according to the patients’ needs and was implemented for recording quantitative data about the motor performance. The platform was validated as a proof of concept in cervical spinal cord-injured patients. Results showed that this rehabilitation platform could be used for obtaining objective information in relation to motor control characteristics.

scholarly journals Super greens for super hearts: a smoothie approach to increase plasma lutein.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanna W.S. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Normal Diet ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Artery Disease ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Β Carotene

AbstractIntroductionCoronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Despite extensive treatments, many patients still exhibit low-grade systemic inflammation which increases risk of new cardiovascular events. Currently, there is no standard anti-inflammatory strategy to treat CAD.Lutein is an antioxidant abundant in the Mediterranean diet which is known to be cardioprotective. We have previously shown that plasma lutein is inversely correlated to inflammation levels in CAD patients and that it exerts direct anti-inflammatory effects on patients’ immune cells ex vivo. We have also demonstrated that consuming spinach in the form of smoothie can maximize lutein liberation in vitro. The present study is a feasibility study in preparation for a cross-over intervention study in CAD patients. It aimed to compare the efficacy and practicality of raising plasma lutein using lutein-rich smoothies or lutein supplements.Materials and methods7 healthy participants were advised to consume 1) 85 g spinach in smoothies ≥ 5 days/week or 2) 10 mg lutein supplements daily in a cross-over design in two separate 8-week interventions while keeping their usual diets. A 6-week washout period during which their normal diet was maintained separates the two intervention periods. Training on smoothie making was provided. Adherence was recorded daily, and the practicality was ranked in surveys fortnightly. Plasma was collected on 11 occasions. Plasma carotenoids (lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene and β-carotene) were quantified by HPLC.ResultsBoth interventions received the two highest scores in terms of taste, ease of use and time consumption. Plasma lutein was increased by both interventions while no change was found in other plasma carotenoids. The lutein-raising effect was higher in supplements compared to smoothies. The smoothies raised plasma lutein levels on an average of 117 %, 143 %, 167 % and 142% from baseline after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of consumption respectively (Pfor trend = 0.003). The lutein supplements increased plasma lutein on an average of 519 %, 637 %, 672 % and 715 % from baseline after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks respectively (Pfor trend = 0.002). Lutein returned to baseline levels for all participants 4 and 6 weeks after the smoothies and 8 and 10 weeks after the supplements.DiscussionBoth methods are effective in increasing plasma lutein in healthy humans. Although the supplements exert higher lutein-raising effects compared to the smoothies, further testing on subjects with CAD is required to determine if the observed effects lead to inflammation reduction with clinical significance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document