scholarly journals Design of Tendon-Actuated Robotic Glove Integrated with Optical Fiber Force Myography Sensor

Automation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 187-201
Author(s):  
Antonio Ribas Neto ◽  
Julio Fajardo ◽  
Willian Hideak Arita da Silva ◽  
Matheus Kaue Gomes ◽  
Maria Claudia Ferrari de Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Fiber ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Sensor Technology ◽  
User Intentions ◽  
Fluidic Actuators ◽  
Force Myography ◽  
Current Systems

People taken by upper limb disorders caused by neurological diseases suffer from grip weakening, which affects their quality of life. Researches on soft wearable robotics and advances in sensor technology emerge as promising alternatives to develop assistive and rehabilitative technologies. However, current systems rely on surface electromyography and complex machine learning classifiers to retrieve the user intentions. In addition, the grasp assistance through electromechanical or fluidic actuators is passive and does not contribute to the rehabilitation of upper-limb muscles. Therefore, this paper presents a robotic glove integrated with a force myography sensor. The glove-like orthosis features tendon-driven actuation through servo motors, working as an assistive device for people with hand disabilities. The detection of user intentions employs an optical fiber force myography sensor, simplifying the operation beyond the usual electromyography approach. Moreover, the proposed system applies functional electrical stimulation to activate the grasp collaboratively with the tendon mechanism, providing motion support and assisting rehabilitation.

scholarly journals Carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes

2021 ◽  
pp. 175573802110182
Author(s):  
Richard Mayne ◽  
Neil Heron
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Cubital Tunnel ◽  
Hand Dominance ◽  
Affected Person ◽  
Wrist Function ◽  
Tunnel Syndromes ◽  
Huge Variety

Tingling, pain and numbness in the hand can be a major cause of morbidity for many people. Adequate hand and wrist function are required for a huge variety of daily tasks, therefore disorders of the hand and wrist can have significant detrimental effects on the quality of life for affected individuals. With any upper limb issue, it is important to consider hand dominance, occupation and pastimes of the affected person. This article focuses on the optimal diagnosis and management of carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes from a primary care perspective.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality in Neurorehabilitation: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1478
Author(s):  
Alexandra Voinescu ◽  
Jie Sui ◽  
Danaë Stanton Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Upper Limb Function ◽  
Meta Analyses

Neurological disorders are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Can virtual reality (VR) based intervention, a novel technology-driven change of paradigm in rehabilitation, reduce impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions? This question is directly addressed here for the first time using an umbrella review that assessed the effectiveness and quality of evidence of VR interventions in the physical and cognitive rehabilitation of patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy, identified factors that can enhance rehabilitation outcomes and addressed safety concerns. Forty-one meta-analyses were included. The data synthesis found mostly low- or very low-quality evidence that supports the effectiveness of VR interventions. Only a limited number of comparisons were rated as having moderate and high quality of evidence, but overall, results highlight potential benefits of VR for improving the ambulation function of children with cerebral palsy, mobility, balance, upper limb function, and body structure/function and activity of people with stroke, and upper limb function of people with acquired brain injury. Customization of VR systems is one important factor linked with improved outcomes. Most studies do not address safety concerns, as only nine reviews reported adverse effects. The results provide critical recommendations for the design and implementation of future VR programs, trials and systematic reviews, including the need for high quality randomized controlled trials to test principles and mechanisms, in primary studies and in meta-analyses, in order to formulate evidence-based guidelines for designing VR-based rehabilitation interventions.

scholarly journals Novel Assistive Device for Tomographic Ultrasound Neck Imaging vs. Freehand

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 28-31
Author(s):  
Marcel Köhler ◽  
Elmer Jeto Gomes Ataide ◽  
Jens Ziegle ◽  
Axel Boese ◽  
Michael Friebe
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Image Quality ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Volume Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Scanning Method ◽  
Neck Area ◽  
2D Ultrasound

AbstractFor assessing clinically relevant structures in the neck area, especially the thyroid, it has been shown that 3D or tomographic ultrasound (3D US or tUS) is able to outperform standard 2D ultrasound [1] and computed tomography [2] for certain diagnostic procedures. However, when using a freehand and unassisted scanning method to acquire a 3D US volume data set in this area overlapping image slices, a variation of the probe angulation or differences in training might lead to unusable scanning results. Based on previous works [3] [4] we propose the design - with subsequent testing - of an assistive device that is able to aid physicians during the tUS scanning process on the neck. To validate the feasibility and efficacy we compared the image quality of both freehand and assisted scanning.

Application of Sit-To-Stand Assistive Device Based on Hip Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaiqiang Zhang ◽  
Qiang Xue ◽  
Shuo Yang ◽  
Tongtong Wang ◽  
Binwei Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Assist Devices ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Sit To Stand

Background: Completing the transition from a sitting position to a standing position is a basic skill in people’s daily lives and is crucial for independent living. Lower limb dysfunction will bring many inconveniences into a person’s life and greatly affect their quality of life. Patients with lower limb dysfunction are a specialized group, and nursing problems for this group are becoming increasingly serious. Helping patients with lower limb dysfunction restore their lower limb mobility or assisting them to walk is a social problem necessary to be solved. Objective: : To review the recent sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support, classify them systematically and introduce their characteristics, including the mechanisms and the types of patients for which such mechanisms are applicable; to help patients with lower limb dysfunction or doctors (therapists) understand and choose a reasonable sit-to-stand assist device based on hip support. Methods: This paper summarizes literatures and patents about sit-to-stand assistive devices. From the aspects of structural characteristics, drive type and support modes based on the hip and applications situation, the advantages and disadvantages of the typical sit-to-stand assist devices are represented. Results: Current and future development trends on the structural characteristics, drive type and support modes based on the hip and applications situation of sit-to-stand assist devices are discussed to improve the humanization, modularization and applicability of sit-to-stand assist devices. Conclusion: Sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support can help patients improve the quality of their life, assist patients carrying out rehabilitation training, and delay the decline of lower limb function. However, the existing sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support need further improvement in the aspects of motion mechanism, new technology application and ergonomics design.

scholarly journals Biomedical Variables and Adaptation to Disease and Health-Related Quality of Life in Polish Patients with MS

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Dymecka ◽  
Mariola Bidzan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Neurological Disability ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

The aim of this research was to assess the level of adaptation to multiple sclerosis (Sclerosis multiplex; MS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the study population as well as to determine the relationship between biomedical factors related to the course of multiple sclerosis, adaptation to the disease, and HRQoL. Analysis of medical records, clinical and psychological interviews, the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale 29 (MSIS-29) were collected from 137 patients with MS. It was found that there was a relation between motor impairment, neurological disability, adaptation to illness, and HRQoL; it was also found that there were negative correlations between adaptation to illness and the severity of lower-limb disability, fatigue, mood disorders, other problems related to MS, and upper-limb disability. Of all the symptoms, lower-limb disability, fatigue, and mood disorders had the strongest relation with adaptation. All of the analysed symptoms were found to correlate with HRQoL. Of all the symptoms, HRQoL was most affected by lower- and upper-limb disability, fatigue, other MS problems, and mood disorders.

Design and Application of Optical Fiber Sensors for Force Myography

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Fujwara ◽  
Yu Tzu Wu ◽  
Caio S. Villela ◽  
Matheus K. Gomes ◽  
Marco C. P. Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Fiber ◽  
Optical Fiber Sensors ◽  
Fiber Sensors ◽  
Force Myography ◽  
Design And Application
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document