Showing papers by "Yoshikazu Mori published in 2019"
TL;DR: This study examined a novel portable patient lift that is small and light, sufficient to be carried using a wheelchair in a folded state, and is compact, light, and portable because it has no actuator.
Abstract: A patient lift is an assistive device for patients who lack sufficient strength or muscle control to be transferred between a wheelchair and a toilet or other places. Patient lifts of two kinds are commonly used: overhead lifts and mobile lifts. Nevertheless, because of its size and weight, carrying even a mobile lift with a wheelchair is difficult when leaving home. This study examined a novel portable patient lift that is small and light, sufficient to be carried using a wheelchair in a folded state. It is compact, light, and portable because it has no actuator. Moreover, its operation is simple. It is useful not only at home or in a nursing home but on any flat surface during daily excursions and activities, even in a conventional lavatory. A caregiver can transfer a user with a small force because this lift has a sliding mechanism that brings the fulcrum closer to the patient's center of mass. Experimental results underscore the effectiveness of the proposed patient lift.
1 citations
13 Jun 2019
TL;DR: A mat that can prevent bedsores and some electronic nursing beds have functions for adjustment of the backrest, footrest, and height are developed for nursing care.
Abstract: Parkinson disease, a degenerative brain disorder, affects many people worldwide. In Japan in 2011, 116,536 patients had symptoms and brain dysfunction commonly associated with Parkinsonism [1]. Moreover, Parkinson disease is an increasingly common neurological disorder in an aging society. The most common characteristic clinical signs are tremor, muscular rigidity, postural instability, bradykinesia, and hypokinesia caused by a loss of brain dopaminergic neurons [2]. Disabilities of the neck and trunk prevent the upper body from moving freely. Consequently, a person with Parkinson disease has difficulty with turning motion on a bed. Various devices and robots have been developed for nursing care. Some electronic nursing beds have functions for adjustment of the backrest, footrest, and height. A person can rise from a supine position but sitting on the bed and putting the legs down on the floor is difficult to because a person has difficulty with turning motion. Therefore, leaving the bed independently is troublesome for Parkinson patients. Noritsugu developed a mat that can prevent bedsores [3]. A user’s body is supported by 24 independently controlled balloon-like
02 Jul 2019
TL;DR: Some power-assisted devices of exoskeleton design have been developed, such as the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) device, which is designed for persons with leg muscle atrophy, and WPAL (Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor) comprises powered lower limbs driven by an electric motor at each hip and knee and a cart with control switches.
Abstract: Persons with disabilities of the lower limbs are becoming increasingly numerous worldwide. In Japan, the number of disabled persons in 2011 was estimated at about 3,922,000 [1]. Most of them use wheelchairs daily. Wheelchairs are used as “second legs” by numerous users. They are neither difficult to use nor expensive. Electric wheelchairs are widely used recently. They have excellent control features and running time. However, even with those benefits, wheelchairs do present several shortcomings. During movement and use at various locations and institutions, wheelchairs need a sufficient area for operation. Ascending stairs presents numerous obstacles. Actually, wheelchair users need a separate infrastructure. Moreover, conditions such as excretion failure, arthropathy, and hematogenous disorder of legs can result from prolonged sitting. All such physical difficulties must be resolved, in addition to mental stress deriving from the low eye position. One can surmise that a device that can move an ambulatory-disabled person stably in a standing posture can surmount most of these obstacles. Considerable advancement has been achieved in robotic and mechatronic technologies. Many researchers are developing applications in the rehabilitation field [2-15]. Some power-assisted devices of exoskeleton design have been developed [9-15], such as the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) device [13]. This apparatus, which is designed for persons with leg muscle atrophy, can be coordinated using the surface potential of the leg. Unfortunately, people with disabled lower limbs find that using surface potential with the system not a simple matter. The automatic control mode provided with this device does not allow a user free operation. HAL is used lately mainly for medical purposes. It has been clinically tested and approved for CE marking in Europe [15]. WPAL (Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor) comprises powered lower limbs driven by an electric motor at each hip and knee and a cart with control switches [12]. The purpose of this robot is rehabilitation. ReWalk (Argo Medical Technologies Ltd.) has been commercialized to assist the independent walking patients with spinal cord injury. The ReWalk user maintains the body balance with crutches. All have been developed for use by patients for daily life activities in society.