• 대한물리치료과학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

Background: This study evaluates the usability of the Motion-Tracking Gait Assistive Walker (MTGAW) designed for elderly individuals and those with disabilities, identifying areas for improvement through interviews with physical and occupational therapists. Design: A survey study involves the usability test for MTGAW. Methods: Usability evaluations were conducted with 37 physical therapists and occupational therapists. The process included explanation, product usage, satisfaction surveys, and interviews. A satisfaction survey covering 19 items across safety, maneuverability, usability, and management areas was administered. Individual interviews identified areas for improvement. Results: Overall, high satisfaction was reported across the four areas, but interviews highlighted the need for improvements, such as addressing discomfort due to slow speed and enhancing safety measures to prevent rear-end falls. Adjusting the walker's height and width to suit the user's physique was also suggested. Conclusion: MTGAW enhances walking support and hand movement freedom but needs refinement in speed control, fall prevention, and customization based on the user physique. Future efforts should focus on developing an improved MTGAW, considering recommendations from physical therapy experts, and conducting studies to analyze its clinical effectiveness for commercialization.

• Educational Technology International
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.201-215
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• 2014

The design project of a technology product provides an opportunity for students to experience the inter-connectedness of academic information and ill-defined real-world problems. This study focuses on non-engineering students' activity and perception through the assistive technology design project. For this purpose, participants engaged in a team-based technology design project. Then, a qualitative research approach was adopted, which included reflective journals with 24 undergraduate students majored in Adaptive Physical Education. The analysis identified six factors (knowledge value, social value, reality value, accomplishment value, perspective value, benefit value) of perception and five stages (topic selection, function suggestion, visualization, presentation preparation, and presentation) of activity.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.19-27
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• 2016

피부장벽은 장루 용품의 중요한 구성 요소로, 장루 주머니를 지지하고 장루 주변의 피부를 보호한다. 피부장벽은 분비물 및 배출물로부터 주변 피부를 보호하고 땀을 흡수하거나 투과시켜 피부의 생리학적인 건강을 유지시켜준다. 피부장벽에 관한 용어는 ISO 24214에 의해 표준화 되어 있으나, 국내에는 이와 관련된 표준화가 이루어지 않은 상태이다. 본 논문에서는 장루용품에 관한 학술자료 및 상용화된 제품의 자료를 조사하고, 사용경험이 있는 간호사와 간호학과 교수들에게 설문 조사를 실시하였다. 본 논문에서는 ISO 24214:2006에 사용되는 용어들에 대한 한글 표준 용어를 제안하고자 한다.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.161-168
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• 2014

본 연구에서는 Pneumatic air fitting system을 적용한 기립보조기 제품을 뇌병변 소아환자를 대상으로 기립보조기의 신체 고정용 폼패드(foam pad)와 에어패드(air pad) 사용 시, 뇌병변 장애아동들의 체간 및 하지근육의 수축 양상을 비교 분석하였다. 연구결과, 패드(foam pad vs. air pad) 유형에 따른 근육별 근력 활성도는 차이가 있었다. 이러한 차이는 큰 동작(식사동작)에서 크게 나타나고, 작은 동작(쓰기동작, 읽기동작)이 작게 나타났다. 이는 Pneumatic air fitting system을 적용한 기립보조기 제품 사용 시, 기존 폼패드에 비해 사용자에게 좀 더 편안함을 제공하는 것으로 나타났다.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2023

Squatting of agricultural work can cause musculoskeletal disorders due to excessive pressure and rotational force on the knee joint In order to improve the assistive chair used in squatting agricultural work so that it can be used in a narrow groove, it is intended to improve the musculoskeletal harm of squatting work by attaching a spring on the assistive chair. Therefore, in the presenty study, 3D drawing was done using ProEngineer (3D), and a mock-up was produced and tested. Using pro-Engineer, it was judged that it was rare for plastic to be broken by a spring, so the analysis was conducted with a focus on springs. It was found that the structure that can absorb the shock according to the rigidity of the tape spring and balance the body is that the power to withstand the load of the weight is distributed as a whole when five springs are used. Electromyography was measured using ME600 (Mega Electronics, Finland) Measuring equipment attached to the waist, thighs, calves, and shins. EMG values were measured and compared with the prototype in two ways, when the worker did not wear the product and when he wore an existing product on the market. As a result of the experiment when using the prototype, the maximum EMG value for each part is considered to be helpful in preventing musculoskeletal diseases as the amount of muscle used is reduced in the waist, thighs, calves, and shins.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.191-197
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• 2011

Lifting chair is a typical assistive product to aid for standing up and sitting down for persons with disability. It is particularly useful for the elderly persons whose muscular system is weakened by degenerative joint disease. This paper describes biomechanical assessments of lifting chair with hip-up function. In experiments we measured 3D motion and electromyographic(EMG) signal on the femoral muscle when subject performs the standing motion on the predetermined seat height. Based on assessment of the standing motion, we select the hip-up angle as 15 degrees to cover the relative femoral angle when EMG peak value is appeared. Using an implemented prototype lifting chair with hip-up function we perform standing experiments with five subjects. The experimental results show that the lifting and hip-up functions are effective to assist for standing up motion with less muscle force.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.407-422
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of the study is to develop quantitative usability evaluation criteria for senior-friendly autonomous transportation robot. Background: The Republic of Korea has become the most rapidly aging society, and is anticipated to enter the post-aged society in 2026. To raise the quality of life of a senior with limited mobility and to reduce the burden of caregivers, many high-tech assistive products with information technologies are developed nowadays. The senior-friendly autonomous transportation robot is one person robot vehicle to move a senior to the destination for hospitals, nursing homes or silver town complex. With built-in navigation system and environmental monitoring censors, it automatically seeks the path to the destination and avoids collision to obstacles and pedestrians on the way. Due to the early stage of the product, few usability studies in this field have been done, mostly on general service robots to assist seniors, power wheelchairs and delivery robots. ISO and KS standards for the service robots are focused on safety. Method: Based on the reference usability index, the early draft of the usability evaluation questionnaires was developed. After small group tests and interviews, the experts modified the initial draft to the Usability Evaluation Criteria for Senior-Friendly Autonomous Transportation Robot (UEC-SFATR). Result: UEC-SFATR consisted of 4 subscales - Safety, Controllability, Efficiency and Satisfaction. All of the 4 subscales of UEC-SFATR were passed the reliability criteria by 4 groups of seniors, divided by gender and familiarity of smart-devices. Conclusion: UEC-SFATR covers wider area of user experiences of the SFATR and is a good measurement tool to help both the users and developers of the robot. Application: This study provides guide to the future product development and product competitiveness evaluation by quantifying user experiences for the SFATR.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.389-396
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• 2012

Objective: The aim of this study is to design an auto showering system regarding bed type for old people or bedridden patients. Background: The rapid growth concerning the aging population leads to an increase in elderly bedridden patients living in senior care centers and hospitals where care givers have difficulty bathing older people with limited mobility. Method: In this study, a showering equipment for experiment was based on anthropometric and researching existing products. The nozzle position was optimized by showering tests and simulations using showering equipment. Results: The problems regarding the existing products were analyzed and the nozzle position was optimized through showering tests. The number, position, and spraying angle of the nozzle were optimized through showering simulations. The automatic showering system concerning bed type was designed by considering their results. Conclusion: When designing an automatic showering system, the most important design element involves determining the position of nozzle and angle of water injection and the number of nozzles. The system was developed by applying the results through user centered-research. Application: The user centered-research for developing products was applied directly in order to develop automatic baths, showering products etc. Furthermore, it was also available to be applied towards senior friendly products.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.73-79
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to derive medical devices with different management systems through comparison of domestic and overseas medical device product classification systems and to propose management conversion measures for the products. The definitions of medical devices were compared and the scope of medical devices defined by each country was confirmed through surveys of the Medical Device Act, Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act (FD&C) in the U.S., and Medical Device Regulations (MDR) in Europe. Using the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's regulations on medical device products and grades, 21 CFR part 860-892 and product code classification files in U.S., and EMDN in Europe as basic data to compare medical device products and derive medical devices with different management systems. As a result of comparing the definition and product classification systems of medical devices in Korea, the U.S. and Europe, medical device accessories, prosthetic limbs and aids among assistive devices for persons with disabilities, drugs, quasi-drugs and industrial products that are not managed by medical devices in Korea are managed as medical devices in the U.S. and Europe. This study aims to improve public health by securing systematic product safety management and essential performance under medical device regulations. Management within a single medical device system will increase the efficiency of licensing work of domestic medical device manufacturers and related organizations. It is also expected to help advance the system according to the international harmony of the item classification system and enhance smooth import and export competitiveness.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.271-277
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• 2017

본 연구에서는 사용자의 자세에 따라 실시간으로 제공되는 진동모터에 의해서 촉각 피드백이 구현되는 골반교정 및 자세균형능력 증진을 위한 균형의자(balance chair)를 개발하고 그 유효성을 평가하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 MC Nylon을 이용하여 몸체을 제작하고 사용자 인터페이스를 위한 터치 TFT와 아두이노를 사용한 주 제어모듈, 사용자 자세판별을 위한 9축 가속센서, 촉각피드백을 위한 진동모듈을 내장하고 사용자의 편안한 착석감을 위한 쿠션으로 외부를 둘러싼 균형의자 시제품을 제작하였다. 제작된 시제품을 이용한 자세균형 훈련시스템의 유효성을 확인하기 위해 여성 피험자 10명을 대상으로 척추움직임의 주요근육인 좌우 요장늑근에 대한 근활성도(%MVIC)를 측정하였고 자세균형능력 평가장비인 Spine Balance 3D를 이용하여 훈련 전후의 균형능력을 측정하였다. 균형의자를 통한 운동 및 자세균형 유지 시 진동을 통한 피드백 방법에 의해 사용자의 좌우 요장늑근이 균형적으로 활성화되고 또한 이를 통한 훈련 전후 균형능력이 증진되는 결과를 얻었다. 향후 본 연구는 다양한 자세균형 제품 개발에 기초 연구로 활용 가능하다고 사료된다.