• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.206-213
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to analyze musculoskeletal injuries in combine harvesting operation using a digital human model. In order to analyze problems in combine harvesting operation, the operations were broken into 5 work processes and then we preformed ergonomic and biomechanical analyses such as RULA test, Comfort Assessment and joint kinetic analysis for the each process. As a result, there was a clear need to change the combine operating environment, as the RULA score ranged from 4 to 7. In addition, we could find two major musculoskeletal injury factors which are the standing posture with upperbody forward tilting and inappropriate location of operating levers.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.188-193
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• 2003

To predict changes in biomechanical parameters such as intradiscal pressure, and the shock absorbing mechanism in the spinal motion segment under different impact duration/loading rates, a three dimensional L3/L4 motion segment finite element model was modified to incorporate the poroelastic properties of the motion segment. The results were analyzed under variable impact duration for normal and degenerated discs. For short impact duration and a given maximum compressive force, relatively high cancellous pore pressure was generated as compared with a case of long impact duration, although the amount of impulse was increased. In contrast relatively constant pore pressure was generated in the nucleus. Disc degeneration increased pore pressure in the disc and decreased pore pressure in the cancellous core, which is more vulnerable to compressive fracture compared with intact case.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.277-280
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• 2004

In the research of biomechanical engineering, robotics and neurophysiology, to clarify the mechanism of human bipedal walking is of major interest. It serves as a basis of developing several applications such as rehabilitation tools and humanoid robots Nevertheless, because of complexity of the neuronal system that Interacts with the body dynamics system to make walking movements, much is left unknown about the details of locomotion mechanism. Researchers were looking for the optimal model of the neuronal system by trials and errors. In this paper, we applied Genetic Programming to induce the model of the nervous system automatically and showed its effectiveness by simulating a human bipedal walking with the obtained model.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.393-397
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• 1997

본 연구에서는 손동작(Hand Motion)과 수작업(Manual Task) 분석에 VR환경에서 사용되는 각도 측정 장갑(3-D Glove)을 이용하는 방법을 제안하였다. 본 연구에서 개발된 손동작(Hand Motion)과 수작업(Manual Task)의 분석 시스템은 18-sensor $Cyberglove^{TM}$정 시스템으로부터 측정된 angle data를 기초로 손동작이나 수작업에 대한 totalmuscle moment값과 total muscle excursion값을 구하고, digit와 joint의 moment값을 X,Y.Z방향별고 구하는 기능을 가지고 있다. 시스템의 구성은 : (1) $Cyberglove^{TM}$ System과 분석 시스템의 digital data 처리를 기반으로 하는 손동작의 측정 시스템 ; (2) $Cyberglove^{TM}$ System에서 얻어진 자료를 바탕으로 3차원 공간에서 손동작을 표현할 수 있는 Kinematic Hand Model ; (3) Hand Model과 $Cyberglove^{TM}$ Systme을 기반으로 3차원에서 손동작의 역학적 분석을 할 수 있는 3-D Hand Biomechanical Model ; 등으로 되어있다. 본 시스템은 Telerobotics, Medicine, Virtual Reality 등 다양한 분야에 응용이 가능하며, 수작업에 관련되는 Product Design, Manual Control Device, Computer I/O Device의 설계에도 도움이 될 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to optimize the thread depth and pitch of a recently designed dental implant to provide uniform stress distribution by means of a response surface optimization method available in finite element (FE) software. The sensitivity of simulation to different mechanical parameters was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: A three-dimensional model of a tapered dental implant with micro-threads in the upper area and V-shaped threads in the rest of the body was modeled and analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA). An axial load of 100 N was applied to the top of the implants. The model was optimized for thread depth and pitch to determine the optimal stress distribution. In this analysis, micro-threads had 0.25 to 0.3 mm depth and 0.27 to 0.33 mm pitch, and V-shaped threads had 0.405 to 0.495 mm depth and 0.66 to 0.8 mm pitch. Results: The optimized depth and pitch were 0.307 and 0.286 mm for micro-threads and 0.405 and 0.808 mm for V-shaped threads, respectively. In this design, the most effective parameters on stress distribution were the depth and pitch of the micro-threads based on sensitivity analysis results. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the optimal implant design has micro-threads with 0.307 and 0.286 mm depth and pitch, respectively, in the upper area and V-shaped threads with 0.405 and 0.808 mm depth and pitch in the rest of the body. These results indicate that micro-thread parameters have a greater effect on stress and strain values.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1391-1398
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• 2011

Biomechanical analysis of arm motion during steering was performed using a motion analysis technique. Three-dimensional position data for each part of arm are fed into an interactive model combining a musculoskeletal arm model and the mechanical steering system to calculate joint angles and torques using inverse kinematic and dynamic analyses, respectively. The analysis shows that elbow pronation/supination, wrist flexion/extension, shoulder adduction/abduction, and shoulder flexion/extension have significant magnitudes. Sensitivity analysis of the arm joint motion with respect to seating posture and steering wheel configuration is carried out to investigate the qualitative influence of the seating posture and driver's seat configuration on the steering behavior.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2011

Background: Although considerable efforts have been made to improve the graft patency in coronary artery bypass surgery, the role of biomechanical factors remains underrecognized. The aim of this study is to investigate the influences of geometric configurations of the bypass graft on hemodynamic characteristics in relation to anastomosis. Materials and Methods: The Numerical analysis focuses on understanding the flow patterns for different values of inlet and distal diameters and graft angles. The Blood flow field is treated as a two-dimensional incompressible laminar flow. A finite volume method is adopted for discretization of the governing equations. The Carreau model is employed as a constitutive equation for blood. In an attempt to obtain the optimal aorto-coronary bypass conditions, the blood flow characteristics are analyzed using in vitro models of the end-to-side anastomotic angles of $45^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$. To find the optimal graft configurations, the mass flow rates at the outlets of the four models are compared quantitatively. Results: This study finds that Model 3, whose bypass diameter is the same as the inlet diameter of the stenosed coronary artery, delivers the largest amount of blood and the least pressure drop along the arteries. Conclusion: Biomechanical factors are speculated to contribute to the graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2010

Purpose: Adhesion after flexor tendon injury is a result of fibrosis between tendon and tendon sheath. This, finally interfere with gliding mechanism of tendon and results in functional problem of hands. Therefore, there have been many trials to reduce adhesion around the tendon. However, there is no standard procedure clinically practiced in hospitals. Mitomycin-C is an antineoplastic alkylating agent that decrease fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. It is commonly used in many surgery to reduce postoperative adhesion. This study was designed to observe the effect of Mitomycin-C on preventing adhesion in injured flexor tendon. Methods: The deep flexor tendon of digit 2 and 4 in the left forepaw of 15 New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to partial tenotomy. In study group, injury site was exposed to a single 5-minute application of Mitomycin-C, and in control group was left untreated. Digit 2 and 4 in the right forepaw of each rabbit were considered as nonadhesion control group. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and digits were amputated for biomechanical test and histological study. Results: In biomechanical study to measure yield point, mean yield point of non-adhesion control was $17.43{\pm}2.33$ and $25.07{\pm}4.03$ for adhesion control, which proves increase of adhesion in adhesion control group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In Mitomycin-C group, mean yield point was $12.71{\pm}4.97$. Compared with adhesion control, there was decrease in adhesiveness in Mitomycin-C group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In histological study, the result of adhesion control revealed massive adhesions of bony structure, fibrotic tissue and tendon structure with ablation of the border. However in Mitomycin-C group, we could find increased fibrotic tissue, but adhesion is much lesser than adhesion group and borders between structures remain intact. Conclusion: This study suggests that Mitomycin-C can significantly reduce adhesion of injured flexor tendon in rabbit model.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.228-234
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• 2019

Background The management of flexor tendon injuries has evolved in recent years through industrial improvements in suture materials, refinements of repair methods, and early rehabilitation protocols. However, there is no consensus on the ideal suture material and technique. This study was conducted to compare the tensile strength, repair time, and characteristics of 4-strand cruciate, modified Kessler, and 4-strand horizontal intrafiber barbed sutures for flexor tenorrhaphy with a 12-mm suture purchase length in an animal model. Methods The right third deep flexors of 60 adult Leghorn chicken feet were isolated and repaired with a 12-mm suture purchase length. The tendons were randomly assigned to three groups of equal number (n=20 each). Groups 1 and 2 received 4-strand cruciate and modified Kessler repair with conventional suture materials, respectively. A 4-strand horizontal intrafiber barbed suture technique was used in group 3. The repaired tendons were biomechanically tested for tensile strength, 2-mm gap resistance, and mode of failure. Repair times were also recorded. Results The maximum tensile strength until failure was $44.6{\pm}4.3N$ in group 1, $35.7{\pm}5.2N$ in group 2, and $56.7{\pm}17.3N$ in group 3. The barbed sutures were superior to the other sutures in terms of the load needed for 2-mm gap formation (P<0.05). Furthermore, the barbed sutures showed the shortest repair time (P<0.05). Conclusions This study found that 4-strand horizontal intrafiber barbed suture repair with a 12-mm purchase length in a chicken flexor tendon injury model showed promising biomechanical properties and took less time to perform than other options.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2000

This study aims to examine a fuzzy logic-based human expert EMG prediction model (FLHEPM) for predicting electromyographic responses of trunk muscles due to manual lifting based on two task (control) variables. The FLHEPM utilizes two variables as inputs and ten muscle activities as outputs. As the results, the lifting task variables could be represented with the fuzzy membership functions. This provides flexibility to combine different scales of model variables in order to design the EMG prediction system. In model development, it was possible to generate the initial fuzzy rules using the neural network, but not all the rules were appropriate (87% correct ratio). With regard to the model precision, the EMG signals could be predicted with reasonable accuracy that the model shows mean absolute error of 8.43% ranging from 4.97% to 13.16% and mean absolute difference of 6.4% ranging from 2.88% to 11.59%. However, the model prediction accuracy is limited by use of only two task variables which were available for this study (out of five proposed task variables). Ultimately, the neuro-fuzzy approach utilizing all five variables to predict either the EMG activities or the spinal loading due to dynamic lifting tasks should be developed.