• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.437-442
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• 2013

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drive-assisting system in a shower carrier on the upper body muscle activities of caregivers through drivability tests. Background: In care facilities, one of the major ADL (Activities of Daily Living) factors is bathing/showering. Recently, bath/shower-assisting equipment is actively being introduced in care facilities to reduce caregivers' muscle burden. In particular, it is desirable to utilize a shower carrier equipped with drive-assisting system to effectively care for the elderly. However, there were few systematic studies on the relationship between muscle activities and drive-assisting speeds. Method: For the drivability tests to study the effects on the muscle activities according to the drive-assisting speeds(corresponding drive-voltages: 0.0V, 2.0V, 2.1V, 2.3V), 6 females in their 40s($43{\pm}4yrs$, $157{\pm}5cm$, and $54.5{\pm}1.5kg$) were selected. To measure muscle activities of caregivers through drivability tests, 7 muscles in the upper body(TM/Trapezius Muscle, DM/Deltoid Muscle, BBM/Biceps Brachii Muscle, TBM/Triceps Brachii Muscle, ECRLM/Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus Muscle, FCUM/Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle, and ESM/Erector Spinae Muscle) were selected. Results: In the TM, muscle activities were decreased as 21% compared to 0.0V, when drive-voltage 2.0V was applied, as 57% by 2.1V, and 62% by 2.3V(p<0.05), whereas 40%, 56%, and 69% of muscles activities were decreased respectively from the DM(p<0.05). Also, from the UL(BBM+TBM+ECRLM+FCUM), muscle activities were decreased by 17% with 2.0V as against 0.0V, by 47% with 2.1V, and 52% with 2.3V, whereas decreases in muscle activities from the ESM were found by 20%, 34%, and 42% respectively by 2.0V, 2.1V, and 2.3V(p<0.05). Conclusion: The muscle activities were decreased in the order of the DM, TM, ESM, and UL. As muscle activities were remarkably reduced as drive voltage were increased, it was expected to reduce the upper body muscle burden on the caregivers when using shower carriers equipped with driving-assist system. Applications: The results from this study can be applied for the development of a shower carrier including other equipment to possibly reduce the muscle burden of the caregivers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.763-764
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• 2012

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.739-745
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• 2014

Although medication is given to heart disease patients, conventional medication alone is not sufficient to treat heart disease. However, it has been reported that left ventricular assist device (LVAD) transplantation is an effective bridge to heart transplantation by assisting cardiac function. This study used long-term animal testing and emergency situations with a bovine model (Holstein) and canine model (Labrador-retriever) to evaluate the biocompatibility of LibraHeart-I (LH-1), which is a bent-tube type of LVAD that was developed in a previous study. In the long-term animal testing with the bovine model, the subjects survived for 49 days with no irregularities observed in their complete blood cell counts or the vital sign tests that were carried out during the test period. In short-term animal testing with the canine model, it was observed that blood did not remain inside the LH-I even without power support from an external drive source. In this study, the biocompatibility of the LH-I that was developed in a previous study was verified by the ejection performance during long-term animal testing and emergency situations.