• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1213-1217
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• 2011

Electric stimulators are used for various treatments, such as for pain relief and to improve rehabilitation in and out of the hospital. However, if the stimulation pulse affects the patient's heart, it can cause critical cardiac disorders such as arrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation. As a result, it must be ensured that the transmission length of the stimulation pulse does not exceed the proper range in the design of an electric stimulator. Furthermore, every anticipated risk factor must be monitored in in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. A new stimulator was designed to supply continuous 0.001 J stimulation pulses at a rate of 60 pulses per second. To evaluate the safety of the new electric stimulator and to measure its energy transfer and pulse transmission length, we built a conduction model that was filled with saline and measured the electric field at various positions in response to real stimulations. In an animal experiment with two pigs, heart disorders were induced by applying electric stimulation to tissues near the heart. These heart disorders were different from the result obtained with 9 V DC stimulation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.429-438
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• 1994

An electrical stimulator was designed to induce locomotion for paraplegic patients caused by central nervous system injury. Optimal stimulus parameters, which can minimize muscle fatigue and can achieve effective muscle contraction were determined in slow and fast muscles in Sprague-Dawley rats. Stimulus patterns of our stimulator were designed to simulate eleclromyographic activity monitored during locomotion of normal subjects. Muscle types of the lower extremity were classified according to their mechanical property of contraction, which are slow muscle (msoleus m.) and fast muscle (medial gastrocnemius m., rectus femoris m., vastus lateralis m.). Optimal parameters of electrical stimulation for slow muscles were 20 Hz, 0.2 ms square pulse. For fast muscle, 40 Hz, 0.3 ms square pulse was optimal to produce repeated contraction. Higher'stimulus intensity was required when synergistic muscles were stimulated simultaneously than when they were stimulated individually. Electrical stimulation for each muscle was designed to generate bipedal locomotion, so that individual muscles alternate contraction and relaxation to simulate stance and swing phases. Portable electrical stimulator with 16 channels built in microprocessor was constructed and applied to paraplegic patients due to lumbar cord injury. The electrical slimulator restored partially gait function in paraplegic patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2016

Background: Recently, ultrasound has been commonly used. Ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block (IBPB) by posterior approach is more commonly used because anterior approach has been reported to have the risk of phrenic nerve injury. However, posterior approach also has the risk of causing nerve injury because there are risks of encountering dorsal scapular nerve (DSN) and long thoracic nerve (LTN). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of encountering DSN and LTN during ultrasound-guided IBPB by posterior approach. Methods: A total of 70 patients who were scheduled for shoulder surgery were enrolled in this study. After deciding insertion site with ultrasound, awake ultrasound-guided IBPB with nerve stimulator by posterior approach was performed. Incidence of muscle twitches (rhomboids, levator scapulae, and serratus anterior muscles) and current intensity immediately before muscle twitches disappeared were recorded. Results: Of the total 70 cases, DSN was encountered in 44 cases (62.8%) and LTN was encountered in 15 cases (21.4%). Both nerves were encountered in 10 cases (14.3%). Neither was encountered in 21 cases (30.4%). The average current measured immediately before the disappearance of muscle twitches was 0.44 mA and 0.50 mA at DSN and LTN, respectively. Conclusions: Physicians should be cautious on the risk of injury related to the anatomical structures of nerves, including DSN and LTN, during ultrasound-guided IBPB by posterior approach. Nerve stimulator could be another option for a safer intervention. Moreover, if there is a motor response, it is recommended to select another way to secure better safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.578-583
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• 2012

The pharmacological therapies and whole body vibration as non-pharmacological therapies were known to have adverse side effects. Therefore, partial stimulation was suggested and its effects were evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the site-specific effects of partial stimulator for treatment of osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency. Sixteen virginal Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) were divided into 2 groups(no stimulation, stimulation groups). All rats were ovariectomised to induce osteoporosis. After 3 weeks of operation, the right tibiae in rats of stimulation group (frequency: 10Hz, cycle: 1500, strain on bone surface: $2000{\mu}{\varepsilon}$) were stimulated perpendicularly at right tibia by using partial stimulator for 6 weeks (3days/week). The right tibiae in rats were scanned, before stimulation (0 week) and at 6 weeks after stimulation by using in-vivo micro computed tomography. For investigation of changes in morphological characteristics, structural parameters were measured and calculated. At 6 weeks the morphological characteristics (relative value) in stimulation group were significantly enhanced than those in no stimulation group (p<0.05). In this study, we find that after 6 weeks of partial stimulation, the morphological characteristics of tibia trabecular bone were enhanced. Thus, we concluded that partial stimulation could be used to treat osteoporosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.441-451
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• 2015

Recognition of cytosolic DNA initiates a series of innate immune responses by inducing IFN-I production and subsequent triggering JAK1-STAT1 signaling which plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of infection, inflammation and autoimmune diseases through promoting B cell activation and antibody responses. The stimulator of interferon genes protein (STING) has been demonstrated to be a critical hub of type I IFN induction in cytosolic DNA-sensing pathways. However, it still remains unknown whether cytosolic DNA can directly activate the JAK1-STAT1 signaling or not. And the role of STING is also unclear in this response. In the present study, we found that dsDNA directly triggered the JAK1-STAT1 signaling by inducing phosphorylation of the Lyn kinase. Moreover, this response is not dependent on type I IFN receptors. Interestingly, STING could inhibit dsDNA-triggered activation of JAK1-STAT1 signaling by inducing SHP-1 and SHP-2 phosphorylation. In addition, compared with normal B cells, the expression of STING was significantly lower and the phosphorylation level of JAK1 was significantly higher in B cells from MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice, highlighting the close association between STING low-expression and JAK1-STAT1 signaling activation in B cells in autoimmune diseases. Our data provide a molecular insight into the novel role of STING in dsDNA-mediated inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.257-268
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• 1990

A system has been developed for monitoring the effect of neuromuscular blocking frugs and the neuromuscular function during anesthesia and surgery. This system is composed of software and hardware, the latter are nerve stimulator, force transducer, interface board(preamplifier, filter, peripheral input/output) and personal computer (apple ll) , the former are programmed in ASSEMBLY and BASIC language. The nerve stimulator which is controlled by personal computer is capable of delivering single shocks at o.)Hz, train of four at 2Hz and tetanic stimulation at 30, 100, 200Hz. The response, adduction of the thumb, is sensed by the force transducer. The output of the force transducer Is amplified, filtered, converted digital signal and then processed by the per- sonal computer. The personal computer quantia4es twitch and traln of four tesponse and calculates the 74 ratio (Ta/Tl )between the first and fourth response of train of four. This ratio is used to estimate the level of the neuromuscular block. This system has reaserch potential for determining the effect of newer neuromuscular blocking drugs for comparlsion with presently used drugs of alternatively, for delerminig the effects of blocking drugs in altered physilogical states.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.11
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• pp.99-102
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• 1996

The ultimate object of FES is on the recovering function of body and shape demaged from desease or injury to original state. On this study, object is recovering of gait function of the disabled who, especially, have gait disturbance. Paralyzed muscle from the central nerve disable, if peripheral nerves which be in the lower part of the harmed are activated, muscle contraction is possible. The traumatic trouble, peripheral nerves aren't connected to a central nerve but origin of peripheral nerve cells which are in the lower part of the harmed are alive, react on stimulation. We design 4-channel stimulator, being based on standard stimuli pattern. stimulator is manufactured with compact size and light weight to portable.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2017

Due to the aging and obesity population in Korea, degenerative musculoskeletal diseases and people suffering from degenerative arthritis are increasing day by day. So, it is necessary to develop rehabilitation treatment device. Conventional high-frequency treatment devices have disadvantages in that therapeutic range is narrow, cost is high, image is adversely affected, treatment time is long, and failure rate is high. This paper proposes a customized therapy device that is stable and effective in reducing treatment time and output to target body part using 2MHz switching frequency, feedback control technique, and joint insulation flexible multipolar electrode. The device can be a new concept high-frequency stimulator to accommodate the advantages of CET and RET.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.260-265
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to implemented a general purpose programmable nerve stimulator system as a research tool for studying psychophysiological performance associated with various stimulation waveform. This system is composed of hardware and software, the former are the personal computer(180586) and control unit(one-chip microprocessor, D/A converter, digital output), the latter are programmed in VISUAL BASIC and ASSEMBLY Which are programmed for the programmable nerve stimuli pattern editor and communication interface, waveform preprocessing, and stimuli generator. The control unit which is entrolled by the personal computer is capable of delivering the programmable nerve stimuli waveform. This system has research potential for determining the effect of various neuromuscular blockade in alternated physiological stat is.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2016

In this study, the application was developed for the simulation of functional electrical stimulation. It functions to calculate the electrical energy which is transmitted to the patient, to visualize the electrical stimulation waveform, Therapy, Burst and Pulse section as setup of time period requested. The application was verified by comparing the oscilloscope and the graph of the application. XML schema was developed to utilize the contents of simulation which consist of the standard codes that are identified by OID. Using the application, medical experts will be able to research and share the contents of simulation.