• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.110-115
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• 2004

The prosthesis of current commercialized apparatus has considerable problems, requiring improvement. Especially, LLP(Lower Limb Prosthesis)-related problems have improved, but it cannot provide normal walking because, mainly, the gait control of the LLP does not fit with patient's gait manner. To solve this problem, HCI((Human Computer Interaction) that adapts and controls LLP postures according to patient's gait manner more effectively is studied in this research. The proposed control technique has 2 steps： 1) the multilayer neural network forecasts angles of gait of LLP by using the angle of normal side of lower limbs； and 2) the adaptive neural controller manages the postures of the LLP based on the predicted joint angles. According to the experiment data, the prediction error of hip angles was 0.32［deg.］, and the predicted error of knee angles was 0.12［deg.] for the estimated posture angles for the LLP. The performance data was obtained by applying the reference inputs of the LLP controller while walking. Accordingly, the control performance of the hip prosthesis improved by 80% due to the control postures of the LLP using the reference input when comparing with LQR controller.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2005

Gait control capacity for most trans-femoral prostheses is significantly different from that of a normal person, and training is required for a long period of time in order for a patient to walk properly. People become easily tired when wearing a prosthesis or orthosis for a long period typically because the gait angle cannot be smoothly adjusted during wearing. Therefore, to improve the gait control problems of a trans-femoral prosthesis, the proper gait angle is estimated through surface EMG(electromyogram) signals on a normal leg, then the gait posture which the trans-femoral prosthesis should take is calculated in the neural network, which learns the gait kinetics on the basis of the normal leg's gait angle. Based on this predicted angle, a postural control method is proposed and tested adaptively following the patient's gait habit based on the predicted angle. In this study, the gait angle prediction showed accuracy of over $97\%$, and the posture control capacity of over $90\%$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2009

For successful restoration of visual function by a visual neural prosthesis such as retinal implant, electrical stimulation should evoke neural responses so that the informat.ion on visual input is properly represented. A stimulation strategy, which means a method for generating stimulation waveforms based on visual input, should be developed for this purpose. We proposed to use the decoding of visual input from retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses for the evaluation of stimulus encoding strategy. This is based on the assumption that reliable encoding of visual information in RGC responses is required to enable successful visual perception. The main purpose of this study was to determine the influence of inter-dependence among stimulated RGCs activities on decoding accuracy. Light intensity variations were decoded from multiunit RGC spike trains using an optimal linear filter. More accurate decoding was possible when different types of RGCs were used together as input. Decoding accuracy was enhanced with independently firing RGCs compared to synchronously firing RGCs. This implies that stimulation of independently-firing RGCs and RGCs of different types may be beneficial for visual function restoration by retinal prosthesis.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2013

We describe a neural stimulator front-end with arbitrary stimulation waveform generator and adaptive supply regulator (ASR) for visual prosthesis. Each pixel circuit generates arbitrary current waveform with 5 bit programmable amplitude. The ASR provides the internal supply voltage regulated to the minimum required voltage for stimulation. The prototype is implemented in $0.35{\mu}m$ CMOS with HV option and occupies $2.94mm^2$ including I/Os.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.152-158
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• 2005

Commercial lower limb prostheses or orthotics help patients achieve a normal life. However, patients who use such aids need prolonged training to achieve a normal gait, and their fatigability increases. To improve patient comfort, this study proposed a method of predicting gait angle using neural networks and EMG signals. Experimental results using our method show that the absolute average error of the estimated gait angles is $0.25^{\circ}$. This performance data used reference input from a controller for the lower limb orthotic or prosthesis controllers while the patients were walking.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.443-448
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• 2009

For successful visual perception by visual prosthesis using electrical stimulation, it is essential to develop an effective stimulation strategy based on understanding of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to electrical stimulation. We studied RGC responses to repetitive electrical stimulation pulses to develop a stimulation strategy using stimulation pulse frequency modulation. Retinal patches of photoreceptor-degenerated retinas from rd1 mice were attached to a planar multi-electrode array (MEA) and RGC spike trains responding to electrical stimulation pulse trains with various pulse frequencies were observed. RGC responses were strongly dependent on inter-pulse interval when it was varied from 500 to 10 ms. Although the evoked spikes were suppressed with increasing pulse rate, the number of evoked spikes were >60% of the maximal responses when the inter-pulse intervals exceeded 100 ms. Based on this, we investigated the modulation of evoked RGC firing rates while increasing the pulse frequency from 1 to 10 pulses per second (or Hz) to deduce the optimal pulse frequency range for modulation of RGC response strength. RGC response strength monotonically and linearly increased within the stimulation frequency of 1~9 Hz. The results suggest that the evoked neural activities of RGCs in degenerated retina can be reliably controlled by pulse frequency modulation, and may be used as a stimulation strategy for visual neural prosthesis.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.243-249
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• 2005

The number of people who have lost limbs due to amputation has increased due to various accidents and diseases. Numerous attempts have been made to provide these people with prosthetic devices. These devices are often controlled using myoelectric signals. Although the success of fitting myoelectric signals (EMG) for single device control is apparent, extension of this control to more than one device has been difficult. The lack of success can be attributed to inadequate multifunctional control strategies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop multifunctional myoelectric control strategies that can generate a number of output control signals. We demonstrated the feasibility of a neural network classification control method that could generate 12 functions using three EMG channels. The results of evaluating this control strategy suggested that the neural network pattern classification method could be a potential control method to support reliability and convenience in operation. In order to make this artificial neural network control technique a successful control scheme for each amputee who may have different conditions, more investigation of a careful selection of the number of EMG channels, pre-determined contractile motions, and feature values that are estimated from the EMG signals is needed.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.252-256
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• 2003

In this paper we describe the status of a silicon-based microelectrode for neural recording and an advanced neural interface. We have developed a silicon neural probe, using a combination of plasma and wet etching techniques. This process enables the probe thickness to be controlled precisely. To enhance the CMOS compatibility in the fabrication process, we investigated the feasibility of the site material of the doped polycrystalline silicon with small grains of around 50 nm in size. This silicon electrode demonstrated a favorable performance with respect to impedance spectra, surface topography and acute neural recording. These results showed that the silicon neural probe can be used as an advanced microelectrode for neurological applications.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제25권6호
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• pp.611-615
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• 2004

본 연구는 외부 전원 없이 광다이오드만을 이용하여 생성한 광전 자극을 통해 신경계를 효과적으로 자극하는 방법에 대한 것이다. 광을 통한 전류원 생성 및 전달은 생체 내에 집적된 광소자를 삽입하고 외부에서 광을 통해 신호와 전력을 전달을 한다. 이 기술은 특히 '눈' 이라는 광학적인 연결통로를 이용할 수 있는 인공망막과 같은 시스템에 매우 효과적이다. 그러나 광전 소자를 내부 전원 없이 구동시키는 경우, 광전류가 생체 저항에 직접적인 영향을 받게 되므로 자극에 충분한 전류를 생성할 수 없다. 무 전원 광다이오드를 통해 생성되는 광전류를 신경 자극에 적용하기 위해서는 생체 저항의 크기에 관계없이 활동 전위 생성에 충분한 전류 공급을 할 수 있는 안정된 전류원이 필요하다. 이를 위해서 본 연구에서는 병렬 저항을 도입하였다. 병렬 저항 추가 시 생체 저항을 포함한 전체 저항 값이 낮아지므로, 광원의 세기에 따라 최대의 광전류에 근접한 값을 얻을 수 있게 된다. 그러나 병렬 저항 값의 크기를 낮출수록 자극에 쓰이지 않는 전류량이 늘어나므로, 자극 전류량의 극대 값을 찾기 위해서는 병렬 저항 값의 최적화가 필요하다. 실험을 통해 측정된 실제 자극 전류량이 최대가 되는 병렬 저항 값의 범위는 500Ω∼700Ω 이고, 이때 전류량은 580uA∼860uA 이며 전류 효율은 47.5∼59.7%이었다. 자극의 크기와 빈1도를 변화시키면서 쥐의 좌골 신경을 자극하여 눈으로 확인 가능한 떨림 현상을 확인하였으며, 다채널 기록기를 이용해 활동 전위를 측정하였다. 이를 통해, 인공 망막에서의 광 자극 가능성을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 전자공학회논문지SC
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.18-23
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• 2007

체내 통신은 인체를 통신 매체로 하여 신호를 전송하는 무선 통신 방식이다. 체내 통신 방식은 체내와 송수신 시스템 그리고 외부 접지를 통한 하나의 전류 패스를 형성함으로써 이루어지는데, 인공 와우와 같은 신경 보철 장치의 경우 피하에 이식되어 있기 때문에 외부 접지를 사용하기 어렵다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 이와 같은 접지의 영향을 받지 않는 체내 통신을 제안하여 신경 보철 장치를 위한 시스템을 개발하였다. 개발된 시스템은 이식된 보철 장치의 체내에 위치한 전극으로의 신호 전송이 가능하도록 설계되었다. 효과적인 통신을 위하여 실험동물의 피부 위 실험 및 피하 실험을 통해 신호 전송 특성을 조사하였으며, 피부 위 실험의 경우 약 10MHz, 피하 실험의 경우 약 3MHz 이상의 주파수 대역에서 최대 전송 이득을 가지는 것을 확인하였다. 본 시스템은 데이터 전송률 480kbps를 갖는 pulse width modulation (PWM) 방식을 사용한 인공 와우용 내부 전류 자극기에 적용하여 그 성능을 입증하였다.