• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.547-555
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• 2020

To investigate the effects of self-management programs for chronic low back pain (LBP), 63 subjects were assigned to three groups; self-exercise group (SEG), hot pack and low-frequency electrical stimulation group (HEG), and thermo-massage group (TMG). Parameters were the pain numeric rating scale (PNRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Relapse frequency (RF). PNRS, ODI and RMDQ of SEG and TMG sustained effectiveness, however, PNRS, which improved after treatment in HEG, worsened in 6 month. Between the groups, all parameters were better in SEG and TMG compare to HEG. Exercise and thermo-massage can be considered as useful self-management performed at home to prevent the relapse of chronic LBP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.417-425
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• 2018

The psychological anxiety of radiologists, as well as the patients, is growing with the increasing use of CT contrast agent side effects and the process of extravasation. In this study, a satisfaction survey was conducted regarding the wireless signal device after CT examination in patients and radiologists by employing a wireless signal device during a contrast-enhanced CT examination in order to determine its usefulness to the relieve psychological anxiety, such as anxiety and fear, of patients and radiologists when using contrast agents. The use of a wireless signal device was also intended to help radiologists in dealing with the side effects of contrast agents that may occur during a CT examination and preventing extravasation. Patients aged 20 years or older, who visited the C university hospital in Jeonnam province for 4 months from August to November in 2017, were surveyed. A total number of 90 patients (57 males and 33 females),who agreed to the study after CT examination, were included in the questionnaire survey. Meanwhile, 15 radiologists, who were working at a CT room and had an experience in using a wireless signal device, were surveyed. Patient satisfaction was $6.01{\pm}0.88$ before the use of a wireless signal device and $8.20{\pm}1.06$ after use, thereby showing an increased satisfaction after its use. Radiologist satisfaction was $8.46{\pm}1.06$ after use, thereby not showing a big difference from the mean patient satisfaction. The satisfaction was high at over 8 points in both groups. The contribution to psychological stability with the use of a wireless signal device was $8.98{\pm}0.65$ in patients with prior experience of side effects and $8.00{\pm}1.21$ in patients without prior experience of side effects. In conclusion, it is considered to improve satisfaction with the examination by helping the radiologists in taking immediate action with calling via the wireless signal device and providing the patients and radiologists with psychological stability by reducing their anxiety.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2008

Recently, fiber reinforced polymers(FRP) composite materials are used extensively in the rehabilitation of concrete structural members. A main application is to wrap beams and columns using the continuous fibers sheets to improve their strength and ductility. The corner chamfering affects significantly the performance of the continuous fibers sheets, and could lead to environmental problem with waste and dust. The main purpose of this paper is to verify the effect of corner conditions on the strength of the continuous fiber sheets, and to introduce new attached components which can avoid environmental problem. A total of 15 specimens were tested and carefully checked for three types of continuous fiber sheets(carbon, glass, and aramid) and three types of corner conditions(non-chamfering, chamfering, and device attaching). It is proved that the devices proposed in this research have some capabilities to use for RC member. But additional research will be needed for commercializing.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.38C no.12
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• pp.1150-1158
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• 2013

Artificial cochlear implant system is known as the most efficient and widespread device to patients who have cochlear disorder. However, current commercialized artificial cochleas have inconveniences because of large volume size and high power consumption, requiring further research on improvements in terms of the size, power, and performance. In this paper, we will introduce our fully implantable artificial cochlear implant system, where small-size sensors and actuators are wirelessly connected, focusing on communication system design and its performance simulation.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.1638-1641
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• 2004

Many walking stands, and assisting tools have been developed for the people with low-limb disability to prevent diseases from bedridden state and to help them walk again. But many of those equipments require user to have some physical strength or balancing ability. In our last research, we developed walking assist system for the people with lower-limb disability. With the system, user can be assisted by actuators, and do not have to worry about falling down. The system adapted the unique closed links structure with four servomotors, three PICs as controller, and four limit switches as HMI (human man interface). We confirmed the adaptability of the system by the experiment. In this research, Muscle Stiffness Sensor was tested as the advanced HMI for walking assist system, and confirmed the adaptability by the experiment. As Muscle Stiffness Sensor can attain the muscle activity, user can interface with any device he want to control. Experimental result with Muscle Stiffness sonsor showed that user could easily control the walking assist system as his will, just by changing his muscle strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1954-1957
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• 2005

A quantitative evaluation of postural balance training using a virtual reality bicycle system was performed. In the experiment, the effectiveness of virtual reality bicycle system on postural balance training was analyzed with four male subjects in their twenties. The parameters measured during cycling were cycling time, average velocity, number of times subject deviated from path, and weight shift. Those parameters were evaluated for the quantification of the extent of control. We also measured the parameters on postural control capability after 5th trial and 10th trial in a balance testing system with a force plate to find out the effectiveness of the training. In the balance test with force plate, it was found out that the weight shift was almost zero and the deviation from the target trace reduced significantly after the training with the virtual cycle. The result showed that the virtual bicycle system was an effective system as a rehabilitation training device.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.876-882
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• 2010

Stroke patients can't use their hands because of the paralysis their fingers. Their fingers are recovered by rehabilitating training, and the rehabilitating extent can be judged by measuring the pressing force to be contacted with two fingers (thumb and first finger, thumb and middle finger, thumb and ring finger, thumb and little finger). But, at present, the grasping finger force of two-finger can't be accurately measured, because there is not a proper finger-force measuring system. Therefore, doctors can't correctly judge the rehabilitating extent. So, the finger-force measuring system which can measure the grasping force of two-finger must be developed. In this paper, the finger-force measuring system with a three-axis force sensor which can measure the pressing force was developed. The three-axis force sensor was designed and fabricated, and the force measuring device was designed and manufactured using DSP (Digital Signal Processing). Also, the grasping force test of men was performed using the developed finger-force measuring system, it was confirmed that the grasping forces of men were different according to grasping methods.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.915-919
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• 2007

가상현실은 컴퓨터를 이용하여 만들어진 가상의 환경에서 사용자가 오감을 통해 현실과 유사한 느낌을 경험할 수 있도록 해주는 기술이다. 햅틱 인터페이스는 사용자가 촉각으로 가상 환경과 상호 작용을 할 수 있도록 해주는 기술로서 사용자가 가상 물체를 실제로 만지는 듯한 착각을 불러 일으켜 보다 현실에 가까운 가상 경험을 할 수 있도록 도와준다. 본 논문에서는 다양한 용도로 사용할 수 있는 3차원 햅틱 인터페이스 장치를 설계 및 제작하고, 순발력 재활훈련의 목적으로 가상공간을 시각적으로 보여주는 입체영상 시스템과 연동하여 일부 제한적인 기능을 갖는 가상 테니스 연습 시스템을 구현하였다. 이때 가상 공과 가상 라켓의 간단한 충돌 모델과 햅틱 렌더링을 통하여 가상 공을 칠 때 사용자가 라켓으로 느끼는 충격과 반력을 제작한 3차원 햅틱 인터페이스 장치를 통하여 느낄 수 있도록 하였다. 구현된 시스템의 실험을 통하여 공과 라켓에서 충돌이 일어났을 때의 느낌을 사용자에게 전달할 수 있었으며, 완벽하지는 않지만 공과 라켓의 충돌 후 공의 나가는 방향과 속도가 실제와 유사함을 확인하였다.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2016

Recently, in rehabilitation treatment, the situation that requires a measure of the accuracy of the pose and movement of joints is being increased due to the habits and lifestyle of modern people and the environment. In particular, there is a need for active automated system that can determine itself for the matching rate of pose Basically, a method for measuring the matching rate of pose is used by extracting an image using the Kinect or extracting a silhouette using the imaging device. However, in the case of extracting a silhouette, it is difficult to set the comparison, and in the case of using the Kinect sensor, there is a disadvantages that high accumulated error rate according to movement. Therefore, In this paper, we propose a method to reduce the accumulated error of matching rate of pose getting the rotation angle of joint by measuring the real-time amount of change of 9-axis sensor. In particular, it can be measured same conditions that unrelated of the physical condition and unaffected by the data for the back and forth movement, because of it compares the current rotation angle of the joint. Finally, we show a comparative advantage results by compared with traditional method of extracting a silhouette and a method using a Kinect sensor.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.927-932
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• 2010

Estimation methods of motion intention from bio-signal present challenges in man machine interaction(MMI) to offer user's command to machine without control of any devices. Measurements of meaningful bio-signals that contain the motion intention and motion estimation methods from bio-signal are important issues for accurate and safe interaction. This paper proposes a novel motion estimation sensor based on a geometrical muscle changes, and a motion estimation method using the sensor. For estimation of the motion, we measure the circumference change of the muscle which is proportional to muscle activation level using a flexible piezoelectric cable (pMAS, piezo muscle activation sensor), designed in band type. The pMAS measures variations of the cable band that originate from circumference changes of muscle bundles. Moreover, we estimate the elbow motion by applying the sensor to upper limb with least square method. The proposed sensor and prediction method are simple to use so that they can be used to motion prediction device and methods in rehabilitation and sports fields.