• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Scar contracture influence the outcome of burn patients significantly. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of robot-assisted training for the lower extremity rehabilitation of burn patients. Methods: This pilot study was conducted on 7 burn patients for 8 weeks between January 2019 and November 2019. Two of 7 patients withdrew from this study because one had skin abrasion on the legs which thigh fastening devices were applied on and the other was not participate in the assessment at 4 weeks after training. Final 5 patients received gait training with SUBAR^® and numeric rating scale (NRS), 6-minutes walking test, and range of motion in flexion and extension of knee and ankle joint were evaluated before training, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after training. Results: The subjects had a mean age of 51.8±98 years, mean total burn surface area of 30.8±13.7%, mean duration from injury to 1^st assessment of 102.8±39.3 days. Anyone of 5 patients did not have musculoskeletal or cardiovascular side effects such as increased or decreased blood pressure or dizziness. The significant improvement in NRS, gait speed, and range of motion in knee extension and ankle plantarflexion after robotic training (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Robot-assisted training could be feasible for the rehabilitation of burn patients and it could improve muscle strength and range of motion in lower extremities, and gait function.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This systematic review aims to determine whether robot-assisted training is more effective in gait training for persons with subacute hemiparetic stroke. Methods: This study adopted a systematic review study design focused on subacute hemiparetic stroke, and four core academic databases were searched until June 11, 2021, for relevant studies, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Central. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of robotic-assisted training on gait performance in persons with a diagnosis of subacute hemiparetic stroke. The selected RCT studies were qualitatively synthesized based on the population, intervention, comparison, outcome, settings, and study design (PICOS-SD). Results: The study selected five RCTs involving 253 subacute hemiparetic stroke patients and performing robotic-assisted gait training using the following devices: the Lokomat, Morning Walk, Walkbot, ProStep Plus, or Gait Trainer II. Five RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis after quantitative synthesis, and the results showed that the robot-assisted gait training group had a greater gait performance than the control group based on the 10-meter walk test, Berg balance scale, Rivermed mobility index, functional ambulation category, and modified Barthel index. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the gait performance of subacute hemiparetic stroke patients changes throughout robot-assisted gait training, but there were no indications that any of the clinically relevant effects of robot-assisted training are greater than those of conventional gait training. Further, the small sample size and different therapeutic intensities indicate that definitive conclusions could not be made.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.10
• /
• pp.879-883
• /
• 2015

Conventional gait rehabilitation requires at least three therapists in a traditional rehabilitation training program. Several robots have been developed to reduce human burden and increase rehabilitation efficacy. In this study, we present a lower-limb wearable robot (WA-H) for gait rehabilitation of hemiplegia patients, and propose a protocol of 12 weeks gait rehabilitation training program using WA-H. To identify the efficacy of the robot and protocols, we conducted a clinical study with two actual hemiplegia patients and observed a chronological change of ambulation ability through four assessments. We discovered the progression of results by 6 minute walking test, TUGT (Timed Up and Go Test), SPPB (Short Physical Performance Battery), BBS (Berg Balance Test), and Fugl-Meyer score. The torques generated in the normal side and paralyzed side of the patient became similar, indicating rehabilitation. The result also showed the walking of the paralysis patient improved and imbalance motion had considerable improved performance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.87-93
• /
• 2019

This research deals with posture optimization for humanoid robot against external forces using genetic algorithm and neural network. When the robot takes a motion to push an object, the torque of each joint is generated by reaction force at the palm. This study aims to optimize the posture of the humanoid robot that will change this torque. This study finds an optimized posture using a genetic algorithm such that torques are evenly distributed over the all joints. Then, a number of different optimized postures are generated from various the reaction forces at the palm. The data is to be used as training data of MLP(Multi-Layer Perceptron) neural network with BP(Back Propagation) learning algorithm. Humanoid robot can find the optimal posture at different reaction forces in real time using the trained neural network include non-training data.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.12 no.11
• /
• pp.5496-5521
• /
• 2018

Object detection and tracking is the basic capability of mobile robots to achieve natural human-robot interaction. In this paper, an object tracking system of mobile robot is designed and validated using improved multiple instance learning algorithm. The improved multiple instance learning algorithm which prevents model drift significantly. Secondly, in order to improve the capability of classifiers, an active sample selection strategy is proposed by optimizing a bag Fisher information function instead of the bag likelihood function, which dynamically chooses most discriminative samples for classifier training. Furthermore, we integrate the co-training criterion into algorithm to update the appearance model accurately and avoid error accumulation. Finally, we evaluate our system on challenging sequences and an indoor environment in a laboratory. And the experiment results demonstrate that the proposed methods can stably and robustly track moving object.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2013

The latest programming paradigm has been mostly geared toward object-oriented programming and visual programming based on the object-oriented programming. However, object-oriented programming has a more difficult and complicated concept compared with that of existing structural programming technique; thus it has been very difficult to educate students in the IT-related department. This study designed and implemented a Java robot training kit in which the Java virtual machine is built so that it may enhance the desire and motivation of students for learning the object-oriented programming using the training kit which is possible to attach various input and output devices and to control a robot. The developed Java robot training kit is able to communicate with a computer through the USB interface, and it also enables learners to manufacture a robot for education and to practice applied programming because there is a general purpose input and output port inside the kit, through which diverse input and output devices, DC motor, and servo motor can be operated. Accordingly, facing the IT fusion era, the wall between the academic circles and the major becomes lower and the need for introducing education about creative engineering object-oriented programming language is emerging. At this point, the Java robot training kit developed in this study is expected to make a great commitment in this regard.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: The present research examined the effects of progressive robot-assisted step training on the strength of the lower extremity and gait speed of an individual with stroke through changes between the baseline and the intervention stage (1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months). METHODS: A single-subject (A-B) design was performed for a chronic stroke patient aged 70 years old. The robot-assisted step training was conducted three times a week during 12 months (40 minutes/session), and the assessment was conducted a total of seven times between the baseline and the intervention (No. 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months) to determine the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: As a result of the intervention, the muscle strength at the lower extremity of the paralysis side increased by the greatest extent 12 months after the intervention compared to the baseline, and the gait speed via the 10-meter walk test was increased as well. CONCLUSION: Long-term robot-assisted step training might be an effective intervention for improving the strength of the paretic lower extremity muscles and gait speed in stroke patients with difficulty walking independently. Further studies with sufficient sample sizes and a randomized control group will be needed to evaluate the long-term effects of robotic stepping rehabilitation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.221-230
• /
• 2023

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of virtual reality combined robot assist gait training (VRG) on improvement of balance and respiratory function in chronic stroke patients. Methods : A single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 35 chronic stroke patients. They were randomly allocated 2 groups; VRG group (n=18) and conservative treatment group (CG; n=17). The VRG group received 30 minutes robot assisted gait training combined virtual reality training, robot assisted gait training was conducted in parallel using a virtual reality device (2 sessions of 15 minutes in a 3D-recorded walking environment and 15 minutes in a downtown walking environment). In the conservative treatment group, neurodevelopmental therapy and exercise therapy were performed according to the function of stroke patients. Each group performed 30 minutes a day 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome balance and respiratory function were measured by a balance measurement system (BioRescue, Marseille, France), Berg balance scale, functional reach test for balance, Spirometry (Cosmed Micro Quark, Cosmed, Italy) for respiratory function Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and maximum expiratory volume (PEF) were measured according to the protocol. The measurement were performed before and after the 8 weeks intervention period. Results : Both groups demonstrated significant improvement of outcome in balance and respiratory function during intervention period. VRG revealed significant differences in balance and respiratory function as compared to the CG groups (p<.05). Our results showed that VRG was more effective on balance and respiratory function in patients with chronic stroke. Conclusion : Our findings indicate that VRG can improve balance and respiratory function, highlight the benefits of VRG. This study will be able to be used as an intervention data for recovering balance and respiratory function in chronic stroke patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2019

The rehabilitation training robots for treating the upper limbs of stroke patients were mainly focused on the upper proximal treatment of it, but recently studies of the distal parts of the upper limbs for rehabilitation of the hand is making some progress even though it is still a small number so far. In this paper, we present the hand robot for the rehabilitation training of stroke patients that is the fingertip contact-typed mechanism, and it has also equipped with the wrist rehabilitation unit to be worked like human hand that enables any movements through mutual cooperation by fingers while picking up or grasping objects. The robot that is presented for this purpose supports the movement of fingers with 5-DoF and the wrist with 3-DoF that moves independently, and operates with a structure that allows the joints of the wrist and fingers to be collaborated organically together to each other. Also, hereby the simulation and evaluation test on its robot mechanism are performed to ensure that fingers with 5-DoF and the wrist with 3-DoF of the serial kinematical mechanism are designed to comply with or exceed ROM for ADL.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.79-91
• /
• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of robot-assisted therapy to improve upper extremity function in subacute stroke. Method : This study was a retrospective study using the medical record. The subjects were 20 patients who were diagnosis with stroke within 6 months. All patients received general rehabilitation intervention during the experimental period and robot-assisted therapy and task-oriented training. Robot assisted therapy was composed of 1 sessions, 1hour per person and task-oriented training was same. For result analysis, descriptive statistics, paired t-test were used. Results : After intervention, all participants got 3D motion analysis about reaching. For the result, there was statistically significant improvement in smoothness in robot assisted therapy(p<.05). there was no statistically significant difference between robot assisted therapy and task-oriented training in speed, time. In this result, we knew the robot assisted therapy can short term effect in elbow joint during arm reaching. Conclusion : Robot assisted therapy is considered as alternative choice in clinical occupational therapy for improving upper extremity function in subacute stage stroke patients.