• 재활복지
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.211-233
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to figure out problems and to suggest improvement scheme by examining 31 of the disabled who used power wheelchair developed for safe moving and standing support. The results are as follows. First, standing power wheelchair that enables the disabled to sit and stand up was developed. It can also be used as means of transportation for moving in narrow space and in a short distance. In the usability test of this prototype, two groups were respectively examined in 60 evaluation items. One group consisted of 16 people with disabilities using manual wheelchairs. And the other one consisted of 15 people with disabilities using automatic wheelchairs. The entire average figure of two groups was shown to be 2.72 and standard deviation was 0.820. Specifically, the average figure of the group in manual wheelchair was 2.85 and the one of the other group in automatic wheelchair was 2.57. And both group replied that the move to stand up and sit on both types of wheelchair was the most inconvenient thing. It shows why ergonomic design for persons with under extremity disabilities to stand up and sit is needed. Second, with further study based on the results of usability test of the disabled, it will make contribution to increase the quality of people with disabilities by helping them move and do daily lives on their own.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2013.07a
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• pp.212-213
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• 2013

This paper proposes the algorithm of torque distribution in the electric wheel-chair using 2D joystick for drive safety. For the accurate driving performance, the specific and precise torque distribution is required in both wheels depending on signals of X-Y axis that is generated from 2D joystick. The signals of X-Y axis from joystick are transformed into the propulsion force and the torque reference. And the torque reference can be generated through the dynamic model of wheel-chair. The optimal dynamic characteristics of the electric powered wheelchair can be obtained, by adjusting the sensitivity coefficients of propulsion force and torque reference, In addition, the system takes smooth and stable control characteristics due to continuous torque output at all directions of joystick. The several simulations verify the usefulness of the proposed algorithm about torque distribution.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the current state of the assistive devices and appliances provision system for cerebral palsy patients registered with brain disability. Methods: From 2003 to 2013, we analyzed the records of cerebral palsy patients who had assistive devices and appliances provisioned at least once in their lives based on National Health Information Database. Patients with cerebral palsy were divided into three groups: infants and toddlers, school age and adolescence, and adults. Results: Data on short leg plastic orthoses, ankle joint orthoses, and wheelchair were mainly analyzed. The types of ankle joint orthoses divided into three categories: limited, $90^{\circ}$ limited, and Klenzac. Limited ankle joint orthoses was most frequently supported of the three in all age groups. Powered wheelchair and scooter were most supported to adult patients. When the re-supply duration was evaluated, the duration was suitable to the duration on guideline of regulation of re-supplement according to the related laws in adult patients but not in infants/toddlers and school age/adolescence as the actual re-supplement duration was much shorter than the reference value. Conclusion: This study confirmed the pattern of assistive devices and appliances supply differed depending on the age of cerebral palsy patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.857-866
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• 2020

'Movement' is an expanded concept of 'place' where people act, interact with one another and achieve a specific purpose at every moment. Wheelchairs, as a mobility aid, have a profound impact on improving the quality of physical and psychological well-being for the mobility disadvantaged groups who have mobility difficulties. Such mobility aids were developed mainly for outdoor activities, but in recent years, mobility aids for indoor spaces, the main living environment, are also being developed. Because indoor mobility aids generally move short distances repeatedly, this study examined the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries in short-distance driving of battery-powered wheelchairs and compared them with the characteristics of lithium-ion batteries in continuous driving. The result showed that the driving time for short-distance driving was 2.8% shorter than that of continuous driving. The current supplied to the motor was 15.4% higher for short-distance driving than that of continuous driving.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.10-19
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• 2022

Moving assistant devices for people who are difficult to move are becoming electric-powered and automated. These moving assistant devices are not suitable for moving stairs at which the height between floor surfaces is different because these devices are designed and manufactured for flatland moving. An electric-powered and automated moving assistant device should change direction or stop when it approaches stairs in a movement direction. If the user or automatic control system does not change direction or stop in time, a moving assistant device can roll over or collide with stairs. In this paper, we propose a stairs detection method by using oblique distance measured by one sensor tilted to flatland. The method proposed in this paper can detect upward or downward stairs by using a difference between a predicted and measured oblique distance in considering a tilted angle of a sensor for measuring an oblique distance and installation height of the sensor on a moving object. Before the device enters a stairs region, if our proposed method provides information about detected stairs to a device's controller, the controller can do adequate action to avoid the accident.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.471-478
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• 2004

Electromyogram (EMC) signal generated by voluntary contraction of muscles is often used in a rehabilitation devices such as an upper limb prosthesis because of its distinct output characteristics compared to other bio-signals. This paper proposes an EMG-based human-computer interface (HCI) for the control of the above-elbow prosthesis or the wheelchair. To control such rehabilitation devices, user generates four commands by combining voluntary contraction of two different muscles such as levator scapulae muscles and flexor-extensor carpi ulnaris muscles. The muscle contraction is detected by comparing the mean absolute value of the EMG signal with a preset threshold value. However. since the time difference in muscle firing can occur when the patient tries simultaneous co-contraction of two muscles, it is difficult to determine whether the patient's intention is co-contraction. Hence, the use of the comparison method using a single threshold value is not feasible for recognizing such co-contraction motion. Here, we propose a novel method using double threshold values composed of a primary threshold and an auxiliary threshold. Using the double threshold method, the co-contraction state is easily detected, and diverse interface commands can be used for the EMG-based HCI. The experimental results with real-time EMG processing showed that the double threshold method is feasible for the EMG-based HCI to control the myoelectric prosthetic hand and the powered wheelchair.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Design Studies Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.9.1-9
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• 2001

Concerning the development of suitable healthcare equipment for a aged people at their homes in order to reduce the labor and increase the efficiency in the homehelpers' work, we conducted a study on the actual conditions of healthcare in Kyoto city (healthcare in taking a meal and excretion, moving and taking a bath by using a hand-powered lift, moving by a wheelchair, shower carrier healthcare, assistance in body care and housework) by digital video filming, interviews and layout investigations. On the base of those investigations by using methods for analysis of video pictures, we divided the healthcate work into scenes and e exctracted the main problems in terms of health care equipment, information, environment, healthcare skills, mental burden, social s system, family burden, ete. Furthermore the questionnaire survey of home helpers (18 persons - 50% answers) clarified that more than half of them have lumbago pains and the biggest load in the everyday healthcare c comes from moving the patients or getting them into or out of t the equipment for moving. Finally we considered concrete proposals appropriate for each h healthcare scene image, based on evaluation toward efficiency (design guidelines) for suitable healthcare equipment for aged people at their homes: 1) Design toward a proper posture 2) Design toward self-help possibility 3) Design toward patient active participation 4) Design toward rationality of the whole process 5) Design toward place-appropriate healthcare equipment 6) Design toward healing of mind 7) Good level of healthcare skills 8) Economic, systematic rationality