• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2019

The paper proposes a stiffness measurement device composed of a measurement part including six indenters and a fixing part including four fixtures. The device is able to make simultaneously measurements of the stiffness of human arm. The six indenters make use of both position and force control schemes sequentially whenever needed. In addition, the loadcells and the digital encoders are attached to the indenters and electric motors, respectively, so that the data can be provided in real time. On the end of the indenter, two-axis potentiometer is attached in order to measure the angle difference between the applied force axis and the axis normal to the skin of human arm, and to convert the force measured on the loadcell into the actual applied force to skin. For this purpose, the mapping between the voltage output and the angle of potentiometer was obtained by fitting it for each axis. Ultimately, the measurement device was able to measure the stiffnesses of six regions of human arm.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2020

Background Ultrasonic dissection devices cause less thermal damage to the surrounding tissue than monopolar electrosurgical devices. We compared the effects of using an ultrasonic dissection device or an electrocautery device during prosthetic breast reconstruction on seroma development and short-term postoperative complications. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction following mastectomy between March 2017 and September 2018. Mastectomy was performed by general surgeons and reconstruction by plastic surgeons. From March 2017 to January 2018, a monopolar electrosurgical device was used, and an ultrasonic dissection device was used thereafter. The other surgical methods were the same in both groups. Results The incidence of seroma was lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (11 [17.2%] vs. 18 [31.0%]; P=0.090). The duration of surgery, total drainage volume, duration of drainage, overall complication rate, surgical site infection rate, and flap necrosis rate were comparable between the groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of seroma development was significantly lower in the ultrasonic dissection device group than in the electrocautery group (odds ratio for electrocautery, 3.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.242-8.516; P=0.016). Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the incidence of seroma can be reduced slightly by using an ultrasonic dissection device for prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. However, further randomized controlled studies are required to verify our results and to assess the cost-effectiveness of this technique.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2024

Lower limb amputees are increasing due to various reasons. It is difficult for lower limb amputees to walk without an assistive device such as a prosthetic leg. In this paper, an electronically controlled knee-type prosthetic leg with a 4-bar linkage structure for lower limb amputees was developed. The knee-type prosthetic leg has a 4-bar linkage structure and assists walking by using an integrated drive module. The torque is 90 Nm, the rotation speed is up to 120 deg, and it weight 1.9 kg, so it is lighter than a commercial prosthetic leg, so it can be used for a long time because there is less fatigue when walking. An integrated control board was developed by applying various sensors and microprocessor. The motor drive and encoder are built into the integrated drive module. The integrated control board and integrated drive module communicate using CAN. When a lower limb amputee wears a knee-type prosthetic leg and walks, it shows a shape similar to the swing phase graph of a normal people, and it is possible to walk naturally while walking.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

$\cdot$ Difficult & Challenging Fracture $\cdot$ Most Treated Nonoperative $\cdot$ ORIF in Young Patients with Unstable Fractures $\cdot$ Fixed Angles Device is Promising $\cdot$ Prosthetic Arthroplasty in Elderly $\cdot$ Loss of Motion Very Common

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1995

We have developed a monoleaflet polymer valve as an inexpensive and viable alternative, especially for short-term use in the ventricular assist device or total artificial heart. The frame and leaflet of the polymer valve were made from polyurethane. To evaluate the hemodynamic performance of the polymer valve a comparative study of flow dynamics past a polymer valve and a St. Jude Medicals prosthetic valve under physiological pulsatile flow conditions in vitro was made. Comparisons between the valves were made on the transvalvular pressure drop, regurgitation volume and maximum valve opening area. The polymer valve showed smaller regurgitation volllme and transvalvular pressure drop compared to the mechanical valve at higher heart rate. The results showed that the functional characteristics of the polymer valve compared favorably with those of the mechanical valve at higher heart rate.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2018

PURPOSE. Fractures, occlusal adjustments, or marginal corrections after removing excess composite cements result in rough surfaces of all-ceramic FPDs. These have to be polished to prevent damage of the surrounding tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the roughness of zirconia, silicate-ceramic, and composite after polish with different systems for intraoral use. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Each set of 50 plates was made of zirconia, silicate-ceramic, and composite. All plates were ground automatically and were divided into 15 groups according to the treatment. Groups Zgrit, Sgrit, and Cgrit received no further treatment. Groups Zlab and Slab received glaze-baking, and group Clab was polished with a polishing device. In the experimental groups Zv, Sv, Cv, Zk, Sk, Ck, Zb, Sb, and Cb, the specimens were polished with ceramic-polishing systems "v", "k", and "b" for intraoral use. Roughness was measured using profilometry. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and $Scheff{\acute{e}}$-procedure with the level of significance set at P=.05. RESULTS. All systems reduced the roughness of zirconia, but the differences from the controls Zgrit and Zlab were not statistically significant (P>.907). Roughness of silicate ceramic was reduced only in group Sv, but it did not differ significantly from both controls (P>.580). Groups Cv, Ck, and Cb had a significantly rougher surface than that of group Clab (P<.003). CONCLUSION. Ceramic materials can be polished with the tested systems. Polishing of interface areas between ceramic and composite material should be performed with polishing systems for zirconia first, followed by systems for veneering materials and for composite materials.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2014

Objective: The use of chemicals for building prosthetic sockets present the possibility of being hazardous and unsafe due to off-gassing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if freshly made materials used in prosthetic sockets causes off-gassing that would penetrate the skin and cause damage to the kidneys or blood. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this research, the off-gassing effects during the initial curing process of styrene monomer, vinyl ester resin, epoxy methacrylate resin, benzene-1, 3-dimethaneamine, trimethylhexanedlamine, and paratertiarybutylphenol were analyzed. Acid detection strips were placed inside newly fabricated mock-prosthetic sockets and left overnight in a closed environment to find out if acid was present in the invisible fumes. The plastic was worn by 9 subjects and urinalysis was made after 48 hours to test for any kidney or blood toxicity of the resins. Results: After wearing the plastic cuff for 48 hours, the ratio of protein to creatinine in the urine was raised to an abnormal level in five out of nine subjects. Four out of the nine subjects showed normal protein to creatinine ratios after wearing the device. The results showed that damage to the kidney occurred from wearing the resins after curing in half of the subjects. Conclusions: It is very important to conduct patient intakes which includes the assessment of renal function. Off-gassing in vented chambers may be needed to protect both prosthetists and patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

Background Prosthetic hands with a myoelectric interface have recently received interest within the broader category of hand prostheses, but their high cost is a major barrier to use. Modern three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has enabled more widespread development and cost-effectiveness in the field of prostheses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a low-cost 3D-printed myoelectric-interface prosthetic hand on patients' daily life. Methods A prospective review of all upper-arm transradial amputation amputees who used 3D-printed myoelectric interface prostheses (Mark V) between January 2016 and August 2017 was conducted. The functional outcomes of prosthesis usage over a 3-month follow-up period were measured using a validated method (Orthotics Prosthetics User Survey-Upper Extremity Functional Status [OPUS-UEFS]). In addition, the correlation between the length of the amputated radius and changes in OPUS-UEFS scores was analyzed. Results Ten patients were included in the study. After use of the 3D-printed myoelectric single electromyography channel prosthesis for 3 months, the average OPUS-UEFS score significantly increased from 45.50 to 60.10. The Spearman correlation coefficient (r) of the correlation between radius length and OPUS-UEFS at the 3rd month of prosthetic use was 0.815. Conclusions This low-cost 3D-printed myoelectric-interface prosthetic hand with a single reliable myoelectrical signal shows the potential to positively impact amputees' quality of life through daily usage. The emergence of a low-cost 3D-printed myoelectric prosthesis could lead to new market trends, with such a device gaining popularity via reduced production costs and increased market demand.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2013

This paper propose a surface EMG signal based gait phase recognition method that selects features and channels adaptively. The proposed method can be used to control powered artificial prosthetic for lower limb amputees and can reduce overhead in real-time pattern recognition by selecting adaptive channels and features in an embedded device. The method can enhance the classification accuracy by adaptively selecting channels and features based on sensitivity and specificity of each subject because EMG signal patterns may vary according to subject's locomotion convention. In the experiments, we found that the muscles with highest recognition rate are different between human subjects. The results also show that the average accuracy of the proposed method is about 91% whereas those of existing methods using all channels and/or features is about 50%. Therefore we assure that sEMG signal based gait phase recognition using small number of adaptive muscles and corresponding features can be applied to control powered artificial prosthetic for lower limb amputees.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2022

The prosthetic leg is a device that performs walking instead of a amputated lower limb, and require a change in locomotion mode by providing the user's intention to respond to a discontinuous locomotion environment. Research has been conducted to detect the users' intentions through biomechanical features inside the socket that directly contacts the cut site in demand for natural locomotion mode changes without external control equipment. However, there is still a need for a sensor system that is suitable for the internal environment of the main body and socket of the cut site. Accordingly, this paper proposed a film-type sensor system that is suitable for the main body characteristics of the cut site, is not affected by the temperature and humidity conditions inside the socket, and is easy to manufacture in various sizes. The proposed sensor is manufactured base on Velostat film and takes into account the pressure measurement characteristics that vary with size. Through the experiment, the change in the internal pressure of the socket due to the intentional posture performance of the wearer was measured, and the possibility of detecting the intention to change the locomotion mode was confirmed.