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This paper presents a new identification method for the biomechanical parameters of human tissues for the purpose of improving the accuracy of dynamic organ simulation. We describe the formulation of the method, and also design a robotic system to implement the method using a robotic probe, a medical imaging device, and a numerical simulator for the finite element analysis (FEA). We carried out an...
In this paper, we discuss the design of an adaptive control system for robot-assisted surgery with haptic feedback. Through a haptic device, the surgeon teleoperates the medical instrument in free space, fixed on a remote robot or in contact. In free space, the surgeon feels the motion of the robot. In the present paper, we evaluated the performance of the controller on viscoelastic tissue, modeled...
Radio frequency ablation (RFA) for lung cancer has increasingly been used over the past few years because RFA is minimally invasive treatment for patients. As a feature of RFA for the lung cancer, lung has the air having low thermal conductivity. Therefore, RFA for lung has the advantage that only the tumor is coagulated because heating area is confined to the immediate vicinity of the heating point...
We have been developing a new vehicle, “Tread-Walk 2 (TW-2)”, which supports walking for the elderly. TW-2 is controlled by the natural walking movement. In our previous work, we tried to estimate the user's anteroposterior force from the motor current value without a force sensor in order to possible to have a more intuitive operability of TW-2. But, a user of this vehicle experienced some discomfort...
Gait phase based body weight support can be an effective method for patients who possess different ability in each leg and who require different unloading forces between the affected and unaffected sides. To realize this concept, we proposed a gait phase estimation method from pelvic motion focusing on the feature of its quasi-periodic movement at constant walking speeds. In this study, we analyzed...
Medical technology has advanced with the introduction of robot technology, which facilitates some traditional medical treatments that previously were very difficult. However, at present, surgical robots are used in limited medical domains because these robots are designed using only data obtained from adult patients and are not suitable for targets having different properties, such as children. Therefore,...
Bone cancer metastasis patients feel severe pain while performing rollover movement. We have been developing a robotic trunk orthosis to support the rollover movement in bed for bone cancer metastasis patients. In this support system, the myoelectric signal is used to recognize the start timing of the rollover movement. However, the characteristics of the myoelectric signal can change easily from...
The objective of this study is to develop a 3D ankle-foot model containing toe expression for designing an AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) with a training function. Two experiments were conducted to (1) show the influence of toes by comparing walking with and without an AFO, and (2) clarify the functions of toes during walking by correlating the activity of the major muscles controlling the ankle and the...
Recently, robotics systems are focused to assist in Single Port Endoscopic Surgery (SPS). However, the existing system required a manual operation of vision and viewpoint, hindering the surgical task. We proposed a surgical endoscopic robot for SPS with dynamic vision control, the endoscopic view being manipulated by a master controller. The prototype robot consists of a manipulator for vision control,...
This paper addresses a diagnostic palpation system based on the measurement of nonlinear elasticity. An indentation probe is used to press against breast tissue. Then, the measured reaction force is used to estimate the parameters of nonlinear elasticity, which enables the identification of tissue type, such as fat, muscle, mammary gland or tumor. Here, we present the basic concept of our study and...
As the number of breast cancer patients increases, there is an increasing need for accurate non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of breast cancer. It is possible that the nonlinear elastic properties of soft tissues of the breast can be used as a basis for diagnostic methods. Therefore, we have proposed a robotic palpation system for diagnosis based on the nonlinear elastic properties of tissue...
Patients with diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need to improve their thorax mobility. Thoracic ROM is one of the simplest and most useful indexes to evaluate the respiratory function. In this paper, we have proposed the prototype of a simple thoracic ROM measurement system with real-time visual bio-feedback in the chest expansion test. In this system, the thoracic ROM...
A number of upper limb amputees experience difficulty in picking up a food bowl during a meal, because grip force estimation using EMG currently does not provide sufficient accuracy for this task. In this paper, we propose a grip force estimation system that allows amputees to pick up a bowl with a prosthetic hand by using the properties of muscle stiffness in addition to EMG. We have chosen a tray...
Walking is a fundamental human ability necessary for everyday life. We have developed an omnidirectional walker (ODW) for walking support to those who have walking disabilities. It is necessary for the ODW to know which direction the user is intending to go during walking support. A novel interface is proposed for the ODW to recognize directional intention according to the user's forearm pressures...
We have been developing the new personal mobility aid, “Tread-Walk 1,” which is controlled by the driver's walking pace and amplifies walking velocity. The Tread-Walk 1 not only assists mobility but also helps the elderly maintain their physical abilities. However, the turning movement of the Tread-Walk is likely to be unstable, because the Tread-Walk is controlled by walking. In this paper, we focus...
A walking rehabilitation system is proposed which includes both muscle strength enhancement by walking rehabilitation machines and neurological rehabilitation by imaginary walking. In a previous study, we have demonstrated that the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in motor area during imaginary walking was higher than that during real walking by means of fNIRS (functional Near-InfraRed...
An omni-directional walker (ODW) has been developed which can support people with walking disabilities to perform indoor walking. During walking support, the walker can identify the user's directional intention according to the user's forearm pressures and support the user to go in the intended direction. In this paper, an adaptive control method is proposed to control the ODW's movement toward the...
The clinical target of this study is intratracheal balloon occlusion from minimally invasive fetal surgery for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). The target for the surgery is prenatal temporary tracheal occlusion which enlarges the fetal lungs, and this procedure is promising for severe cases. A balloon is supposed to be inserted for tracheal occlusion using the manipulator. We propose a novel...
We describe a palpation-based needle insertion method for diagnostic biopsy and radiofrequency ablation treatment of a breast tumor. The mechanical palpation probe locates cancerous tissue from ultrasound imaging information and reduces tissue displacement during needle insertion by pressing the breast tissue. We examined the insertion accuracy of this method and compared palpation-based needle insertion...
Purpose Minimally invasive fetal surgery is expected to improve therapeutic outcomes, and surgical robots are expected to aid the dexterous manipulation of fragile fetal tissues. Although robots are currently used for surgery on soft tissues, practical information concerning the viscoelastic characteristics of fetal tissues is lacking. Hence, the mechanical properties of fetal tissues should be quantified...
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