Development Of Assist Devices Research Articles

An iterative design procedure for the development of assistive devices based on a participatory approach

An iterative design procedure for the development of assistive devices based on a participatory approach

Development of Assistive Devices for Eye Drop Administration in Patients with Cerebral Palsy

Background:Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination, caused by damage to the developing brain. It is one of the most common motor disabilities in childhood, with significant implications for an individual's physical and functional abilities. The severe impact on fine motor control in Cerebral Palsy patients is often most evident when performing actions where precision and accuracy are needed such as applying eye drops. This work addresses the design, development, and deployment of assistive devices for fine motor control of objects.
 Methods:Using 3D modeling and printing, three prototypes were created and assessed for their efficacy in assisting patients with eye drop administration based on the needs and abilities of the individual, considering factors such as ease of use, affordability, and adaptability to different environments. After evaluation, changes were made to each prototype in order to better adapt the design according to the feedback received.
 Results:Three final products were presented for patient review. Two of these addressed deficiencies of eye drop accuracy and the other fine motor control and bottle manipulation. Patients noted in their final evaluation of the assistive devices improvement in ability to manipulate eye drop bottles as well as better ability to aim the eye dropper for application in comparison to previous methods of application.
 Conclusion and Impact:By understanding the challenges faced by the individual and evaluating the need for assistive devices, the fine motor challenges associated with eye drop administration due to cerebral palsy were addressed and three valuable products were created that improved patient autonomy and quality of life. Additionally, these devices could be useful for patients with a variety of motor limitations, enabling self-sufficiency while improving ease and accuracy of administration and minimizing waste.

P1E5-11 Development of Assistive Device to Reduce the Burden When Wearing Radiation Protective Clothing

P1E5-11 Development of Assistive Device to Reduce the Burden When Wearing Radiation Protective Clothing

The Most Important Assistive Devices for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) rely significantly on the use of assistive devices (ADs) to increase independence and enhance participation. This study aimed to determine the most important ADs for persons with SCI living in Switzerland and to identify design features of potentially novel ADs greatly facilitating persons with SCI in performing the tasks of daily life. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze cross-sectional data (N = 1294 participants) from the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study 2017. Open-ended questions regarding the importance of ADs and desirable novel ADs were manually coded and assigned to categories. The results showed that the most important ADs for persons with SCI were a manual wheelchair (61%), an adapted car (46%), and a wheelchair tractor (20%). The importance of ADs varied with gender, age, and SCI severity. While none of the participants indicated a desire for a completely novel AD, over one-fifth described specific design features of novel ADs or adaptions of existing ADs, which were most often related to facilitating transfer (12%), walking support (10%), and facilitating access (9%). These findings have implications for the design and development of ADs to better meet the needs of persons with SCI, improve their quality of life, and promote their independence and participation in daily activities.

Study of speed and angle during safe and comfortable standing of elderly people

Purpose This study aims to obtain the speed and angle during safe and comfortable standing of elderly people. With the advancement of society, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the elderly to sit-to-stand (STS) independently and comfortably in a safe and comfortable manner. Safety is essentially a prerequisite for the elderly to achieve a comfortable STS. The speed, angle and power of the STS process can all affect safe STS. From the standpoint of health-care delivery and administration, comfortable STS can be realized easily by addressing the safety issues during STS. Design/methodology/approach This paper summarizes the research progress on speed and angle during safe and comfortable standing of older people. The authors analyzed the speed and angle of the STS using the Vicon optical gait acquisition system and plantar pressure sensor to find the appropriate angle and speed thresholds. Findings The center of gravity movement is a prerequisite for the elderly to achieve a comfortable STS. The authors found that the standing speed during the STS process should not be higher than 103.8 mm/s so that the elderly can stand comfortably and safely (safe and dangerous speeds are 72.8 mm/s and 125.2 mm/s). The limitations of waist angle, waist angle speed and the acceleration are also obtained. Originality/value This paper analyzes and summarizes the research status of speed and angle during safe and comfortable standing of elderly people, which is essentially a prerequisite for the elderly to achieve a comfortable STS. These results can lay the foundation for the development of assistive devices and related technologies that meet the needs of older adults.

Exploring the value of multi-sensory aids in co-designing assistive home devices for older adults with cognitive impairment

ABSTRACT In this study, we aimed to investigate the benefits of co-design prompts/aids in the development of assistive devices for and with older adults who have cognitive impairment (CI), with the goal of improving their ability to live independently at home. We conducted a series of co-design workshops and utilized eight sets of multi-sensory aids to explore their values and effectiveness in engaging older adults with CI in co-design processes. Our findings revealed that the co-design aids had several benefits, including: (1) increasing the exchange of knowledge and awareness between older adults and designers; (2) eliciting insightful information through multi-sensorial aids, and (3) generating novel assistive design solutions to support seniors’ independent living at home. We discuss our findings in relation to the multi-sensorial attributes of co-design aids, which empower older adults with CI to express their opinions and actively participate in co-designing assistive devices that meet their needs/expectations.

Factors Influencing Utilization of Assistive Devices by Tibetan Seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Based on Research Strategy of Triangulation.

To investigate the current situation of assistive device (AD) usage among seniors in Tibet, China, and explore its influencing factors. A mixed-methods design was used. Cognition, attitude, behavior, and preference toward ADs were assessed by a self-designed questionnaire. Additionally, participants responded to the open-ended questions. Anderson's behavior model analyzed the impacts of the prerequisite factors, enabling factors, and demand factors influencing the utilization of ADs by Tibetan seniors. Of the 211 Tibetan seniors, 149 (70.6%) Tibetan seniors expressed the willingness to utilize ADs. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that one prerequisite factor: age; one enabling factor: care situation, and one demand factor: dysfunctional condition were factors influencing the utilization of ADs. Qualitative comments described: psychological, physical environment, and social support factors were the main influencing factors. This study presents the current situation to utilize ADs by Tibetan seniors on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, incorporates Anderson's behavioral model for quantitative analysis, and combines qualitative research to explore the facilitating and hindering factors, to provide reference and basis for the development of ADs for seniors and policy formulation. The sample size of this study is relatively small and limited to ethnic groups, and we plan to increase the sample size and include more ethnic groups in the future study.

Predictors of Small Bowel Transit Time for Capsule Endoscopy in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The development of assistive devices has allowed for the performance of capsule endoscopy in children. Anticipating the capsule's transit time could affect the efficacy of the investigation and potentially minimize the fasting period. This study determined the predictors of small bowel transit time for small-bowel capsule endoscopy in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. We retrospectively examined children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease who underwent capsule endoscopy by the age 18 at a Japanese tertiary care children's hospital. Small bowel transit time predictors were analyzed using multiple regression with explanatory variables. Overall, 92 patients, aged 1-17 years, with inflammatory bowel disease (63 Crohn's disease and 29 ulcerative colitis cases) were examined for factors affecting small bowel transit time. In the simple regression analysis, diagnosis, age, height, weight, serum albumin, general anesthesia, and small intestine lesions were significantly associated with small bowel transit time. In the multiple regression analyses, serum albumin (partial regression coefficient: -58.9, p=0.008), general anesthesia (partial regression coefficient: 127, p<0.001), and small intestine lesions (partial regression coefficient: 30.1, p=0.037) showed significant associations with small bowel transit time. Hypoalbuminemia, the use of general anesthesia for endoscopic delivery of the capsule, and small intestine lesions appeared to be predictors of prolonged small bowel transit time in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Expecting the finishing time may improve examination with a fasting period reduction, which benefits both patients and caregivers.

Ventricular Assist Device Development: Women and Children Should No Longer Be Last!

Ventricular Assist Device Development: Women and Children Should No Longer Be Last!

Foot function enabled by human walking dynamics.

Bipedal walking, the habitual gait for man, is rather unique in nature and poses particular challenges for balance and propulsion. The characteristic double-humped ground reaction force profile has been widely observed but not put into functional context. We propose a mathematical model that captures the dynamics of the human foot in walking including the characteristic motion of the center of pressure. Using this model, we analyze the functional interplay of all essential biomechanical contributors to foot dynamics in walking. Our results demonstrate the intricate interplay of a self-stabilizing mechanism which allows extending a leg's stance phase while simultaneously powering rapid swing by condensing the essentials of foot dynamics into a reductionist, biomechanical model. A theory is presented which identifies the foot to be the key functional element and which explains the global dynamics of human walking. The provided insights will impact gait therapy and rehabilitation, the development of assistive devices, such as leg prostheses and exoskeletons, and provide guidelines for the design and control of versatile humanoid robots.

Review of Navigation Assistive Tools and Technologies for the Visually Impaired.

The visually impaired suffer greatly while moving from one place to another. They face challenges in going outdoors and in protecting themselves from moving and stationary objects, and they also lack confidence due to restricted mobility. Due to the recent rapid rise in the number of visually impaired persons, the development of assistive devices has emerged as a significant research field. This review study introduces several techniques to help the visually impaired with their mobility and presents the state-of-the-art of recent assistive technologies that facilitate their everyday life. It also analyses comprehensive multiple mobility assistive technologies for indoor and outdoor environments and describes the different location and feedback methods for the visually impaired using assistive tools based on recent technologies. The navigation tools used for the visually impaired are discussed in detail in subsequent sections. Finally, a detailed analysis of various methods is also carried out, with future recommendations.

A Conceptual Model of Experiences With Digital Technologies in Aging in Place: Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-synthesis.

BackgroundOlder adults with chronic illnesses or dependency on care who strive to age in place need support and care depending on their illness. Digital technology has enabled the possibility of supporting older adults in their wishes to age in place. However, current studies have mainly focused on the solitary evaluation of individual technologies or on evaluating technologies for specific illnesses.ObjectiveThis study aimed to synthesize research on the experiences of older people from the Western culture with chronic illnesses or care needs and their families with digital technology for aging in place. From the meta-synthesis, a model was derived that can be useful for the development of assistive devices in old age and that can support health care providers and professionals in their work with affected individuals.MethodsA systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis was performed using an inductive approach, as proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. We performed a systematic literature search in 6 databases from 2000 to 2019, with an update in 2021 and, in addition, conducted a hand search in 2 databases, relevant journals, and reference lists. The results of each study were analyzed using initial and axial coding, followed by theoretical coding. A conceptual model was derived.ResultsA total of 7776 articles were identified. Articles were screened independently by 2 authors based on the eligibility criteria. Finally, of the 7776 studies, 18 (0.23%) were included in the meta-synthesis. The derived conceptual model describes older adults with chronic illnesses or dependency on care and their family members in an individual process of reflection and decision-making, starting with the use of a digital device. Older adults live in times of change. They experience stable and unstable times of illness as they are part of a changing digital world. Hence, older adults and their families consider digital technology a solution to their current situation. As they become familiar with a specific digital technology, they refine their needs and demands, gain confidence in its use, and note its advantages and disadvantages. They weigh hopes, needs, demands, and experiences in a process of reflection to decide on convenience and inconvenience. Independent of their decision, they achieve peace of mind either with or without digital technology. This process can restart repeatedly during the illness trajectory of older adults.ConclusionsThis study promotes a differentiated understanding of older adults’ experiences with digital technology. The conceptual model can be useful for the development of assistive technology in old age. Moreover, it can guide health care professionals in their work with older adults and their families to provide individual counseling to find the appropriate digital technology for their respective situations.

Consumer perceptions and concerns regarding aesthetic attributes of textile-based assistive devices: a qualitative analysis of online retail product reviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to examine consumer perceptions of aesthetic attributes of textile-based assistive devices (ADs) and the language used by consumers to express those perceptions and concerns. Previous investigations of user feedback for ADs have largely focused on functional attributes rather than aesthetics. Design/methodology/approach An interpretivist research philosophy was selected to investigate the meaning behind consumer perceptions and to understand their viewpoints on the aesthetic dimensions of ADs. Using product reviews for two ADs sold on Amazon.com as data, the researchers conducted qualitative data analysis through coding and interpretation of meanings behind reviews to determine consumers’ perceptions related to their ADs. Findings The authors identified consumer concerns linking to aesthetics evidenced as a multisensory integration of visual, tactile and olfactory cues. Consumer-preferred language used to address aesthetic preferences was found to supplement the literature. Aesthetic considerations were found to be impactful on avoiding stigma and encouraging or discouraging continued use of the devices. Practical implications Findings may contribute to the development of textile-based ADs with improved aesthetics to enhance user experiences. New ways of using consumer language to interpret user needs may assist in future research and design practice for consumer products. Originality/value The use of consumer product reviews as a rich source of user data is discussed in this paper. As previous research on assistive technology has largely focused on functionality, results of this analysis offer insight into consumers’ aesthetic judgments related to ADs and bring a sensory perspective to the research area.

Modeling the Influence of the Human Form and Ambulation Context on Moment- and Power-Generating Abilities of Soft Hip-Flexion Exosuits.

Exosuits are close-fitting devices, which are meant to be worn without restricting the motion of the user in the way that a rigid device would. These soft devices augment lower-limb biomechanics by using flexible, joint-spanning linear elements that are actuated to create moments about the spanned joints, effectively using the human body as the mechanical transmission from input to output. Consequently, the size of the moment arm that an exosuit creates about a given joint is dependent on the size and shape of the user, as well as their individualized gait patterns that depend on the terrain they are negotiating. These highly-variable human and environmental factors affect the performance of all soft exosuits (both passive and active), and the ability to quantify these effects would benefit assistive device development. In this work, we present a system for modeling the effects of user body mass index, biological sex, and gait kinematics on task-dependent exosuit performance. We use this system to estimate the performance of a hip-flexion exosuit over a range of body shapes obtained from a database of 3D human surface models, and with gait kinematics from physical experiments. Our results demonstrate that the user's body mass index, sex, and gait kinematics are necessary factors to consider when designing an exosuit for personalized assistance. This type of analysis can allow device developers to account for the unique shape and gait patterns of individuals, either in generating new designs, developing online control algorithms, or in configuring devices for specific individuals.

Effects of Social Implementation Education for Assistive Device Engineers at NIT (KOSEN) through the Development of a Digital Reading Device for the Visually Impaired.

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, device, software, or product system used to enhance, maintain, or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. There are many people with disabilities in the world, including the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and the physically impaired. We established the National KOSEN Support Equipment Development Network (KOSEN-AT) with technical college faculty members 10 years ago to assist these disabled and elderly people. However, Japan is facing the challenge of a rapidly aging society, and the digital transformation of assistive device development for people with disabilities has not been adequately addressed. A major reason for this is the lack of engineers in Japan who can develop products with an understanding of the needs of people with disabilities and the elderly. In this paper, we describe a new initiative of the GEAR 5.0 program, a practical engineer education program that will enable the development of assistive devices for the physically challenged and the elderly, which started in 2020 at the National Institute of Technology in Japan. We believe that it is necessary to educate technicians not only with conventional specialized skills, but also with a full understanding of the concept of disability and basic skills in assistive technology. Next, we developed “Touch Talker”, a digital text reading system for the visually impaired. As a part of the GEAR 5.0 program, we conducted an evaluation experiment in which students from a technical college experienced visual impairment in the same blindfolded environment as visually impaired people to evaluate the developed assistive device. To verify its importance, we developed a digital text-to-speech system for the visually impaired, “Touch Talker”, as part of the GEAR 5.0 program. We thought that by conducting evaluation experiments in the same blindfolded environment as visually impaired people, we could make technical college students aware of the difficulties of operating digital devices due to visual impairment. The results of the experiment showed that the developed “Touch Talker” was effective for both the visually impaired group and the blindfolded technical college student group. The evaluation results also showed a similar trend, confirming that the evaluation by blindfolded technical college students is effective for the development of assistive devices for the visually impaired. In addition, the technical college students who participated in the evaluation experiment were able to understand the difficulty of operating digital devices by experiencing visual impairment. It was suggested that the perspective of the people involved is important in the development of assistive devices.

Assistive Devices: Technology Development for the Visually Impaired

Technology has been contributing significantly to the development of assistive devices for disabled persons (DPs). Many of these devices aim to assist people who are blind or visually impaired, providing them with friendlier ways to interact with their surroundings (obstacles, objects, and navigation). However, the high cost of these devices makes it difficult for DPs to purchase them. The development of an assistive device kit to be used by the visually impaired in controlled environments (indoor) or urban spaces (outdoor) is presented in this work with a didactic and detailed approach. This low-cost kit (USD 50 per device) consists of a Smart Cane, Smart Cap, and Smart Glove. The methodology addressed aims to support and encourage the reproduction, customization, and manufacture of new assistive devices with low cost and wide applicability. The devices are functional, benefit usability, and, due to the characteristics of the project and the materials used in their construction, do not impact the ergonomics of the visually impaired or disabled person who may use these devices. The devices that integrate the assistive kit can be used independently or combined. In addition to having detection, fall-control, navigation, and real-time tracking functions, they are independent of additional local infrastructure for their use.

Does Cup-Grip Type Affect Tremor among People with Essential Tremor?

Essential tremor (ET) is a movement disorder that may cause functional disability in daily activities, such as drinking from a cup or drawing. This study aims to characterize effects of varied cup-grip types and measured axes on the actual performance of people with ET and find correlations between cup-grip type and measured axes, and spiral drawing measures. Participants (20 with ET and 18 controls) held a cup of water in a steady position in three grip types and drew a spiral. The cup acceleration was measured by the cup triaxial accelerometer, analyzed in X, Y and Z axes (directions); deviation of the measured acceleration from the desired steady position acceleration was computed. Significant group differences were found for outcome measures in all grip types. Among participants with ET, significantly higher measured values were found in the cup’s horizontal plane (X and Y axes) compared to the vertical direction (Z axis) and for on-the-handle versus around-the-cup grips in the X and Y axes. Significant correlations were found between this grip’s measures and spiral-drawing actual performance measures, indicating the measurement axis and grip type may affect actual performance. These findings may support the future development of assistive devices for tremor suppression and personalized supportive therapy.

A Study on Appearance Acceptance Appraisal of Elderly Mobility Assists

Given the low birth rate and the rapid aging of the population in Taiwan, the issues such as long-term care, high dependency ratio, and labor shortage are no longer avertible. The mobility assists shall play a significant role in helping the elder community to live independently with dignity, and the appearance of the mobility assists should make them feel comfortable as well. Hence this study recommends the development of assistive devices, barrier-free environments, and other solutions that allows the elderly to remain independent. This study explores the influencing factors of the willingness to use exoskeleton mobility assists on the psychological aspects. The purpose of this study is to explore the key factors of the willingness to use Wearable Robotic Exoskeleton. By sorting the style of the assistive devices based on various appreciation levels, the semantic difference scale was used to investigate the influence on the appearance of the assistive device on the wearing acceptance. Lastly, this study aims to acquire the factors that affect the style of the model and the influencing factors on the wearing acceptance, providing a reference for future assistive device design and developers to increase user’s willingness to accept the product.

Human biomechanics perspective on robotics for gait assistance: challenges and potential solutions.

Technological advancements in robotic devices have the potential to transform human mobility through gait assistance. However, the integration of physical hardware and software control algorithms with users to assist with impaired gait poses several challenges, such as allowing the user to adopt a variety of gaits and the process for evaluating the efficacy and performance of these assistive devices. Here, I discuss some of the challenges in the development of assistive devices and the use of biomechanical concepts and tools for control and test validation. Several potential solutions are proposed through the case study of one project that aimed to provide gait assistance for individuals with a spinal cord injury. Further challenges and future directions are discussed, with emphasis that diverse perspectives and approaches in gait assistance will accelerate engineering solutions towards regaining mobility.

Assistive devices for the people with disabilities enabled by triboelectric nanogenerators

According to data released by the World Health Organization, more than one billion people in the world experience some form of disability, in which they face all kinds of inconveniences. As a practical tool to help people with disabilities participate in social life, assistive devices for the people with disabilities play an important role in their daily lives. As an effective electromechanical signal conversion technology, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been successfully applied to various types of biosensors. This review aims to provide an overview of the development of assistive devices for the people with disabilities based on TENG with five categories: hearing, vision, pronunciation, gustation and limb/joint, according to the classification method of the impaired part. Meanwhile, a human–computer interaction system for the people with disabilities is also investigated. Finally, the prospect and potential challenges of this new field are discussed.