Feedback Device Research Articles

Geriatric Friendly Medicine Reminder Device Powered by Visual, Voice and IOT Assistance System

Any medical care must include regular consumption of the correct dose at the precise time. Because they are more likely to have chronic conditions, older persons consume more medications than younger adults. The majority of medications are used for years, while only a few are used for a brief period. Based on many research investigations, it has been discovered that on average, older individuals take 3 to 5 prescription drugs, and that owing to fading memory impairments, it becomes difficult for them to remember the dosage time and quantity. The dose is effective if it is given at the precise time and in the correct quantity; otherwise, the patient's health would deteriorate. This study proposes a medicine reminder device based on an algorithm that addresses and eliminates difficulties experienced by older adults, such as remembering time, name, quantity or amount of dose, with some specific description, feedback and assistance mechanisms. The device employs a system clock for reminders based on the time inputted, a television display for presenting medicine and meal images, and a speaker for voice help. Finally, a rack of devices is used to pick up the right dose, and a trigger feedback device is employed to notify the website that the drug has been taken.

Individuals with and without Visual Impairments Use a Force Feedback Device to Identify the Friction and Hardness of Haptic Surfaces

The general purpose of this study is to promote access to haptic virtual environments. Using a haptic device, people with and without visual impairments (VI) are able to feel different textures and compare these textures based on different surface properties, i.e., friction and hardness. The objectives of this study were to examine the following: (a) whether the variables of friction and hardness were identifiable through the Touch device (Phantom Omni) and could therefore function as 3D haptic variables; (b) if there were differences between people with VI and sighted individuals in terms of their performance; (c) the differences that should exist between the values of each variable so that the virtual surfaces could be identified as different to each other; and (d) if the individual characteristics of participants have an impact on their performance. The results showed that it is necessary to use surfaces which are differentiated based on the degree of friction and hardness because the haptic properties of a virtual object are then better perceived. Individuals with VI need more time and more effort to understand friction and hardness, respectively. With the motivation of increasing access to object perception for people with VI in a virtual environment, accessibility advisors and experts can extract useful information for the development of functional and efficient 3D objects for haptic perception.

Perception Accuracy of a Multi-Channel Tactile Feedback System for Assistive Technology.

Assistive technology uses multi-modal feedback devices, focusing on the visual, auditory, and haptic modalities. Tactile devices provide additional information via touch sense. Perception accuracy of vibrations depends on the spectral and temporal attributes of the signal, as well as on the body parts they are attached to. The widespread use of AR/VR devices, wearables, and gaming interfaces requires information about the usability of feedback devices. This paper presents results of an experiment using an 8-channel tactile feedback system with vibrators placed on the wrists, arms, ankles, and forehead. Different vibration patterns were designed and presented using sinusoidal frequency bursts on 2, 4, and 8 channels. In total, 27 subjects reported their sensation formally and informally on questionnaires. Results indicate that 2 and 4 channels could be used simultaneously with high accuracy, and the transducers' optimal placement (best sensitivity) is on the wrists, followed by the ankles. Arm and head positions were inferior and generally inadequate for signal presentation. For optimal performance, signal length should exceed 500 ms. Furthermore, the amplitude level and temporal pattern of the presented signals have to be used for carrying information rather than the frequency of the vibration.

The use of monitoring and feedback devices in driving: An assessment of acceptability and its key determinants

Recent technological advancements allow monitoring of drivers’ behaviour and offer the opportunity for providing feedback. While this approach has been shown to have a positive effect on driver behaviour, whether it is accepted by drivers has not yet been extensively investigated. This questionnaire study examined the opinions of a sample of 628 Dutch drivers on the potential use of a monitoring and feedback system. The focus was on (1) whether drivers would be interested in being assessed, (2) whether data collection (i.e., monitoring) could be used for this purpose, and (3) which features the potential system must have in order to get accepted. The results showed that participants were moderately enthusiastic about the prospect of receiving monitoring feedback: on average, their opinion was between neutral and positive. Professional drivers expressed slightly more positive opinions, but no demographic variable was strongly associated with acceptability. Many drivers rated themselves as good drivers already and had low sensitivity to data collection, i.e., participants indicated being used to data collection online. If they were to use a monitoring and feedback device, participants indicated a preference for data on speed and forward-facing video footage and a preference for personalisation. The use of a monitoring and feedback system can be considered as a trade-off between sharing personal data and receiving support to improve driving skills. Based on the participants’ reported online behaviour, it appears that the perceived costs associated with sharing data are small. The potential benefits of driver monitoring and feedback, however, are not salient to the participants, which may limit the use of such a system on the roads.

Photo-responsive liquid crystal network-based material with adaptive modulus for haptic application

Artificially created tactile feedback is in high demand due to fast developments in robotics, remote control in medicine, virtual reality, and smart electronics. Despite significant progress, high-quality haptic feedback devices remain challenging mainly due to the lack of stability and spatiotemporal resolution. In this work, we address these issues by the application of dynamic coatings, based on photo-responsive liquid crystal network (LCN) material. This material adapts upon an external stimulus (UV light with a power intensity of 50–90 mW/cm2) that changes its elastic properties (87% decrease of the modulus for 90 mW/cm2 power intensity of 365 nm UV light). Localized change of adaptive modulus with very high resolution (2 μm) was demonstrated.

Coherence and stochastic resonance in the fractional-birhythmic self-sustained system subjected to fractional time-delay feedback and Lévy noise

This paper treats the nonlinear dynamics of an enzymatic-substrate modeled by the fractional multi-limit cycles Van der Pol oscillator with fractional time-delay feedback device subjected to Lévy noise perturbation and periodic excitation. The fractional electronic circuit has been used to model the system and the oscillations are described by a nonlinear fractional differential equation and show a new bifurcation parameter. The robustness of the stochastic resonance is examined by the use of standard measures within a continuous and a two-state description of the system. Firstly, the electronic circuit with the fractional-order operator and fractional delay feedback is used as a prototype of a fractional self-sustained system. Secondly, based on the minimum mean square error principle, the fractional derivative term is found to be equivalent to the linear combination of the damping force and restoring force, and the original system is further simplified to an equivalent integer order system. The stochastic bifurcation of a bistable Van der Pol system with fractional-order and time delay without and under Lévy noise excitation is studied where we show the considerable effect of these parameters on birhythmic region, escape time and energy barriers. Additionally, we study the multi-effects of fractional order and fractional time-delay feedback in the self-sustained system driven by Lévy noise. The effects of fractional-order parameter, time delay feedback parameter on the autocorrelation function, power spectral density and signal-to-noise-ratio used in this investigation are shown to be maximized for an appropriate choice of the Lévy noise intensity and for a convenient choice of fractional-order and time delay feedback parameters. For a choice of a control parameter in the birhythmic region, by varying the other parameters of the system like fractional and time delay parameters, it appears that, for a fixed value of skewness Lévy noise parameter, the initial selection of the attractor seems to have a large effect on the resonance and coherence.

Simulation of deformation on 3D organ models using haptic device

Günümüzde, bilgisayar grafiklerindeki gelişmeler sayesinde, birçok nesnenin asıllarına uygun şekilde sanal ortamda 3B modellenebilmesinde kayda değer gelişmeler elde edilmektedir. Tıp eğitiminde geliştirilen simülatörler ile organlar üzerinde doktor adaylarının çeşitli senaryolar kullanarak sayısız tekrar yapmalarına olanak sağlanarak pratik kazanmaları gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, insan vücudu içerisinde bulunan safra, böbrek ve dalak gibi yumuşak dokuya sahip organların deformasyon algoritmaları ile yüzeysel benzetimlerinin yapılabilmesi için bir simülatör yazılım platformu geliştirilmiştir. Geliştirilen simülatör üzerinde, tasarlanan dokunsal cihaz donanımı ile anatomik yapılarına uygun şekilde 3B olarak modellenen organlar üzerine dokunulduğunda ya da çekme kuvveti uyguladığında model üzerinde gerçekleşen deformasyonun gerçekleşmesi sayesinde geri bildirim sağlanmıştır. Çalışmada, deformasyonun alınabilmesi için kütle yay ve moleküler modelleme metotları kullanılmıştır. Ek olarak, dokunsal cihaz ile modellenmiş örgü yapısı içerisinde hangi noktaya temas edildiğinin tespiti için çarpışma tespiti yöntemi tercih edilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında geliştirilen simülatör üzerindeki tüm benzetimler, OpenGL kütüphanesi içerisinde bulunan fonksiyonlar kullanılarak gerçek zamanlı olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ayrıca simülatörden toplamda 11 acemi ve uzman kullanıcı için simülasyon geri bildirimleri toplanmış ve her bir yumuşak doku için kullanıcıların elde ettikleri operasyon süreleri karşılaştırılmıştır. Yürütülen deneysel çalışmalar ve istatiksel analizler neticesinde, geliştirilen yazılım platformunun temas tespiti, tepki kuvveti, gerçek zamanlı benzetim ve deformasyon sonuçlarının görsel olarak ve hız açısından istenilen seviyede olduğu görülmüştür.

Optimal Control for a Modified Bouc-Wen Model in a Magnetorheological Fluid Master Robot

Magnetorheological fluid (MRF) clutch is a kind of passive actuator with advantages, like fast response and low inertia. However, due to the complex natural property, it is difficult to model such devices accurately, and this leads to degraded performance. In this letter, a steady-state model and transient model are combined to describe the MRF clutch. In the steady-state part, hysteresis phenomenon is accurately depicted by a modified Bouc-Wen model and a polynomial. In the transient part, a 1st-order system is applied to express the dynamic response. Model predictive control (MPC) is applied to enhances the response time and alleviate resulting hysteresis distortion of the clutch. Two experiments were implemented to verify the effectiveness of the design. The first reveals the high precision and response speed of the clutch, based on the proposed model and MPC. It shows that the average model error and settling time are improved to be less than 1 Nmm and 20 ms respectively. The second confirms the effectiveness of MPC in alleviating hysteresis distortion, and the minor errors prove the accuracy of proposed model even with multi-frequency commands. Thus, the proposed model and MPC are adequate for promoting the model accuracy and response time of the MRF clutch based force feedback devices.

Quality of chest compressions during prehospital resuscitation phase from scene arrival to ambulance transport in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

AimPrehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed from scene arrival to hospital arrival. The diverse prehospital resuscitation phases can affect the quality of chest compressions. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes in chest compression quality during prehospital resuscitation. MethodsAdult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated without prehospital return of spontaneous circulation were included in Seoul between July 2020 and September 2021. The chest compressions quality was assessed using a real-time chest compression feedback device. The prehospital phase was divided by key events during the prehospital resuscitation timeline (phase 1: first 2 min after initiation of chest compression, phase 2: from the end of phase 1 to 1 min prior to ambulance departure; phase 3: from 1 min before to 1 min after ambulance departure; phase 4: from the end of phase 3 to hospital arrival). The main outcome was no-flow fraction. The no-flow fraction between prehospital phases was compared using repeated-measure analysis of variance. ResultsIn total, 788 patients were included. Mean no-flow fraction was the highest in phase 3 (phase 1: 11.3% ± 13.8, phase 2: 19.3% ± 12.3, phase 3: 33.0% ± 34.9, phase 4: 18.7% ± 23.7, p < 0.001). The mean number of total no-flow events per minute was also the highest in phase 3. The minute-by-minute analysis showed that the no-flow fraction rapidly increased before ambulance departure and decreased during ambulance transport. ConclusionDynamic changes in chest compression quality were observed during prehospital resuscitation phase. The no-flow fraction was the highest from 1 min before to 1 min after ambulance departure.

Assessment of feedback devices for performance monitoring in master’s swimmers

ABSTRACT In recent years, new portable performance monitoring devices have appeared in swimming. The study aims to establish the current validity of the FORM Goggles, Finis Stopwatch, and the Garmin Swim 2 Watch, for the partial and total times and stroke count (experiment 1; n = 17) and to compare the effect of the devices considered as valid in monitoring the pace of master swimmers (experiment 2; n = 10). The FORM Goggles and the Finis Stopwatch showed good level of agreement and accuracy (Bland Altman plots showed homoscedasticity and in most cases Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient were>0.95, and the error magnitude<0.2 seconds). These systems allow better pace control compared to Garmin Swim 2, with a difference between target and actual time below 1.5 %. However, the results showed that the concurrent feedback provided by FORM Smart Swim Goggles could offer greater advantages than the traditional feedback provided via the Finis Stopwatch at the end of each series, as swimmers were closer to the target time (p < 0.05). In conclusion both the FORM Goggles and the Finis Stopwatch, showed a good validity and could serve for performance monitoring in swimming, allowing the Form Goggles better pace control.

Haptically enhanced VR surgical training system

Abstract This paper proposes a cost-effective VR surgical training system which computes haptic feedback forces when a VR surgical tool interacts with virtual tissues. A 3 degrees of freedom (DoF) reverse linear Delta mechanism is used to render computed force feedback data which are then received by the fingertip of the operator. Additionally, the moving plate allows rendering of surface properties and lateral forces occurring due to a tumor with different stiffness parameters below the skin surface. Controllers are designed and implemented to regulate the haptic feedback device’s end-effector position and applied force. The virtual surgical instruments are controlled by a 7DoF serial link manipulator which captures the operator’s movement by the utilization of various sensors. The controllers to regulate forces as well as the positions are evaluated with the proposed haptic feedback device. The mean RMSE of the force and mean error of the angular displacement are 0.0707 N and 1.95°, respectively. The presented system can provide multisensory feedback including visual, auditory and haptic feedback interactively depending on the operator’s input in the presented VR surgical training system.

The relationship between upper extremity functional performance and anthropometric features and the quality criteria of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

This study aims to examine the effect of upper extremity performance using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality criteria according to the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015, including chest compression rate, depth, and recoil. This simulation-based study included 105 paramedic students (43 males, 62 females; median age: 19 years; range, 18 to 20 years) attending a two-year paramedic program between February 2018 and April 2018. The CKCUEST was used to determine upper extremity performance scores, including the touch number, normalized, and power score of the paramedic students. A TrueCPR® feedback device was used to measure CPR quality criteria throughout the study. The characteristics of the providers, such as height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and fat-free mass were also analyzed. Adequate compression depth had a positive correlation with body fat-free mass (r=0.397, p<0.001), power score (r=0.326, p=0.001), height (r=0.326, p=0.001), weight (r=0.314, p=0.001), and BMI (r=0.204, p=0.037). Full chest recoil had a negative correlation with the power score (r=-0.249, p=0.010) and height (r=-0.219, p=0.025). None of the variables were significantly different between the groups with and without the correct compression rate. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for power score and correct compression depth as 100%, the area under the curve was 0.845 (p<0.001). The power score combination of upper extremity functionality and the rescuer's weight is the main factor affecting chest compression depth. However, this score is negatively correlated with full chest recoil.

The Effect of Using a Real-Time Feedback Device on the Quality of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a standard procedure delivered to patients experiencing cardiac arrest. CPR quality is associated with the rate of survival of patients with cardiac arrest. To determine the efficacy of a real-time feedback device in terms of improving CPR performance quality and CPR self-efficacy in nursing staffs. A total of 72 nursing staffs were enrolled in this randomized trial (intervention n = 38, control n = 34). A real-time feedback device was used to monitor CPR quality and provide real-time feedback. The participants performed CPR on a manikin with (intervention) or without (control) feedback for 5 cycles (about 2 minutes). Data on participant demographic characteristics and CPR self-efficacy scores were also collected. The intervention group performed better in terms of the compression adequate rate ratio (76.3 vs. 52.3, p < .001), mean depth (52.8 mm vs. 50.6 mm, p = .003), adequate depth ratio (65.6 vs. 55.1, p = .014), quality of CPR performance score (44.1 vs. 26.1, p < .001), proportion of excellent CPR (60.5 vs. 26.5, p < .001), and CPR self-efficacy score (40.22 vs. 36.71, p < .001). However, no significant differences between the two groups were found in terms of proportion of complete chest decompression and chest compression fracture (p >.05). Using a real-time feedback device may not only significantly improve the quality of CPR performed on a manikin but also improve self-confidence to implement CPR correctly in practice.

Effect of real-time feedback device compared to use or non-use of a checklist performance aid on post-training performance and retention of infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A randomized simulation-based trial

IntroductionThis study aims to determine the best method for achieving optimal performance of pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during simulation-based training, whether with or without a performance aid. MethodsIn this randomized controlled study, 46 participants performed simulated CPR in pairs on a Resusci Baby QCPR™ mannequin, repeated after four weeks. All participants performed the first simulation without performance aids. For the second simulation, they were randomly assigned to one of three groups with stratification based on status: throughout CPR, Group A (n = 16) was the control group and did not use a performance aid; Group B (n = 16) used the CPR checklist; Group C (n = 14) used real-time visualization of their CPR activity on a feedback device. Overall performance was assessed using the QCPR™. ResultsAll groups demonstrated improved performance on the second simulation (p < 0.01). Use of the feedback device resulted in better CPR performance than use of the CPR checklist (p = 0.02) or no performance aid (p = 0.04). Additionally, participants thought that the QCPR™ could effectively improve their technical competences. ConclusionsPerformance aid based on continuous feedback is helpful in the learning process. The use of the QCPR™, a real-time feedback device, improved the quality of resuscitation during infant CPR simulation-based training.

The association between CPR quality of In-hospital resuscitation and sex: A hypothesis generating, prospective observational study

IntroductionThe relationship between sex and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes remains unclear. Particularly, questions remain regarding the potential contribution of unmeasured confounders. We aimed to examine the differences in the quality of chest compression delivered to men and women. MethodsProspective study of observational data recorded during consecutive resuscitations occurring in a single tertiary center (Feb-1-2015 to Dec-31-2018) with real-time follow-up to hospital discharge. The studied variables included time in CPR, no-flow-time and fraction, compression rate and depth and release velocity. The primary study endpoint was the unadjusted association between patient sex and the chest compression quality (depth and rate). The secondary endpoint was the association between the various components of chest compression quality, sex, and survival to hospital discharge/neurologically intact survival. ResultsOverall 260 in-hospital resuscitations (57.7% male patients) were included. Among these 100 (38.5%) achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 35 (13.5%) survived to hospital discharge. Female patients were significantly older. Ischemic heart disease and ventricular arrhythmias were more prevalent among males. Compression depth was greater in female vs male patients (54.9 ± 11.3 vs 51.7 ± 10.9 mm; p = 0.024). Other CPR quality-metrics were similar. The rates of ROSC, survival to hospital discharge and neurologically intact survival did not differ between males and females. Univariate analysis revealed no association between sex, quality metrics and outcomes. DiscussionWomen received deeper chest compressions during in-hospital CPR. Our findings require corroboration in larger cohorts but nonetheless underscore the need to maintain high-quality CPR in all patients using real-time feedback devices. Future studies should also include data on ventilation rates and volumes which may contribute to survival outcomes.

Scalp-Targeted Haptic Proprioception for Upper-Limb Prosthetics.

In this paper, a head-worn wearable haptic feedback device (WHFD) is developed to communicate sensory information from an upper-limb prosthesis. A 14-week, 6-stage, between-subjects study was created to investigate the learning trajectory as participants were stimulated with haptic patterns conveying joint proprioception. Healthy participants were divided into three groups, with each group using a different haptic stimulation methods. 18 participants completed the study within 7-14 weekly sessions, demonstrating that participants were, in fact, learning to interpret the haptic information. Participants in the spatiotemporal stimulation group had some advantages in interpreting the haptic information over the others; however, each stimulation method has advantages that can be exploited and hybridized for future models of the WHFD. Overall, the proposed WHFD is an effective non-invasive device that can promote greater sensory awareness for wearers of prostheses.

Facial Expressions-Controlled Flight Game With Haptic Feedback for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Most stroke patients suffer from a combination of motor and sensory dysfunction and central facial paralysis. Specific rehabilitation training is required to restore those functions. Current research focuses on developing stimulating and straightforward rehabilitation training processes so that patients adhere to the training at home after hospital release. This study proposes enhancing patients enthusiasm to participate in facial muscle exercises and improving their postural perception and balance by controlling virtual objects to complete assigned tasks in virtual reality games using different facial expressions with the assistance of haptic feedback. The different rehabilitation exercises for motor, sensory, and facial dysfunctions were combined in one virtual reality game for the first time. The proposed haptic feedback device was modeled, simulated, and characterized. A user study was conducted to validate the proposed system. The experiment result shows that all the designed functions of the comprehensive stroke rehabilitation virtual reality game can be achieved. The added haptic feedback enhances the performance of the aircraft control with facial expressions by lowering the trajectory deviation by 22.57%. This implies that the proposed game may improve users' performance, thus attracting them to conduct more training.

Flexure Variable Stiffness Actuators

Series elastic actuators (SEAs) and variable elastic actuators (VSAs) provide shock resistance, energy storage, and stable force control. However, they usually require extra springs, mechanical parts, and transmissions, increasing size, weight, number of moving parts, and reducing the mechanical efficiency. In particular, this mechanical complexity is one of the significant challenges in the design of wearable and scalable force feedback devices. In this article, flexure variable stiffness actuators (F‐VSAs), which combine kinematic transmission, elasticity, and stiffness modulation via a network of folding patterns using flexure hinges, are presented. Thus, F‐VSAs allow the creation of robots benefiting from the advantages of SEAs and VSAs without hindering form factor or mechanical efficiency. To illustrate the design strategy of F‐VSAs, a 4‐design‐of‐freedom (DoF) robot that provides stiffness and force output is presented. An analytical model that estimates the inherent stiffness and the end‐effector force output for any given configuration of the folding pattern is proposed. Finally, stiffness modulation and force control of the robot are implemented and good agreement with the predictions from the model is observed. Thus, this novel design strategy allows the creation of compact and scalable robots with stiffness and force output for wearable, rehabilitation, and haptic applications.

Control Strategy of Master-Slave Manipulator Based on Force Feedback for Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities

To improve operation and reduce labor intensity during the process of decommissioning of nuclear facilities, a master-slave manipulation robot system based on force feedback for decommissioning of nuclear facilities is proposed, which is divided into three parts: master hand, wall-through pipe, and slave hand. The structure of master hand is designed according to the human-computer interaction design to add the perception of force information based on position perception. The master-slave manipulation system adopts a force-position hybrid control strategy; the position and force are sent to master and slave hand to discover telepresence operation. Incremental position control method realizes the workspace mapping between the master and the slave manipulator to improve the accuracy of the following performance. The novel zero-length spring compensation is designed to recognize the total gravity compensation of the force feedback device. Finally, the relative experiments have verified the work effectiveness of the master-slave manipulation system.

A novel virtual cutting method for deformable objects using high-order elements combined with mesh optimisation.

Virtual cutting of deformable objects plays an important role in many applications, especially in digital medicine, such as soft tissue cutting in virtual surgery training system. We developed a novel virtual cutting algorithm, combined with mesh optimisation. A new local mesh processing method is used to control the number and quality of the elements created during the cutting process. At the same time, high-order tetrahedral elements are used to fit the cutting surface and reduce the mesh size. In this paper, single cut, multiple cut and intersecting cut are performed on the mesh model, combined with a force feedback device, and the result obtained is that the visual feedback is higher than 30Hz, and the tactile feedback is 800∼1000Hz. Experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively eliminate low-quality elements and control the mesh size, thereby ensuring real-time simulation.