State of the Art of Brain Function Detection Technologies in Robot-Assisted Lower Limb Rehabilitation.

With an aging population, the prevalence of neurological disorders is increasing, leading to a rise in lower limb movement disorders and, in turn, a growing need for rehabilitation training. Previous neuroimaging studies have shown a growing scientific interest in the study of brain mechanisms in robot-assisted lower limb rehabilitation (RALLR). This review aimed to determine differences in neural activity patterns during different RALLR tasks and the impact on neurofunctional plasticity.

Comparison of four machine learning algorithms for a pre-impact fall detection system.

In recent years, real-time health monitoring using wearable sensors has been an active area of research. This paper presents an efficient and low-cost fall detection system based on a pair of shoes equipped with inertial sensors and plantar pressure sensors. In addition, four machine learning algorithms (KNN, SVM, RF, and BP neural network) are compared in terms of their detection performance and suitability for pre-impact fall detection.

Identifying the changes in the cortical activity of various brain regions for different balance tasks: A review.

Background: Balance support is critical to a person's overall function and health. Previous neuroimaging studies have shown that cortical structures play an essential role in postural control.

Objective: This review aims to identify differences in the pattern of neural activity induced by balance tasks with different balance control requirements.

Sensors and algorithms for locomotion intention detection of lower limb exoskeletons.

In recent years, lower limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have received much attention due to the potential to help people with paraplegia regain the ability of upright-legged locomotion. However, one major hindrance to converting prototypes into actual products is the lack of a balance recovery function. Locomotion intentions can be the first step for balance assistance.

The identification of interacting brain networks during robot-assisted training with multimodal stimulation.

Robot-assisted rehabilitation training is an effective way to assist rehabilitation therapy. So far, various robotic devices have been developed for automatic training of central nervous system following injury. Multimodal stimulation such as visual and auditory stimulus and even virtual reality technology were usually introduced in these robotic devices to improve the effect of rehabilitation training.

A Center of Mass Estimation and Control Strategy for Body-Weight-Support Treadmill Training.

Walking disorders are common in post-stroke. Body weight support (BWS) systems have been proposed and proven to enhance gait training systems for recovering in individuals with hemiplegia. However, the fixed weight support and walking speed increase the risk of falling and decrease the active participation of the subjects.

Dynamic Causal Modeling on the Identification of Interacting Networks in the Brain: A Systematic Review.

Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) has long been used to characterize effective connectivity within networks of distributed neuronal responses. Previous reviews have highlighted the understanding of the conceptual basis behind DCM and its variants from different aspects. However, no detailed summary or classification research on the task-related effective connectivity of various brain regions has been made formally available so far, and there is also a lack of application analysis of DCM for hemodynamic and electrophysiological measurements.

Design and Preliminary Validation of a Lightweight Powered Exoskeleton During Level Walking for Persons With Paraplegia.

Upright-legged locomotion is a desirable ability for people with paraplegia. This paper introduces a newly developed lightweight powered exoskeleton (LIPE) for level walking and posture transfer of people with paraplegia using a user-centered design concept, which integrates the requirements of practical use, mechanical structure, and control system. The LIPE was evaluated with two subjects through several experimental tasks including kinematics and dynamics analysis in a local hospital.

Design and Preliminary Validation of Individual Customized Insole for Adults with Flexible Flatfeet Based on the Plantar Pressure Redistribution.

Flatfoot is a common musculoskeletal deformity. One of the most effective treatments is to wear individually customized plantar pressure-based insoles to help users change the abnormally distributed pressure on the pelma. However, most previous studies were divided only into several plantar areas without detailed plantar characteristic analysis.

Purchase and use of home healthcare devices for the elderly: a pilot study in Shanghai, China.

Background: In China, home-based healthcare/rehabilitation has always been advocated by the government and is the most prevalent healthcare pattern. However, there is currently no data on how many each product has been purchased, and it is not clear what factors are associated with their use. The research aims to clarify the current practices and attitudes of the elderly on such matters, and further analyze their influence factors.

Reprocessing and reuse of single-use medical devices in China: a pilot survey.

Background: In China, reprocessing and reuse of single-use medical devices (SUDs) are banned. However, the actual situation has not been reported so far. The study aims to clarify the perceptions and concerns of various sectors of the community on the reuse of SUDs, and whether such practice exists.

Facility Layout Planning with SHELL and Fuzzy AHP Method Based on Human Reliability for Operating Theatre.

A well-design facility layout planning refers to the reduction of the operation cost in the manufacturing and service industry. This work consists of reliability analysis of facility layout for an operating theatre; it aims at proposing a new evaluation approach, which integrated the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and human reliability tool, for optimization of facility layout design with safety and human factors in an operating theatre. Firstly, the systematic layout planning is used to design the layout schemes on the basis of field investigations.

Design and Development of a Portable Exoskeleton for Hand Rehabilitation.

Improvement in hand function to promote functional recovery is one of the major goals of stroke rehabilitation. This paper introduces a newly developed exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation with a user-centered design concept, which integrates the requirements of practical use, mechanical structure, and control system. The paper also evaluated the function with two prototypes in a local hospital.

[Study on the center-driven multiple degrees of freedom upper limb rehabilitation training robot].

With the aging of the society, the number of stroke patients has been increasing year by year. Compared with the traditional rehabilitation therapy, the application of upper limb rehabilitation robot has higher efficiency and better rehabilitation effect, and has become an important development direction in the field of rehabilitation. In view of the current development status and the deficiency of upper limb rehabilitation robot system, combined with the development trend of all kinds of products of the upper limb rehabilitation robot, this paper designed a center-driven upper limb rehabilitation training robot for cable transmission which can help the patients complete 6 degrees of freedom (3 are driven, 3 are underactuated) training.

A novel method for designing and optimizing the layout of facilities in bathroom for the elderly in home-based rehabilitation.

Purpose: The home-based rehabilitation of elderly patients improves their autonomy, independence and reintegration into society. Hence, a suitable environment plays an important role in rehabilitation, as do different assistance technologies. The majority of accidents at home involving elderly people occur in the bathroom.