When a human grasps an object with a hand, the thumbnail plays an important role. The purpose of this research was to measure thumbnail strain when grasping an object (cylinder, sphere, and flat plate) and to determine whether asymmetric strain distribution occurs in the radioulnar direction. In addition, we examined the thumbnail surface (central, radial, and ulnar parts). Each axis of the biaxial strain gauges was aligned to the axial and transverse directions, respectively. When object size was small, the distribution of strain in the axial and transverse directions was asymmetric; however, when object size became large, the asymmetric ulnar strain, but not the radial strain. When grasping a small object, the ulnar surface of the thumb pad is an important contact surface. This was the factor in asymmetric strain distribution occurring in the radioulnar direction. When grasping a large object, the contact surface moves to the center of the fingerpad; however, it was assumed that the asymmetric strain distribution occurred because of the asymmetric nature of the internal structure of the thumb.

View full abstract

Following natural disasters, accidents, and shocking incidents, some children experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A respiration control method that relaxes the body and mind may efficiently improve PTSD symptoms. Therefore, we developed a stuffed toy using two airbags to measure the respiration wave and lead a child’s respiration using the up-and-down movement of the toy's abdomen to help them relax. We then performed an evaluation experiment. Participants in the experiment consisted of 12 healthy girls aged 7-10 years old. The results showed that the respiration wave could be measured by the sensing device, and the child’s respiration could be led by the moving device. The effect of the developed stuffed toy on a child’s relaxation should be evaluated by further study.

View full abstract

For “preparation”, which is the informed consent from children in hospital, nurses and doctors should know the anxiety, stress, and pain of children and they must give effective therapies and treatments to them. However, since children are not good at expressing their emotions and feelings in hospital, the therapies and treatments are often based only on the observation of children's actions and behaviors by nurses. Therefore, we have developed preparation tools which can measure children's emotions. In the present study, we developed a pain evaluation tool and confirmed its effectiveness and usefulness by using VAS, magnitude estimation method, and AHP.

View full abstract

Difficulty using eye drop containers is a factor affecting treatment adherence among the elderly. However, although considerable attention has been given to investigating the effects of eye drop medications, less attention has been paid to usability of the eye drop containers. Therefore, in this study, we interviewed elderly patients who use eye drops for treatment purposes about difficulties they experience in physically self-applying the eye drops and the usability of eye drop containers, and then used the text-mining method to extract the factors they mentioned concerning the usability of eye drop containers. Eight factors were extracted concerning usability of the eye drop containers: ease of opening the cap; “hardness-softness” of the container; size of the container; shape of the container (“flat” or “curved”); ease of removing the plastic film from the container; one squeeze/action produces one drop; appropriateness of the amount of each drop; and the time between the squeeze and the drop reaching the eye. More subjects who were over 75 years of age mentioned softness of the containers. This result suggests that containers which deliver only one drop at steady velocity after each squeeze are desirable.

View full abstract