Journal of Life Support Engineering
Online ISSN : 1884-5827
Print ISSN : 1341-9455
ISSN-L : 1341-9455
Volume 21, Issue 4
Displaying 1-6 of 6 articles from this issue
Research Papers
  • Makoto SUZUKI, Sachiyo KATAOKA, Eiko SHIMOKAWA, Toshin GO
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 142-148
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Recently music therapy is used to improve physical and mental condition of people. Since its evaluation is subjective at this moment, establishnment of objective methnod is needed. In this paper, we describe application of motion analysis of upper limbs to music therapy for handicapped children, and discuss on the desirable evaluation for self-motion during music therapy. To reduce influence on subject, two dimensional analysis using single camera was applied, and color tape-shaped marker was attached to the wrist and shoulder of the subject. We peformed analysis in 7 cases of 3 subjects and calculated the amplitude and frequency of motion of the arm. Results well reflectd subjective comment of the therapists, and showed that motion analysis is effective for evaluation of self-motion in music therapy.
    Download PDF (495K)
  • Takeyoshi UEDA, Yoko AKIYAMA, Yoshinobu IZUMI, Shigehiro NISHIJIMA
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 149-157
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Tripping over which is one of the causes of falling is caused by lack of recognizing obstacles. Walking while performing cognitive and motor tasks (dual task walking) is also associated with increased risk of falling. The purpose of this study is to investigate gait parameters and gaze durations during normal and dual task walking conditions, and suggest a guideline for prevention of falling includmg the remainder system based on risk prediction. Six young adults participated in this study. Gait performance was measured under three different conditions: (1) normal walking (single task); (2) walking with performing mental arithnmetic (nmental arithnmetic task); (3) walking with carrying a cup of water (cup task). These double tasks were performed to imitate mental and physical attention-deficit condition in daily life. The 3D motion of walking was recorded together with eye tracking. From the results of motion analysis, gait velocity, step length and cadence decreased in mental arithmetic task, whereas gait velocity, vertical motion of hip joint and step length decreased in cup task. From the results of eye tracking, gaze duration of area which gives information for safety walking decreased in dual task conditions. In addition, gait parameters and gaze durations in dual task conditions were correlated with sensory scores about difficulty levels of additional tasks and about tripping over in daily life. These results suggested that cognitive and motor tasks during walking may place people at a greater risk of falling.
    Download PDF (544K)
  • Miwa Tsuji, Yuji Higashi, Yoshiaki Iwase, Toshiro Fujimoto, Masaki Sek ...
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 158-163
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    The method of evaluating cognitive function for early diagnosis of elderly patients with dementia needs to be simple and entertaining. ln this study, we designed a new testing system (Computer Based Test; CBT) that could evaluate attention span and memory function using the touch panel tmp ofa personal computer. The activity starts with the numbers from 1 to 36 appearing on the display randomly. The subjects should touch the numbers on the display in order. We carried out the CBT on one group with dementia and one group mentally healthy elderly. Most of the subjects performed the task quickly. However, some subjects were not able to finish the CBT, possibly because of severe cognitive impairment. The difficulty in completing the CBT might be related to the presence of severe dementia. The performing percentage on the CBT directly correlates to scores on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The perform time of elderly subjects with no dementia was significantly shorter than those with dementia. CBT could be effective for testing cognitive impairment in the elderly. It should be necessary to examine the CBT with other neuropsychological examinations and the brain imaging studies.
    Download PDF (504K)
  • Kouki DOI, Narumi OGINO, Tsutomu WADA, Hiroshi FUJIMOTO
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 164-171
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issued guidelines for developers of standards to address the needs of older persons and those with disabilities in 2001 (ISO/IEC Guide 71). Japanese Standards Association and Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have recently been forming several exploratory committees regarding standardization of aocessible design based on the Guide 71. Many Japanese conmpanies are also planning to review their existing product designs for giving consideration to older persons.In doing that, one way that is essential is to investigate relationship between aging and features of human five sense. In the features of five senses, however, we have a shortage of data about tactile senses. In this study, focusing on tactile symbols used on tactile guide nmap, we conducted one experiment to investigate influence of aging on feature of discrimination of tactile symbols. Concretely, we compared feature of discrimination of three tactile symbols between older persons and younger persons. Fifteen persons over age 65 and fifteen younger university students in their 20's participated as subjects in our experiment. They were asked to discriminate the presented tactile symbols one-by-one. The results show that younger persons could discriminate the tactile symbols more correctly and faster than older persons regardless of tactile symbol size. From this study, we could find out one degree of decrease of feature of discrimination of tactile symbols by aging.
    Download PDF (955K)
  • Hiromasa Yamashita, Gontaro Kitazumi, Tetsuko Ishii, Noriyoshi Nakayam ...
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 172-179
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    In recent years, several fetal cardiac malformations such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome have been increasingly treated before birth with gradually improved outcome, although the technique is still invasive. We newly developed an automatic delivery system of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) with real-time 2D-ultrasound imaging analysis to correct cardiac morphologic abnormalities less invasively. The system could be controlled by a computer-based analysis of 2D-ultrasound left ventricular images foroptimal HIFU deliveries. Using beating heart of four anesthetized adult rabbits, the system successfully achieved a non-touch gross ablation of the atrial septum in three animals, and in the other HIFU delivery was slightly mistargeted on the posterior wall of the left atrium with a resultant small transmural opening. We believe that the system will be introduced with pinpoint accuracy to minimally invasive fetal cardiac interventions that have intact or highly restrictive atrial septum.
    Download PDF (894K)
  • Kazuhiro NONAKA, Toshiyuki YAGUCHI, Yasuhiro FUKUI, Akio FUNAKUBO
    2009 Volume 21 Issue 4 Pages 180-187
    Published: 2009
    Released on J-STAGE: April 19, 2012
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Stereoscopic design of artificial scaffolds is required for the construction of microscopical extracellular environments and complex three-dimensional structures. Electrospinning is an effective method used to fabricate nano-microscale fibers that are similar in structure and function to the extracellular matrix. The purpose of this study was to provide high cell adhesion and cell proliferation potential to nano-microscale segmented polyurethane scaffolds. We evaluated 3 kinds of scaffolds including nanofiber, microfiber and mixed scaffolds that were prepared using a electrospinning method. A mixed scaffold was defined as a mixture of nanofibers and microfibers. Fiber diameters of electrospun scaffolds were measured using scanning electron microscopy, and were O.82±0.16 μm for nanofiber, 5.07±O.65 μm for microfiber, and 0.79±0.15 μm and 5.65±O.78 μm for mixed scaffolds. Porosity of electrospun scaffolds was 47.4% for nanofiber, 76.4% for microfiber and 60.9% for mixed scaffolds. Mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts were then used for cell affinity evaluation. NIH3T3 cells proliferated most actively on the microfiber scaffold as evaluated by the MTT assay. ln addition, the microfiber scaffold allowed cells to enter the inside of the fibrous scaffold. Thus, proliferation of NIH3T3 cells appears to rely on the size of porosity rather than fiber diameter. In conclusion, the microfiber scaffold is the most effective design for the construction of three-dimensional tissues.
    Download PDF (980K)
feedback
Top