Journal of Life Support Engineering
Online ISSN : 1884-5827
Print ISSN : 1341-9455
ISSN-L : 1341-9455
Volume 26, Issue 4
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
Preface
Research Papers
  • Toshitaka Yasuda, Hiroshi Mizunuma
    2014 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 118-125
    Published: December 30, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: March 07, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    At mealtimes, handicapped persons who have disabilities that affect the nervous system or the skeletal muscle system may have difficulty in avoiding spills. It is necessary for the handicapped persons to develop an active spoon, which controls itself intelligently and supports the user's meal. In this study, we herein develop a wireless angle-measurement spoon and investigate the relationship between spoon actions (scooping, bringing, etc.) and spoon angles (the rotational and azimuthal angles). The relationship between the angles predicted using the angle-measurement spoon and the measured angles of a moving spoon obtained by three-dimensional (3D) image processing were investigated using the angle-measurement spoon to which a Bluetooth communication module and a three-axis acceleration sensor were mounted, and a peripheral interface controller (PIC) microcomputer was used to program an algorithm for the prediction of the rotational and azimuthal angles. The correlation factors R for the azimuthal and rotational angles were 0.97. Acceleration induced by eating motion had a few influences on the predicted angles. Thus, the developed wireless angle-measurement spoon is adequate for measurement of the rotational and azimuthal spoon angles during a meal. It is necessary for a posture control of the active spoon to detect the each spoon actions and to control avoidance spilling.
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  • Shinji Gotoh, Takemi Matsui, Masahisa Kojima, Koji Yamashita, Yoshio S ...
    2014 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 126-131
    Published: December 30, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: March 07, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    It is particularly important to detect early stage Sleep Apnea Syndrome(SAS) in patients. Conventional screening method for SAS measures peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) using pulse oximeter. The SpO2 sensor needs to be attached to a fingertip and the main unit is mounted to the wrist. We have developed a non-contact Doppler radar respirometry method, where our Doppler radars are located beneath the bed mattress and are not burdensome to the subjects. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Doppler radar respirometry, we have conducted clinical test to make a comparison between the proposed non-contact method and conventional SpO2 sensor. The twenty subjects were suspected to have SAS( male 17, female 3, age 40 to 60, average 54.6 ± 5.3 years old). We tested whether if we can determine SpO2 reduction less than 90% using the radar respirometry method. The proposed method detected 308 SpO2 reductions out of 358 events which is about 86%. Our method appears promising. However, the radar measurement sometimes detected 4 or 5 times many events than SpO2 measurement. Authors are continuing the studies to find the reason why radar detects so many events using Polysomnography (PSG) simultaneously.
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  • Kosei Mikami, Hiroo Hachisu
    2014 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 132-141
    Published: December 30, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: March 07, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    We started a study for developing technologies that can easily and accurately estimate deep body temperature for patients with cervical spinal cord injuries who have severe temperature regulation disorder. As a first step, the relation between oral temperature (alternative temperature of deep body temperature) and skin temperature for patients with cervical spinal cord injuries was analyzed by using data from experiments in artificial climate chambers. Among objective patients with cervical spinal cord injuries, eight patients were exposed to temperatures in the room at 23℃ 25℃ and 27℃, four patients at 19℃, 21℃, 23℃, 25℃, 27℃ and 29℃, seven patients at 21℃, 25℃ and 29℃, and one patient at 21℃, 24℃ and 27℃. As a result of the analysis, a significant positive correlation was recognized between oral temperature and skin temperature on the forehead and back of the hand for 15 patients equivalent to 75% of 20 patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (P‹0.01). It was therefore indicated that the condition of oral temperature for patients with cervical spinal cord injuries can be estimated from skin temperature on the forehead and back of the hand.
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  • Taku Sahashi, Akira Sahashi, Hisashi Uchiyama, Ichiro Fukumoto
    2014 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 142-149
    Published: December 30, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: March 07, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    This paper presents the results of off-road ability tests of Archimedes' screw-drive undercarriage device that is equipped with 1/6 sized "Brooder Unit" and its evaluation. Our "Robot-in-Robot-style Rescue Robot" is constructed by "Carrier Unit" and "Brooder Unit". The Carrier Unit goes through under rubble. The Brooder Unit rescue the victim trapped in the rubble, and he or she is held in the container inside of the Brooder Unit.
    In order to investigate the optimum shape of Archimedes' screw rod to climb through 3 kinds of off-roads (gravel, rubble model and trodden soil), we measured travel distance and speed alter 4 to 6 turns of aluminum screw blade wound around the rod in each fields.
    As a result, 5 turns screw rods shown the longest travelling distance, but these did not have any significant differences. And it has been suggested that the number of turns of the screw has tenuous connection to the Off-road travelling distance. However, it has been also found that the traverse (=parallel) travelling has high roadability. There is a need to re-design the undercarriage of the Brooder Unit.
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