Mari Kurata, Ming Jiang, Kotaro Hoshiba, Yusuke Sugahara, Takahiro Uehara, Masato Kawabata, Ken Harada, Yukio Takeda
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Transferring a patient from one place to another is one of the most strenuous works in nursing care. To address this issue, we proposed a concept for a lifting assistance device that uses two cables to perform operations such as translation, rotation, and stay. It facilitates direct touch between the caregiver and the care receiver, allowing intuitive adjustments of position and posture based on the caregiver's intention, detected through variations in cable tension.
Methods: To investigate the effectiveness of this concept, lifting experiments using a fabricated prototype were conducted. Twelve subjects, including four physical therapists (PTs) and eight subjects having no transfer experience, acted as caregivers, and a dummy was used as the care receiver.
Results: Results show that regardless of the transfer experience, the caregiver's intention detection and adjustment of the care receiver's position and posture were successfully achieved with an accuracy of over 70%.
Discussion: Survey feedback collected after the lifting experiments confirmed that utilizing direct touch between the caregiver and the care receiver was highly valued by all subjects, with a 5-point Likert scale rating both PTs (average score: 4.8 points) and non-experienced subjects (average score: 4.3 points).
期刊介绍:
The translation of new discoveries in medicine to clinical routine has never been easy. During the second half of the last century, thanks to the progress in chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology, we have seen the development and the application of a large number of drugs and devices aimed at the treatment of symptoms, blocking unwanted pathways and, in the case of infectious diseases, fighting the micro-organisms responsible. However, we are facing, today, a dramatic change in the therapeutic approach to pathologies and diseases. Indeed, the challenge of the present and the next decade is to fully restore the physiological status of the diseased organism and to completely regenerate tissue and organs when they are so seriously affected that treatments cannot be limited to the repression of symptoms or to the repair of damage. This is being made possible thanks to the major developments made in basic cell and molecular biology, including stem cell science, growth factor delivery, gene isolation and transfection, the advances in bioengineering and nanotechnology, including development of new biomaterials, biofabrication technologies and use of bioreactors, and the big improvements in diagnostic tools and imaging of cells, tissues and organs.
In today`s world, an enhancement of communication between multidisciplinary experts, together with the promotion of joint projects and close collaborations among scientists, engineers, industry people, regulatory agencies and physicians are absolute requirements for the success of any attempt to develop and clinically apply a new biological therapy or an innovative device involving the collective use of biomaterials, cells and/or bioactive molecules. “Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology” aspires to be a forum for all people involved in the process by bridging the gap too often existing between a discovery in the basic sciences and its clinical application.