XXII International Conference on Mechanics in Medicine and Biology - Abstracts Book

This book contain the abstracts presented the XXII ICMMB, held in Bologna in September 2022. The abstracts are divided following the sessions scheduled during the conference

A denoising algorithm for surface EMG decomposition

The goal of the present thesis was to investigate a novel motor unit potential train (MUPT) editing routine, based on decreasing the variability in shape (variance ratio, VR) of the MUP ensemble. Decomposed sEMG data from 20 participants at 60% MVC of wrist flexion was used. There were two levels of denoising (relaxed and strict) criteria for removing discharge times associated with waveforms that did not decrease the VR and increase its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the MUP ensemble. The peak-to-peak amplitude and the duration between the positive and negative peaks for the MUP template were dependent on the level of denoising (p’s 0.05). The same was true between denoising criteria (p>0.05). Editing the MUPT based on MUP shape resulted in significant differences in measures extracted from the MUP template, with trivial difference between the standard error of estimate for mean IDIs between the complete and denoised MUPTs

Smart Sensors for Healthcare and Medical Applications

This book focuses on new sensing technologies, measurement techniques, and their applications in medicine and healthcare. Specifically, the book briefly describes the potential of smart sensors in the aforementioned applications, collecting 24 articles selected and published in the Special Issue “Smart Sensors for Healthcare and Medical Applications”. We proposed this topic, being aware of the pivotal role that smart sensors can play in the improvement of healthcare services in both acute and chronic conditions as well as in prevention for a healthy life and active aging. The articles selected in this book cover a variety of topics related to the design, validation, and application of smart sensors to healthcare

Biomechatronics: Harmonizing Mechatronic Systems with Human Beings

This eBook provides a comprehensive treatise on modern biomechatronic systems centred around human applications. A particular emphasis is given to exoskeleton designs for assistance and training with advanced interfaces in human-machine interaction. Some of these designs are validated with experimental results which the reader will find very informative as building-blocks for designing such systems. This eBook will be ideally suited to those researching in biomechatronic area with bio-feedback applications or those who are involved in high-end research on manmachine interfaces. This may also serve as a textbook for biomechatronic design at post-graduate level

A neuroprothesis for tremor management

Tremor is the most common movement disorder, affecting ∼ 15 % of people over 50 years old according to some estimates. It appears due to a number of syndromes, being essential tremor and Parkinson's disease the most prevalent among them. None of these conditions is fully understood. Tremor is currently treated through drugs or neurosurgery, but unfortunately, it is not managed effectively in ∼25 % of the patients. Therefore, it constitutes a major cause of loss of independence and quality of life. Various alternative approaches for tremor management are reported in the literature. Among them, those devices that rely on the application of forces to the tremulous segments show a considerable potential. A number of prototypes that exploit this principle are available, spanning fixed devices and orthoses. However, none of them has fulfilled user's expectation for continuous use during daily living. This thesis presents the development and validation of a neuroprosthesis for tremor management. A neuroprosthesis is a system that restores or compensates for a neurological function that is lost. In this case, the neuroprosthesis aims at compensating the functional disability caused by the tremor. To this end, it applies forces to the tremulous limb through the control of muscle contraction, which is modulated according to the characteristics of the tremor. The concept design envisions the device as a textile that is worn on the affected limb, thus meeting the usability requirements defined by the patients. The development of the neuroprosthesis comprised the following tasks: 1. The development of a concept design of the neuroprosthesis, which incorporates state of the art knowledge on tremor, and user's needs. 2. The design and validation of a cognitive interface that parameterizes the tremor in functional contexts. This interface provides the information that the neuroprosthesis uses for tremor suppression. Two versions are developed: a multimodal interface that integrates the recordings of the whole neuromusculoskeletal system, and an interface incorporating only wearable movement sensors. The latter is intended for the functional validation of the neuroprosthesis, while the former is a proof of concept of an optimal interface for this type of applications. 3. The development of a novel approach for tremor suppression through transcutaneous neurostimulation. The approach relies on the modulation of muscle cocontraction as a means of attenuating the tremor without the need of conventional actuators. The experimental validation here provided demonstrates the feasibility and interest of the approach. In parallel with the validation of the neuroprosthesis, I performed a detailed study on the physiology of motoneurons in tremor, given the lack of a complete description of its behavior. The outcome of this study contributes to the interpretation of the results obtained with the neuroprosthesis, and opens new research lines, both related to alternative interventions and basic neuroscience. In summary, the results here presented demonstrate that tremor may be accurately parameterized while the patient performs functional activities, and that this information may be exploited to drive a neuroprosthesis for tremor management. Furthermore, the novel approach for tremor suppression presented in this dissertation constitutes a potential approach for treating upper limb tremor, either alone, or as a complement to pharmacotherapy. These results encourage the validation of the neuroprosthesis in a large cohort of patients, in order to enable its translation to the market. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------El temblor es el trastorno del movimiento más común, afectando, según algunas estimaciones, al ∼15 % de la población de más de 50 años. Existen diversos "síndromes" que causan temblor, siendo el temblor esencial y la enfermedad de Parkinson los que presentan mayor prevalencia. Además, cabe resaltar que no existe una descripción completa de ninguno de ellos. En la actualidad el temblor se trata mediante una serie de fármacos o neurocirugía. A pesar de ello, el ∼ 25 % de los pacientes sufren problemas funcionales debido a su condición. Por tanto, es evidente que el temblor constituye una de las principales causas de dependencia y pérdida de calidad de vida. Realizando una revisión de las publicaciones científicas sobre el temblor, se observa que se ha propuesto un considerable número de tratamientos alternativos. Entre ellos destacan los dispositivos que se fundamentan en la aplicación de fuerzas sobre los segmentos afectados por el temblor, de los que ya se ha evaluado una serie de prototipos. Estos abarcan desde dispositivos fijados a otras estructuras hasta ortesis. Sin embargo, ninguno de ellos satisface las expectativas de los usuarios para su uso durante el día a día. Esta tesis presenta el diseño y validación de una neruoprótesis para el tratamiento del temblor. Una neuroprótesis es un sistema que reemplaza o compensa una función neurológica perdida. En este caso, la neuroprótesis tiene como objetivo compensar la discapacidad motora causada por el temblor. Para ello aplica fuerzas al miembro afectado a través del control del nivel de contracción muscular, que se modula según las características del temblor. El diseño conceptual contempla al dispositivo como un textil que se viste en el brazo afectado, satisfaciendo los requisitos de usabilidad definidos por los pacientes. El desarrollo de la neuroprótesis abarcó las siguientes tareas: 1. El desarrollo del diseño conceptual de la neuroprótesis, que incorpora el conocimiento actual sobre el temblor, y las necesidades de los usuarios. 2. El diseño y validación de una interfaz cognitiva que parametriza el temblor durante tareas funcionales. La información obtenida con esta interfaz es usada por la neuroprótesis para modular la corriente aplicada mediante técnicas de neuroestimulación. Se desarrollan dos versiones de la interfaz cognitiva: una interfaz multimodal que integra información de todo el sistema neuromusculoesquelético, y una interfaz que implementa únicamente sensores vestibles de movimiento. La segunda interfaz fue la que se usó durante la validación funcional de la neuroprótesis, mientras que la primera es una prueba de concepto de una interfaz óptima para este tipo de aplicaciones. 3. El desarrollo de una nueva aproximación para la supresión del temblor mediante neuroestimulación transcutánea. Dicha aproximación se fundamenta en la modulación del grado de co-contracción de los músculos afectados como forma de atenuar el temblor, sin necesidad de usar actuadores convencionales. La evaluación experimental sirvió para demostrar la viabilidad e interés de la intervención. En paralelo a la validación de la neuroprótesis, llevé a cabo un estudio detallado de la fisiología de las motoneuronas en el caso del temblor, dado que no existe una descripción del funcionamiento de las mismas en el caso de este trastorno. Este estudio sirve para ayudar a la interpretación de los resultados de la neuroprótesis, y para abrir una serie de líneas futuras de investigación, tanto sobre nuevas intervenciones para el temblor, como sobre neurociencia básica. En resumen, los resultados que se presentan en esta tesis demuestran que es posible parametrizar de una forma precisa el temblor durante la realización de tareas funcionales, y que esta información sirve para controlar una neuroprótesis para el tratamiento del temblor. Además, la nueva aproximación para la compensación del temblor que se presenta tiene el potencial de convertirse en un tratamiento alternativo para el temblor de miembro superior, ya sea de forma independiente o como complemento a los fármacos. Estos resultados alientan la validación de la neuroprótesis en una cohorte grande de pacientes, con el objetivo de facilitar su transferencia al mercado

Computational Intelligence in Electromyography Analysis

Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG may be used clinically for the diagnosis of neuromuscular problems and for assessing biomechanical and motor control deficits and other functional disorders. Furthermore, it can be used as a control signal for interfacing with orthotic and/or prosthetic devices or other rehabilitation assists. This book presents an updated overview of signal processing applications and recent developments in EMG from a number of diverse aspects and various applications in clinical and experimental research. It will provide readers with a detailed introduction to EMG signal processing techniques and applications, while presenting several new results and explanation of existing algorithms. This book is organized into 18 chapters, covering the current theoretical and practical approaches of EMG research

Proceedings XXII Congresso SIAMOC 2022

Il congresso annuale della Società Italiana di Analisi del Movimento in Clinica dà l’occasione a tutti i professionisti, dell’ambito clinico e ingegneristico, di incontrarsi, presentare le proprie ricerche e rimanere aggiornati sulle più recenti innovazioni nell’ambito dell’applicazione clinica dei metodi di analisi del movimento, al fine di promuoverne lo studio e le applicazioni cliniche per migliorare la valutazione dei disordini motori, aumentare l’efficacia dei trattamenti attraverso l’analisi quantitativa dei dati e una più focalizzata pianificazione dei trattamenti, ed inoltre per quantificare i risultati delle terapie correnti