A sensor to measure hardness of human tissue

An innovative sensor is developed to evaluate hardness of human soft tissue. This sensor provides easy and accurate hardness measurements based on a unique sensing mechanism. Hardness of soft materials is often evaluated by using international standards of hardness such as IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) and durometer hardness. However the conventional scales based on these standards requires a stable pressuring condition to the target. Therefore, these scales cannot be used for targets that are in motion or targets that require quick measurement such as human muscles during exercises and a liver exposed at a surgery. The prototyped sensor has a compact body and allows continuous hardness measurement with an arbitrary pressing force. This sensor always monitors the force exerted on the sensor and automatically eliminates the unintended effect from the fluctuation of the pressing force. Therefore, continuous time series of the hardness data is real-timely available. This paper reports results of a test as well as the detail of the mechanism and data processing technique of the latest version of the sensor.2006 5th IEEE Conference on Sensors : Daegu, Korea, 2006.10.22-2006.10.2

Input Devices to Support Communication for People with Serious Disability

Persons suffering from intractable disease like ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and spinal cord injury often show deterioration in muscular function. Some of these patients are obliged to use artificial respirators and cannot have verbal communication with others. In order to support their communication, there exist various input devices like touch sensor input devices, capacitance sensor input devices and also vision input devices. In addition, computer controlled environment is helpful for such patients. By developing proper computer controlled environment which is controlled by the proper input device, even the patient with serious disability can live sound life. Due to the infrared network system, the computer controlled environment could be well organized.9th IEEE International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Sensor Networks, MSN 2013; Dalian; China; 11 December 2013 through 13 December 201

Development of an effective training machine using muscle activity information

In the field of providing safe and effective equipment for physical training appropriate adjustment of loading levels for the targeted users is very important. Most training machines to date offer only fixed and coarse load adjustment. This paper details an advanced leg muscle training machine that has an intelligent load control system. The load control is provided by monitoring the user\u27s muscular condition by means of a muscle stiffness sensor as well as pressure being exerted on the machine. The loading can then be adapted continuously to optimally suit the user\u27s needs. The prototype demonstrated that the proposed machine has excellent load control abilities providing effective and safe training using dynamic load control and automatic restriction of loading levels based on the user\u27s muscle contraction levels.IECON 2006 - 32nd Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics : Paris, France, 2006.11.6-2006.11.1

Computerized Environment for People with Serious Disability

Persons suffering from intractable disease like ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and spinal cord injured present symptoms of muscular deteriorations. These patients are often obliged to use artificial respirators in the case the breathing action becomes impossible. It should be noticed that using the artificial respirator means that uttering voice is impossible. In order to support their daily lives, computerized environment is proposed, where various home electric appliances can be controlled by computer. Furthermore, the computer has original vision input device. A distinct advantage of this computerized environment is that the most of the home electric appliances needs no to be connected by the cables.5th International Conference on Intelligent Networks and Intelligent Systems, ICINIS 2012;Tianjin;1 November 2012through3 November 201

A sensor to measure hardness of human tissue

An innovative sensor is developed to evaluate hardness of human soft tissue. This sensor provides easy and accurate hardness measurements based on a unique sensing mechanism. Hardness of soft materials is often evaluated by using international standards of hardness such as IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree) and durometer hardness. However the conventional scales based on these standards requires a stable pressuring condition to the target. Therefore, these scales cannot be used for targets that are in motion or targets that require quick measurement such as human muscles during exercises and a liver exposed at a surgery. The prototyped sensor has a compact body and allows continuous hardness measurement with an arbitrary pressing force. This sensor always monitors the force exerted on the sensor and automatically eliminates the unintended effect from the fluctuation of the pressing force. Therefore, continuous time series of the hardness data is real-timely available. This paper reports results of a test as well as the detail of the mechanism and data processing technique of the latest version of the sensor.2006 5th IEEE Conference on Sensors : Daegu, Korea, 2006.10.22-2006.10.2