Kazushige Magatani

Development of a simple diagnostic method for the glaucoma using ocular Fundus pictures.

There are approximately 2 million people who have glaucoma. And about 90% of glaucoma patients have chronic type disease, and most of them do not notice of their disease. Finally they will lost their eyesight by this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the auto diagnostic method for glaucoma. Our objective of this study is the development of the auto diagnostic system for the glaucoma by using fundus photograph. In our system, digitized fundus photograph is tested in personal computer, and the ratio of the area of optic disk and the area of optic disk cup (named C/D ratio) is calculated and evaluated automatically. And then this system can checkup subject condition for glaucoma. In this paper, we will discuss our auto diagnostic system for the glaucoma

A Classification Method of Hand Movements Using Multi Channel Electrode

In this study, we describe the classification method of hand movements using 96 channels matrix-type(16times6) of multi channel surface electrode. Today, there are many systems that use the EMG as a control signal. As for those ordinary systems, it has some problem like most of them require the definition of measuring position. We design the new system with multi channel electrode to solve some of those conventional problems. Our system that has 96 channels electrode does not need to select a particular electrode position. Only attaching this electrode, we can obtain correct EMG and this way means providing with a simple and easy way. The purpose of this study is development of the EMG pattern recognition method using multi channel electrode. From measured 96 channels EMG data, we chose one line (16channels) of this electrode with the smallest noise. The EMG signal is recognized by canonical discriminant analysis. In order to recognize the EMG signal, the first three eigenvectors are chosen to form a discriminant space. And Euclidean distance is applied to classify the EMG. From the experiment in this method, we can discriminate 12 movements of the hand including four finger movements. And the recognition rate that can be done in real-time was measured at 80 percent on the average

The development of a white cane which navigates the visually impaired

In this paper, we describe about a developed navigation system that supports the independent walking of the visually impaired in the indoor space. This system is composed of colored navigation lines, RFID tags and an intelligent white cane. In our system, some colored marking tapes are set on along the walking route. These lines are called navigation line. And also RFID tags are set on this line at each landmark point. The intelligent white cane can sense a color of navigation line and receive tag information. By vibration of white cane, the system informs the visually impaired that he/she is walking along the navigation line. At the landmark point, the system also notifies area information to him/her by pre-recorded voice. Ten normal subjects who were blind folded with an eye mask were tested with this system. All of them were able to walk along the navigation line. The performance of the area information system was good. Therefore, we have concluded that our system will be extremely valuable in supporting the activities of the visually impaired.

Development of the hand motion recognition system based on surface EMG using suitable measurement channels for pattern recognition

Conventional research on motion recognition using surface electromyogram (SEMG) is mainly focused on how to process with the signals for pattern recognition. However, it is of much consequence to the motion recognition that measurement channels position including useful information about SEMG pattern recognition is selected. In this paper, we present two topics for the hand motion recognition system based on SEMG. First described is the method to select the suitable measurement channels position of multichannel SEMG for the recognition of hand motion, and the second described is an applied systems based on our proposed method. About channel selection, we use a multichannel matrix-type surface electrode attached to the forearm in order to measure the SEMG generated from many active muscles during hand motions. From those electrodes, system decided the number of measurement channels and the position of measurement channels. This can be achieved by using the Monte Carlo method. The recognition experiments of 18 hand motions show that the average rate was measured to be grater than 96%. And the number of selected channels ranged from 4 to 7. About applied systems, our developed system works as an input interface for the computer (keyboard and pointing devise) and a robot hand.

The development of the navigation system for visually impaired persons

The objective of this study is the development of an auto-navigation system which supports activities of the visually impaired without help of others. This system navigates the subject by using information about three sensors (acceleration sensor, terrestrial magnetism sensor and gyro sensor), DGPS (differential Global Positioning System), maps and a traffic data base. In our navigation system, after inputting the destination, the position of the user is estimated, the most suitable route to the destination is calculated, and the user is guided along this route. We assess the developed method which estimates the movement of the subject.

Development of voice navigation system for the visually impaired by using IC tags.

There are about 300,000 visually impaired persons in Japan. Most of them are old persons and, cannot become skillful in using a white cane, even if they make effort to learn how to use a white cane. Therefore, some guiding system that supports the independent activities of the visually impaired are required. In this paper, we will describe about a developed white cane system that supports the independent walking of the visually impaired in the indoor space. This system is composed of colored navigation lines that include IC tags and an intelligent white cane that has a navigation computer. In our system colored navigation lines that are put on the floor of the target space from the start point to the destination and IC tags that are set at the landmark point are used for indication of the route to the destination. The white cane has a color sensor, an IC tag transceiver and a computer system that includes a voice processor. This white cane senses the navigation line that has target color by a color sensor. When a color sensor finds the target color, the white cane informs a white cane user that he/she is on the navigation line by vibration. So, only following this vibration, the user can reach the destination. However, at some landmark points, guidance is necessary. At these points, an IC tag is set under the navigation line. The cane makes communication with the tag and informs the user about the land mark pint by pre recorded voice. Ten normal subjects who were blindfolded were tested with our developed system. All of them could walk along navigation line. And the IC tag information system worked well. Therefore, we have concluded that our system will be a very valuable one to support activities of the visually impaired

The EEG measurement technique under exercising

Our purpose of the research is a development of the detecting method of EEG under exercising. Usually, measuring EEG is done in the quiet state. In case of the measuring EEG under exercising, a movement of the body causes vibration of electrodes and artifact for the EEG. Therefore, generally detection of the EEG under exercising is said to be difficult. So, we developed the measuring method of EEG under exercising by using algorithm that we designed. Five normal subjects were tested with our method, and EEG without artifact was able to be measured in all cases

Development of the input equipment for a computer using surface EMG

SEMG (surface EMG) has many benefits, for example measuring SEMG is easy and a characteristic pattern of SEMG is obtained for each different movement. Therefore, SEMG that is generated by body movement is able to use as a control signal for some electric powered equipments. Our objective is the perfect control of the computer by using SEMG that is generated from forearms. In this paper, we will talk about our developed interface system that works as a keyboard of the computer

Development of the navigation system for the visually impaired by using white cane

A white cane is a typical support instrument for the visually impaired. They use a white cane for the detection of obstacles while walking. So, the area where they have a mental map, they can walk using white cane without help of others. However, they cannot walk independently in the unknown area, even if they use a white cane. Because, a white cane is a detecting device for obstacles and not a navigation device for there correcting route. Now, we are developing the navigation system for the visually impaired which uses indoor space. In Japan, sometimes colored guide lines to the destination are used for a normal person. These lines are attached on the floor, we can reach the destination, if we walk along one of these line. In our system, a developed new white cane senses one colored guide line, and makes notice to a user by vibration. This system recognizes the color of the line stuck on the floor by the optical sensor attached in the white cane. And in order to guide still more smoothly, infrared beacons (optical beacon), which can perform voice guidance, are also used

Development of the navigation system for visually impaired

A white cane is a typical support instrument for the visually impaired. They use a white cane for the detection of obstacles while walking. So, the area where they have a mental map, they can walk using white cane without the help of others. However, they cannot walk independently in the unknown area, even if they use a white cane. Because, a white cane is a detecting device for obstacles and not a navigation device for their correct route. Now, we are developing the navigation system for the visually impaired which uses indoor space. In Japan, sometimes colored guide lines to the destination is used for a normal person. These lines are attached on the floor, we can reach the destination, if we walk along one of these line. In our system, a developed new white cane senses one colored guide line, and make notice to an user by vibration. This system recognizes the line of the color stuck on the floor by the optical sensor attached in the white cane. And in order to guide still more smoothly, infrared beacons (optical beacon), which can perform voice guidance, are also used.