P. Beomonte Zobel

An Innovative Brace With Pneumatic Thrusts For Scoliosis Treatment

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity, and the brace treatment is the fundamental therapy. Brace works on the curve via the pressure they exert on the rib cage, usually on three points, to push against the progressive abnormal curvature of the spine and to reduce the local spasticity. Considering the possibility of the spine collapse, due to the six degrees of freedom of each vertebras with respect to the adjacent one, spine needs more thrusts relating to the curvature extension. This paper is focused on an innovative brace working by a three-dimensional thrusts system. The brace is internally covered by air pocket devices. Design and prototype of air pocket device is described. Air pockets apply the necessary corrective thrusts, at many levels of the spine, by compressed air at the specific pressure required in that area of the rib cage. Thrusts can be modified and checked. The design of the brace is presented together with a basic prototype, the design and the prototype of the air pocket device. First experimental tests on a simplified prototype of brace are also described. Finally, a pre-clinical test is performed by a healthy volunteer to validate the new brace concept.

A new brace for the treatment of scoliosis

In this paper a new brace for the treatment of scoliosis is proposed. It uses pressurized air, by many air pockets, to apply the corrective thrusts to the rib cage and it can apply the thrusts at many levels of the spine. Moreover, the thrusts can be modified and monitored. In this way the corrective action on the spine can be more effective. The design of the prototype of the new brace is presented together with the design, the prototyping and the validation of the air pocket. Finally the first experimental tests on a simplified prototype of the brace are presented.

First clinical investigation on a pneumatic lumbar unloading orthosis

This paper deals with the first clinical investigation of a new designed orthosis to apply a traction force at lumbar spine. The objective is to verify the effect on healthy subjects and to assess the comfort of the orthosis. The results obtained are interesting. No negative feedback at spine level and many data on the comfort of the orthosis. The investigation suggests some modification to the prototype.

Development of a training system for interventional radiology

The objective of the study reported here was to develop a master slave system for catheter-guided vascular surgery conducted by interventional radiology. By using a master slave system, the surgeon is not exposed to x-rays during the operation because the master tool managed by an operator is located away from the slave tool, which is near the patient. The system must provide vivid realism to the surgeon, particularly with regard to force information, because this surgery is performed in three dimensions while the surgeon watches a two-dimensional monitor. In this study, we developed a training system for a catheter guide in order to upgrade the surgeon’s skills because it is difficult to upgrade a master slave system without training. The system consists of a human interface device as the master tool, a control box, and a simulator. This training simulator is for the master slave system, which we developed. The master tool has a force display function using an electrorheological fluid. Two advantages of the fluid actuator are that it can be used without force feedback control and there is mechanical safety, as the surgeon does not experience any accidental force. An open loop control is used to achieve a simple mechanism and algorithm. Our results of preliminary experiments indicated that the output force achieved correlated with that sent from the PC. Three surgeons evaluated this training system under a variety of conditions. The operation of the master tool is simple. The thrust and rotation movements of the catheter can be handled instinctively and without complicated instructions. In addition, accurate force display, response, and stability were achieved with the electrorheological fluid. In the future, the training will need for a realistic depiction of interventional radiology, and the system provides accurate readings for aspiration and blood flow.

Development of an active orthosis of inferior limb in light structure

The development of an active orthosis for inferior limb is presented. A procedure for the customization of the device is proposed. It is based on the design of few standardized parts and on two alternative ways to measure the relevant features of the user: the first making use of a instrumented template; the second making use of a 3D scanner. Then the complete manufacturing process for production of the structural carbon fiber components is presented.

The Muscle Myogram as a Control Signal for Use in Powered Limb Orthosis

The choice of the command technique to be used in orthotic and prosthetic devices is very critical for the acceptance and, finally, the success of the specific device. Many variables influence this choice: the general characteristics of the signal, the quality of the correlation between signal and specific actions of the user and the algorithm that is derived, the acceptance of the technique, as applied to the specific device, from the user, etc. Among the command techniques, MMG signal seems to be promising to command an assistive device. In this paper a test protocol for studying MMG signal, to investigate the prospective for its use as a command technique of a powered lower limb orthosis capable of raising elderly and disabled people from the sitting position, is proposed. The definition of the test protocol, including the description of the test bed and the sensors application, is presented. Finally, the experimental results are showed and discussed.© 2006 ASME