Takamitsu Sunaoshi

Development of a functional model for a master-slave combined manipulator for laparoscopic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery helps patients by accelerating postoperative recovery. However, its application is impeded because it is necessary for the surgeons performing such surgery to possess surgical skills of a high order. Therefore, a master-slave combined manipulator (MCM) has been proposed as a robotic tool that enhances the surgeons skill in laparoscopic surgery. The master grip and the slave hand are combined through the manipulator body, and a surgeon can operate the tool near the patient. The slave hand is controlled electrically by the master grip and its position is directly controlled by the surgeon. A prototype model of the MCM has been developed. The functions of the MCM have been verified by basic evaluation tests and the MCM has been used in a preliminary animal experiment. This paper describes the concept, the basic performance and the validation of the MCM.

Development of the supporting apparatus for standing up motion of the elderly person: Basic experiment of standing up motion

The purpose of this study is to develop the supporting system for standing up and sitting down of the elderly people. The feature of the supporting system is to assist the human motion for standing and sitting without any sensors attached to the people. First of all, we measured a human motion of standing by the force plate and a force sensor. As the result, we clarified the feature of a human standing motion. On the basis of the feature, we considered the design guideline of the supporting system. And we made the motion simulator to estimate a human posture during the stand-up motion from the force plate and force sensor data.

Development of a Master Slave Combined Manipulator for Laparoscopic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery helps patients by accelerating postoperative recovery. However, its application is impeded because it is necessary for the surgeons performing such surgery to possess surgical skills of a high order. Thus, for laparoscopic surgery, a master slave combined manipulator (MCM) has been proposed that enhances the surgeons skill. The master grip and the slave hand with wrist joints are combined through the manipulator body, and a surgeon can perform the operation near to the patient. The slave hand is controlled by the master grip electrically and its position is directly controlled by the surgeon. The prototype model of the MCM has been developed and the function of the MCM has been verified by basic evaluation tests, and the MCM has been applied in an animal experiment. This paper describes the basic performance of the MCM.