Endonasal Skull Base Tumor Removal Using Concentric Tube Continuum Robots: A Phantom Study

Objectives The purpose of this study is to experimentally evaluate the use of concentric tube continuum robots in endonasal skull base tumor removal. This new type of surgical robot offers many advantages over existing straight and rigid surgical tools including added dexterity, the ability to scale movements, and the ability to rotate the end effector while leaving the robot fixed in space. In this study, a concentric tube continuum robot was used to remove simulated pituitary tumors from a skull phantom. Design The robot was teleoperated by experienced skull base surgeons to remove a phantom pituitary tumor within a skull. Percentage resection was measured by weight. Resection duration was timed. Setting Academic research laboratory. Main Outcome Measures Percentage removal of tumor material and procedure duration. Results Average removal percentage of 79.8 ± 5.9% and average time to complete procedure of 12.5 ± 4.1 minutes (n = 20). Conclusions The robotic system presented here for use in endonasal skull base surgery shows promise in improving the dexterity, tool motion, and end effector capabilities currently available with straight and rigid tools while remaining an effective tool for resecting the tumor.     

慢病自我管理服务云平台研究与设计

探索通过语音机器人及云平台开展社区慢病自我管理计划项目,具体包括机器人健康宣教、咨询、健康状态评估、随访等功能,实现社区慢病自我管理系统化与信息化,为慢病自我管理提供新手段、新模式。     

下肢康复机器人训练对早期脑卒中偏瘫患者下肢功能的影响

目的:观察下肢康复机器人对早期脑卒中偏瘫患者下肢功能的影响.方法:将80例早期脑卒中患者随机分为观察组和对照组.2组均给予常规康复训练,观察组在此基础上增加下肢康复机器人训练.治疗时间为12周,比较2组治疗前后髋关节和膝关节活动度、FMA下肢评分、FAC步行功能评分、ADL评分情况.结果:2组患者在治疗前各临床评价指标均无显著性差异(P>0.05).治疗12周后,2组的髋关节和膝关节活动度、FMA下肢评分、FAC步行功能评分、ADL评分均高于治疗前(P<0.05),且观察组髋关节和膝关节活动度、FMA下肢评分、FAC步行功能评分、ADL评分均高于对照组(P<0.05).结论:下肢康复机器人可改善早期脑卒中偏瘫患者下肢功能,提高步行能力.     

多功能智能护理床设计与人因功效分析

老龄化社会到来,护理资源严重短缺,造成老人生活质量下降,以科技创新助力智慧养老,是解决老人护理难题的关键。针对半失能老年人渴望有一定的独立自主参与日常活动的诉求,设计了一款床椅一体化多功能移动智能护理床,除了使其具备日常起坐、翻身、如厕等日常需求之外,注重对半失能老人能力的辅助。该智能护理床通过移动机器人辅助自主移动能力,通过语音、动作的识别辅助交互能力,通过全方位智能检测与控制以辅助老人健康管理。在结构设计的基础上,对护理床进行了人因功效仿真,分析结果表明,该护理床对老人的安全性及舒适度符合标准要求。     

Promoting question-asking in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders: Effectiveness of a robot intervention compared to a human-trainer intervention

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of an applied behaviour analysis (ABA)-based intervention conducted by a robot compared to an ABA-based intervention conducted by a human trainer in promoting self-initiated questions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Data were collected in a combined crossover multiple baseline design across participants. Six children were randomly assigned to two experimental groups.

Results: Results revealed that the number of self-initiated questions for both experimental groups increased between baseline and the first intervention and was maintained during follow-up. The high number of self-initiated questions during follow-up indicates that both groups maintained this skill.

Conclusions: The interventions conducted by a robot and a human trainer were both effective in promoting self-initiated questions in children with ASD. No conclusion with regard to the differential effectiveness of both interventions could be drawn. Implications of the results and directions for future research are discussed.