A wireless body area network of intelligent motion sensors for computer assisted physical rehabilitation

Background

Recently, wearable technology has been used in various health-related fields to develop advanced monitoring solutions. However, the monitoring function alone cannot meet all the requirements of customizing machine-based exercise on an individual basis by relying on biosignal-based controls. We propose a new wearable unit design equipped with measurement and control functions to support the customization process.

Methods

The wearable unit can measure the heart rate and electromyogram signals during exercise performance and output workload control commands to the exercise machines. The workload is continuously tracked with exercise programs set according to personally customized workload patterns and estimation results from the measured biosignals by a fuzzy control method. Exercise programs are adapted by relying on a computer workstation, which communicates with the wearable unit via wireless connections. A prototype of the wearable unit was tested together with an Internet-based cycle ergometer system to demonstrate that it is possible to customize exercise on an individual basis.

Results

We tested the wearable unit in nine people to assess its suitability to control cycle ergometer exercise. The results confirmed that the unit could successfully control the ergometer workload and continuously support gradual changes in physical activities.

Conclusion

The design of wearable units equipped with measurement and control functions is an important step towards establishing a convenient and continuously supported wellness environment.     

Accelerometer-based wireless body area network to estimate intensity of therapy in post-acute rehabilitation

Background  

It has been suggested that there is a dose-response relationship between the amount of therapy and functional recovery in post-acute rehabilitation care. To this day, only the total time of therapy has been investigated as a potential determinant of this dose-response relationship because of methodological and measurement challenges. The primary objective of this study was to compare time and motion measures during real life physical therapy with estimates of active time (i.e. the time during which a patient is active physically) obtained with a wireless body area network (WBAN) of 3D accelerometer modules positioned at the hip, wrist and ankle. The secondary objective was to assess the differences in estimates of active time when using a single accelerometer module positioned at the hip.     

A review guide for computer assisted testing software

This article describes a tool that delineates guidelines for critiquing computer software programs designed to create test banks, develop tests, administer tests to examinees, and/or provide analysis of performance of items, tests, and/or examinees. The tool identifies features that are unique to computer applications in educational testing, including principles of measurement and evaluation, criteria that are not included in available forms for the review of educational software.     

监测脑电α波的无线传感器网络系统

背景:临床上一般采用多导睡眠记录仪监测脑电α波来研究失眠等问题.多导睡眠记录仪存在两个问题:①众多长导线严重束缚被试者,导致其不能正常睡眠,影响了身心状态.无法获得准确结果.②由于脑电信号是极其微弱的电生理信号,所以非常容易被交流电干扰,使得分析软件无法识别有用信号.因此,需要设计一种能够克服上述缺点的监测系统.目的:设计一种监测脑电信号的无线传感器网络系统,不影响被试者身心状态,获得不受干扰的、准确的脑电信号.设计:采用先进行理论分析,建立电路模型,再设计实现实际应用电路.单位:解放军第三○五医院.材料:解放军第三○五医院提供临床实验环境.北京新兴阳升科技有限公司生产的多导睡眠记录仪做为对比实验设备.采用Matlab软件系统设计分析软件.方法:首先于2005年在解放军第三○五医院进行理论分析,建立干扰模型和无线传感器网络系统模型.2006年根据电路模型,设计实现了能够有效抑制干扰和小体积的无线脑电传感器.实验设计的无线脑电传感器于2006-02/08在解放军第三○五医院完成实际使用观察,此次使用过程经医院伦理委员会批准,受试者为院内工作人员.对实验的目的、过程、结果完全知情同意.最后将实际使同结果与多导睡眠记录仪的记录结果进行对比.主要观察指标:在干扰环境下获得信号的频谱.结果:无线脑电传感器在干扰条件下获得的脑电信号在8～12 Hz的α波频率范围内的功率谱峰值为6 926.043,交流电干扰在50 Hz的 频率上的功率谱为0.356.同时使用多导睡眠记录仪获得的脑电信号在8～12 Hz的α波频率范围内的功率谱峰值为1 112.3,交流电干扰在50 Hz的频率上的功率谱为85 440.结论:系统能够获得良好的脑电α波信号,并且很好地抑制交流电干扰.     

A soft intelligent dressing with pH and temperature sensors for early detection of wound infection

Wound infection is a common clinical problem. Traditional detection methods can not provide infection early warning information in time. With the development of flexible electronics, flexible wearable devices have been widely used in the field of intelligent monitoring. Here, we describe the development of a soft wound infection monitoring system with pH sensors and temperature sensors. The measurement range of pH was 4–10, the fitting accuracy was 99.8%, and the response time was less than 6 s. The temperature sensor array showed good accuracy and short response times in the range of 30 °C to 40 °C. A series of in vitro tests and the use of a rat model of Staphylococcus aureus infection confirmed that this flexible detection system can monitor the pH and temperature changes occurring in the early stage of infection, which provides an effective reference for clinical application.

A soft intelligent dressing can monitor the changes of pH and temperature in the early stage of infection, which provides a possibility for wearable wound real-time monitoring.     

The use of inertial sensors system for human motion analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this article is to review systematically and appraise critically the literature surrounding the research, comparing inertial sensors with any kind of gold standard; this gold standard has to be a tool for measuring human movement (e.g. electrogoniometry, optoelectronic systems, electromagnetic systems, etc.).

Method: A MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDRo and SCOPUS search of published English language articles was conducted, which focused on articles that compared inertial sensors to any kind of gold standard (e.g. electrogoniometry, optoelectronic systems, electromagnetic systems, etc.), from 2000 to 2010. Two independent reviewers completed the study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Español tool was used to assess study quality, and a reliability comparison between the systems was made.

Results: Fourteen out of 242 articles were reviewed, which displayed a similar threat to validity, relating to sample selection and operator blinding. Other study limitations are discussed. A comparison between the different systems showed good agreement across a range of tasks and anatomical regions.

Conclusions: This review concludes that inertial sensors can offer an accurate and reliable method to study human motion, but the degree of accuracy and reliability is site and task specific.     

The potential of augmented reality applications for physical rehabilitation

Abstract

Background Musculoskeletal injuries account for the largest proportion of workplace injuries. In an attempt to predict, and subsequently manage, the risk of sprains and strains in the workplace, employers are turning to pre-employment screening. Functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) are increasing in popularity as a tool for pre-employment screening despite limited published evidence for their validity in healthy working populations.

Objectives This narrative review will present an overview of the state of the evidence for pre-employment functional testing, propose a framework for decision-making to determine the suitability of assessment tools, and discuss the role and potential ethical challenges for physiotherapists conducting pre-employment functional testing.

Major Findings Much of the evidence surrounding the validity of functional testing is in the context of the injured worker and prediction of return to work. In healthy populations, FCE components, such as aerobic fitness and manual handling activities, have demonstrated predictability of workplace injury in a small number of studies. This predictability improves when workers' performance is compared with the job demands. This job-specific approach is also required to meet anti-discrimination requirements. There are a number of practical limitations to functional testing, although these are not limited to the pre-employment domain. Physiotherapists need to have a clear understanding of the legal requirements and potential ethical challenges that they may face when conducting pre-employment functional assessments (PEFAs).

Conclusions Further research is needed into the efficacy of pre-employment testing for workplace injury prevention. Physiotherapists and PEFAs are just one part of a holistic approach to workplace injury prevention.     

Outpatient-based physical rehabilitation for survivors of prolonged critical illness: A randomized controlled trial

Introduction: The physical and psychological impact of critical illness is well documented. Recovery may take many months and is often incomplete. The optimal way of addressing these important sequelae following hospital discharge remains unclear. Methods: Single center, randomized controlled trial in patients invasively ventilated for ≥5 days. The treatment group (TG) underwent a 7-week, outpatient-based exercise and education program, with the control group (CG) receiving no intervention during the study period. Primary outcome measures were changes in functional capacity assessed using the cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters, peak VO₂, and anaerobic threshold (AT). Secondary outcome measures were changes in and health-related quality of life assessed using the Short Form 36 version 2 questionnaire. Assessors remained blinded to group allocation. Results: Sixty-three patients completed the study (target n = 90). Improvements in both peak VO₂ and AT were seen in both TG and CG but no significant difference between groups was evident. AT improved by 11.7% in CG (baseline 10.3 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1, follow-up 11.5 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1), and by 14.6% in TG (baseline 10.3 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1, follow-up 11.8 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1; ANCOVA p = 0.74). Peak VO₂ improved by 14.0% in CG (baseline 13.6 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1, follow-up 15.5 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1), and by 18.8% in TG (baseline 13.8 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1, follow-up 16.4 ml O₂ kg^?1 min^?1; ANCOVA p = 0.68). Significant improvements were seen in both groups for physical component summary scores (PCS) (TG 39.6 versus 31.0; CG 36.1 versus 32.6) and mental component summary scores (MCS) (TG 48.6 versus 38.4; CG 41.3 versus 37.0). The degree of improvement was significantly higher in the treatment group in comparison to control subjects (PCS p = 0.048; MCS p = 0.017). This improvement was most marked in the subgroup ventilated for >14 days. Conclusions: A 7-week, outpatient-based exercise and education program resulted in improved health-related quality of life scores but not improved exercise capacity.