• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.196-203
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• 2004

In this study, a new gait phase detection system using both FSR(Force Sensing Resister) sensors and a gyrosensor was developed to detect various gait patterns. FSR sensors were put in self-designed shoe insoles and a gyrosensor was attached to the posterior aspect of a shoe. An algorithm was also developed to determine eight different gait transitions among four gait phases: heel-strike, foot-flat, heel-off and swing. The developed system was compared with the conventional gait phase detection system using only FSR sensors in various gait experiments such as level walking, fore-foot walking and stair walking. In fore-foot walking and stair walking, the developed system showed much better accuracy and reliability to detect gait phases. The developed gait phase detection system using both FSR sensors and a gyrosensor will be helpful not only to determine pathological gait phases but to apply prosthetics, orthotics and functional electrical stimulation to patients with gait disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

Gait phase detection is important for evaluating the recovery of gait ability in patients with paralysis, and for determining the stimulation timing in FES walking. In this study, three different motion sensors(tilt sensor, gyrosensor and accelerometer) were used to detect gait events(heel strike, HS; toe off, TO) and they were compared one another to determine the most applicable sensor for gait phase detection. Motion sensors were attached on the shank and heel of subjects. Gait phases determined by the characteristics of each sensor's signal were compared with those from FVA. Gait phase detections using three different motion sensors were valid, since they all have reliabilities more than 95%, when compared with FVA. HS and TO were determined by both FVA and motion sensor signals, and the accuracy of detecting HS and TO with motion sensors were assessed by the time differences between FVA and motion sensors. Results show of that the tilt sensor and the gyrosensor could detect gait phase more accurately in normal subjects. Vertical acceleration from the accelerometer could detect HS most accurately in hemiplegic patient group A. The gyrosensor could detect HS and TO most accurately in hemiplegic patient group A and B. Valid error ranges of HS and TO were determined by 3.9 % and 13.6 % in normal subjects, respectively. The detection of TO from all sensor signals was valid in both patient group A and B. However, the vertical acceleration detected HS validly in patient group A and the gyrosensor detected HS validly in patient group B. We could determine the most applicable motion sensors to detect gait phases in hemiplegic patients. However, since hemiplegic patients have much different gait patterns one another, further experimental studies using various simple motion sensors would be required to determine gait events in pathologic gaits.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.431-437
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to compute the ground reaction forces during gait in the absence of force plates. The difficulties in using force plates for hemiparetic patients inspired us to initiate this study. Level-walking experiments were performed using a three-dimensional motion analysis system with synchronized force plates. Kinematic data were obtained from the three-dimensional trajectories of reflective markers. Gait events were also detected from the kinematic data. The human body was modeled as 13 rigid segments. The mass and the center of mass of each segment were determined from anthropometric data. Vertical ground-reaction forces obtained from the kinematic data were in good agreement with those obtained using the force plate. The computed and measured values of anterior and lateral ground reaction showed similar tendencies. The computation results can be used as the basic data for inverse dynamic analysis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a portable and convenient closed-loop contrel type electrical stimulator for patients with foot drop. This system restores walking movement as well as prevents from atrophy or necrosis of lower limb muscles and increases blood circulation in hemiplegic patients caused by traffic accident, industrial disaster or stoke. This system detects the changes of the ankle joint angle during walking, and then controls the stimulus intensity automatically to maintain the programmed level of the ankle joint angle. Also, this automatic system controls the stimulus intensity which is affected by increased electrode impedance resulting from long time use. The system detects the joint angle by an optical sensor and includes modified PID control which adjusts the stimulus intensity if the joint angle deviates from the preset value. Stimulus parameters are 30~80 volt, 40 Hz, and 0.2 ms. The system was applied to five hemiplegic patients for 42 days. Duration of stimulation was 15 min/day for the first week and then the duration was gradually increased to 30, 60, 90 and 120 min/day. The muscle force was increased up to 29.7%, muscle fatigue was decreased compared with the level before stimulation and the pattern of locomotion was improved. These results suggest that the electrical stimulator with closed-loop control type is more convenient and effective in restoration of locomotion of patients with foot drop than open-loop system.