• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.403-410
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• 2021

There are positive effects, such as pain reduction, when rheumatism patients exercise in water, but the cause of the pain reduction is unclear, and research on this is inadequate. This study examined the flow of the surface of the foot and the principles of pain relief. Unsteady simulations were conducted to analyze the flow, which was performed by repeatedly setting the movement of the foot raising and descending three times. Pressure fluctuations and frequencies were analyzed by designating pressure points at the painful location. The results showed that a positive and negative pressure of approximately ±500Pa was applied overall. A pressure of approximately ±2000Pa was applied when the direction of movement was changed. A frequency of approximately 35 to 80Hz was generated in the area where rheumatoid arthritis pain frequently occurs. The effects of reducing pain could be predicted when continuous pressure fluctuations and frequencies are applied repeatedly to the painful location, blood circulation promotion. The results could be used as basic data to understand the principles of aquatic exercise and support the development of underwater exercise programs and developing related medical equipment.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2017

The hybrid acoustic sensor for implantable hearing aid has the structure in which a sound pressure based acoustic sensor (ECM) and a vibration based acceleration sensor are combined. This sensor combines the low frequency sensitivity of an acoustic sensor with the high frequency sensitivity of an acceleration sensor, allowing the acquisition of a wide range of sound from low to high frequency. In this paper, an acceleration sensor for use in a hybrid acoustic sensor has been proposed. The acceleration sensor captures the vibration of the tympanic membrane generated by the acoustic signal. The size of the proposed acceleration sensor was determined to diameter of 3.2 mm considering the anatomical structure of the tympanic membrane and the standard of ECM. In order to make the hybrid acoustic sensor have high sensitivity and wide bandwidth characteristics, the aim of the resonance frequency of the acceleration sensor is to be generated at about 3.5 kHz. The membrane of the acceleration sensor derives geometric structure through mathematical model and finite element analysis. Based on the analysis results, the membrane was implemented through a chemical etching process. In order to verify the frequency characteristics of the implemented membrane, vibration measurement experiment using external force was performed. The experiment results showed mechanical resonance of the membrane occurred at 3.4 kHz. Therefore, it is considered that the proposed acceleration sensor can be utilized for a hybrid acoustic sensor.