• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.723-728
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• 2003

The physical restoration technology for lower limb amputees is being advanced as the biomechatronics is being applied to the area of rehabilitation. As the advanced prosthetics for lower limb amputees are introduced, a suitable prescription of biomechanical rehabilitation training becomes important to utilize the advanced full features of the devices. Since lower limb amputation significantly affects biomechanical balance of mosculoskeletal system for gait, an appropriate and optimal biomechanical training and exercise should be provided to rebalance the system before wearing the prostheses. Particularly, biomechanical muscular training for hip movements in the both affected and sound lower limbs is important to achieve a normal-like ambulation. However, there is no study to understand the effect of hip muscle strength on the gait performance of lower limb amputees. To understand the hip muscle strength characteristics for normal and amputated subjects, the isokinetic exercises for various ratios of concentric contraction to eccentric contraction were performed for hip flexion-extension and adduction-abduction. As a results. biomechanical isokinetic training protocols and performance measurement methodologies for lower limb amputees were developed in this study. Using the protocols and measurement methods, it has been understood that the appropriate and optimal biomechanical prescription for the rehabilitation process for lower limb amputees is important for restoring their gait ability

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.973-974
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.1070-1073
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• 2002

The biomechanical interaction between the stump and the prosthetic socket is critically important to achieve close-to-normal ambulation. Many investigators suggested that the pressure changes during gait of transfemoral amputees are closely related to the prosthetic alignment, the socket shape, the stump size, and the residual muscle activity. The effects of the prosthetic alignment, the socket shape, and the stump size on the interface pressure were investigated previously. However, there is no report how the residual muscle activities in the transfemoral stump affect the socket interface pressure characteristics during gait. Since designs of socket fur lower limb amputees need to consider the socket interface pressure characteristics, the interface pressure patterns by the residual muscle activities during gait should be investigated. In this study, myoelectric signals (MES) and socket interface pressure in residual limb of transfemoral amputees were measured during the stance and swing phases of gait. For the purpose, specially designed quadrilateral sockets that MES electrodes could be instrumented were fabricated. A total of two transfemoral amputees were participated in the experiments. The measured temporal MES amplitude and interface pressure in knee flexor (biceps femoris) and extensor (rectus femoris) had significant correlations (P ＜ 0.05). Based on the test results, It was suggested that the residual muscle activity of transfemoral amputees stump is an important factor affecting socket pressure changes during walk.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2024

Lower limb amputees are increasing due to various reasons. It is difficult for lower limb amputees to walk without an assistive device such as a prosthetic leg. In this paper, an electronically controlled knee-type prosthetic leg with a 4-bar linkage structure for lower limb amputees was developed. The knee-type prosthetic leg has a 4-bar linkage structure and assists walking by using an integrated drive module. The torque is 90 Nm, the rotation speed is up to 120 deg, and it weight 1.9 kg, so it is lighter than a commercial prosthetic leg, so it can be used for a long time because there is less fatigue when walking. An integrated control board was developed by applying various sensors and microprocessor. The motor drive and encoder are built into the integrated drive module. The integrated control board and integrated drive module communicate using CAN. When a lower limb amputee wears a knee-type prosthetic leg and walks, it shows a shape similar to the swing phase graph of a normal people, and it is possible to walk naturally while walking.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2024

The suspension device that connects the prosthetic leg and the residual limb allows lower limb amputees to wear prosthetic limbs, and is the most sensitive part when using prosthetic limbs as it is always in contact with the residual limb not only while walking but also in everyday life. In this paper, using the principles of attraction and repulsion of permanent magnets, we developed a magnetic lock suspension device that can fix the amputees and prosthetic legs of lower limb amputees by changing the polarity of the magnet. The operation method of the magnetic lock is that when neodymium magnets are placed on the left and right as NNSS based on a non-magnetic brass core, the magnetic force flows outward beyond the brass core using the adsorption member as a medium to generate bonding force. When rotated 90 degrees, the magnet moves to NSNS. The principle is that as the position moves, the magnetic force flows inward and cancels out.Based on this, we conducted a bonding test using tensile strength and a short-term comparative evaluation of the prosthesis with the shuttle lock suspension system, which was a comparison group, to verify reliability and evaluate satisfaction with the prototype. As a result, the tensile strength exceeding the appropriate bonding strength was confirmed, and the magnetic lock showed higher satisfaction than the shuttle lock. In the future, we plan to conduct long-term ADL clinical trials for commercialization and develop a product that can be distributed to actual amputees.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare kinematic variables and stiffnesses of ankle joints between normal person and transfemoral amputee gait in order to develop or fit prosthetic leg. Twenty subjects (ten normal persons and ten transfemoral amputees) participated in this experiment, and walked three trials at a self-selected pace. The gait motions were captured with Vicon system and variables were calculated with Visual-3D. The velocity, stride length, stride width, cycle time, double limb support time and right swing time of gaits were statistically significant. Because coefficients of variability of normal persons on velocity, double limb support time and swing time were greater than transfemoral amputees, normal persons controlled these gait variables effectively. The stiffnesses of ankle joints were not statistically significant, but patterns of stiffnesses of ankle joints during three rockers were absolutely different. The negative correlations between stiffnesses of ankle joints and cycle time and swing time were presented. These differences suggest that developing and fitting prosthetic leg were demanded. Further studies should develop fitting program and simulator of prosthetic leg.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2012

The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was higher people with lower limb amputation. This was identified that transfemoral amputees have a greater external knee adduction moment than ablebodied subjects by biomechanical studies. Therefore, they need rehabilitative intervention for prevention and reduction of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of lateral wedge insole used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This study was participated in fourteen unilateral transfemoral amputees and we were analyzed the difference gait variables between without lateral wedge insole and with $5^{\circ}$ and $10^{\circ}$ lateral wedge insole during gait. Our results showed that step length ratio was more symmetrical and, hip adduction and ankle inversion angle were more close to normal value, and knee adduction moment was decreased as the wedge angle increases. We proposed that these data would be utilized conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis in lower limb amputees.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2016

Movements of the lower limb are important for normal walking and smooth oscillation of the center of gravity. The ankle rotations such as dorsi-flexion, plantar-flexion, inversion and eversion allows the foot to accommodate to ground during level ground walking. Current below knee (B/K) prostheses are used for replacing amputated ankle, and make it possible for amputees to walk again. However, most of amputees with B/K prostheses often experience a loss of terrain adaptability as well as stability because of limited ankle rotation. This study is focused on the development of multi-rotational prosthetic foot for lower limb amputee. Our prosthesis is possible for amputees to easily walk in level ground by rotating ankle joint in sagittal plane and adapt to the abnormal terrain with ankle rotation in coronal plane. The resistance of ankle joint in the direction of dorsi/plantar-flexion can be manually regulated by hydraulic damper with controllable nozzle. Furthermore, double layered rubber induce the prosthesis adapt to irregular ground by tilting itself in direction of eversion and inversion. The experimental results highlights the potential that our prosthesis induce a normal gait for below knee amputee.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2013

This paper propose a surface EMG signal based gait phase recognition method that selects features and channels adaptively. The proposed method can be used to control powered artificial prosthetic for lower limb amputees and can reduce overhead in real-time pattern recognition by selecting adaptive channels and features in an embedded device. The method can enhance the classification accuracy by adaptively selecting channels and features based on sensitivity and specificity of each subject because EMG signal patterns may vary according to subject's locomotion convention. In the experiments, we found that the muscles with highest recognition rate are different between human subjects. The results also show that the average accuracy of the proposed method is about 91% whereas those of existing methods using all channels and/or features is about 50%. Therefore we assure that sEMG signal based gait phase recognition using small number of adaptive muscles and corresponding features can be applied to control powered artificial prosthetic for lower limb amputees.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.453-463
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of an intensively rehabilitation program on the gait, balance, functional performance, and wearing satisfaction of patients with traumatic lower extremity amputations caused by industrial accidents. Methods: In this study, the anonymized electronic medical records of individuals who participated in the intensive rehabilitation program (among those who were admitted to the hospital belonging to the Labor Welfare Corporation) due to an industrial accident from August 2018 to September 2019 were collected. As a result, the records of 12 subjects meeting the screening criteria were analyzed. Results: According to the time of application to the intensive rehabilitation program, the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) (p < 0.01), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p < 0.01), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) (p = 0.01), the L Test of Functional Mobility (L-test) (p < 0.01), Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (Plus-M) (p < 0.01), and Houghton Score Question (HSQ) (p < 0.01) values significantly improved with time. Conclusion: This study confirmed the positive effect of an intensive rehabilitation program on the gait, balance, functional performance, and wearing satisfaction of patients with traumatic lower extremity amputations caused by industrial accidents. However, this study was limited by the absence of a control group, and, thus, it highlights the need for more extensive research with a large sample.