A variety of operation devices have been developed for severely disabled people such as those with cervical cord injuries and/or muscular dystrophies. Each device has its own merits and demerits respectively, but there is still a need to develop other types of operation devices. In this study, we have tried to develop a mouthpiece type remote controller to operate an electric powered wheelchair. This remote controller would be inserted into user's mouth and be operated by tongue. This remote controller has passive RFID transponders but no battery. To evaluate the performance of this system, the MCR (Maximum Communication Range) was measured. The results indicated that if users set the antenna beside their cheek, the remote controller would work well. For the preliminary study, the operativeness of this remote controller was suitable. With this system, we succeeded in an operating electric powered wheelchair on the market. These results suggested the possibility that this mouthpiece type remote controller system would be effective for severely disabled people.

Keywords

Cervical Cord Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Assistive Technology, Daily Living, RFID, Remote Controller

Paper information

Shojiro George TERASHIMA, Eiichi SATOH, Kazuo KOTAKE, Eiichi SASAKI, Kazunori UEKI and Satoshi SASAKI, “Development of a Mouthpiece Type Remote Controller for Disabled Persons”, Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2010), pp.66-77 . doi:10.1299/jbse.5.66

Ti-Ag alloys with 20 and 25 mass% Ag were prepared; their surfaces were polished using silicon carbide abrasive papers. The polished alloys were immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF), and their surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the spontaneous formation of calcium phosphates. The precipitates formed on the alloys were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), with pure titanium and silver used as controls. Hardness and surface roughness, which was measured as the height parameter Ra, were examined, and their effect on calcium phosphate formation was elucidated. On immersion in SBF, calcium phosphates were formed on the Ti-Ag alloys and pure titanium but not on pure silver. The amount of the precipitate and the concentration ratios of calcium to phosphorus in the precipitates of the Ti-Ag alloys and pure titanium did not differ significantly. The Ti-Ag alloys showed significantly higher hardness and lower Ra values than pure titanium. The Ra values of the metals decreased as their hardness increased. The Ra values of the metals appeared to have very little effect on calcium phosphate formation. The results of this study have verified the biocompatibility of the Ti-Ag alloys, making them suitable for use as dental and orthopedic implants.<br />

Keywords

Biomaterial, Titanium Alloy, Calcium Phosphate, Simulated Body Fluid, Bioconductivity, Biocompatibility, Dental Implant

Paper information

Masatoshi TAKAHASHI, Masafumi KIKUCHI, Kouki HATORI, Yusuke ORII, Keiichi SASAKI and Yukyo TAKADA, “Calcium Phosphate Formation on Ti-Ag Alloys in Simulated Body Fluid”, Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 3 (2009), pp.318-325 . doi:10.1299/jbse.4.318

Keywords

Paper information

Mitsugu TODO, Keiichi SASAKI and Takashi GOTO, “Preface”, Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 3 (2009), pp.306-306 . doi:10.1299/jbse.4.306