| A New Communication Device Using the Anal Sphincter. |
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Kang, Seong Woong , Sohn, Hong Seok , Kang, Yeoun Seung , Yoo, Tae Won , Kim, Jung Eun , Yi, Jeong Hoon , Hong, Kyu Seok , Shim, Hoon , Yoon, Young Ro |
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Muscular Disease, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea. swoong@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
2Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Korea. |
| 항문 괄약근을 이용한 새로운 의사소통 기기 |
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강성웅, 손홍석, 강연승, 유태원, 김정은, 이정훈1, 홍규석1, 심훈1, 윤영로1 |
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연세대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실, 근육병 재활연구소 및 1보건과학대학 의공학과 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
The purpose of this study was to invent a new communication device by utilizing the function of anal sphincter muscles that was another residual motor function to the last in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.
Method
We designed a sensor which worked by changing intensity of the contraction and was enable severely paralyzed patients to communicate by means of self-regulation of the anal sphincter contraction. This device made sentences through combination of selected Korean letters deprived from sphincter contractions.
Results
This device was composed of three parts. Anal sensor: the head part of the sensor regulated by sphincters was located in the rectum, signal processing module: the raw signal from the sensor was boosted up and set up on the baseline voltage equal to threshold by threshold detector, and device program: the icon mode which was composed of routine questions and requested to their care-givers. And in user-writing mode, patients could choose syllable elements using the sensor operating by sphincter.
Conclusion
This system was designed for advanced ALS patients with only the available function of sphincter muscles and could give them another new option in selecting communication devices. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2006; 30: 513-521) |
| Key Words:
Communication device, Anal sphincter, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
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