1,720,978 research outputs found
Handy: Novel hand exoskeleton for personalized rehabilitation
No full textWorldwide, stroke is the third cause of disability. The majority of people
affected by this disease cannot perform activities of daily living. Bringing the therapy
to the patients' home is complex, and in literature, there are still open challenges to
face. Starting from therapists' and patients' needs, this paper describes a possible
solution: HANDY, a rehabilitative active hand exoskeleton for post-stroke patients.
With a desktop application, they perform three different types of exercises: passive,
active and based on activities of daily living. They can also control the exoskeleton
themselves in a serious-game approach with a leap motion controller. We evaluated
our method with patients at the Villa Beretta rehabilitative center. Preliminary results
from the session about comfort, usability and willingness to utilize the system are
promising
Handy: Novel hand exoskeleton for personalized rehabilitation
No full textWorldwide, stroke is the third cause of disability. The majority of people affected by this disease cannot perform activities of daily living. Bringing the therapy to the patients' home is complex, and in literature, there are still open challenges to face. Starting from therapists' and patients' needs, this paper describes a possible solution: HANDY, a rehabilitative active hand exoskeleton for post-stroke patients. With a desktop application, they perform three different types of exercises: passive, active and based on activities of daily living. They can also control the exoskeleton themselves in a serious-game approach with a leap motion controller. We evaluated our method with patients at the Villa Beretta rehabilitative center. Preliminary results from the session about comfort, usability and willingness to utilize the system are promising
HoloLearn: Wearable Mixed Reality for People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD)
No full textOur research explores the potential of wearable Mixed Reality (MR) for people with Neuro-Developmental Disorders (NDD). The paper presents HoloLearn, a MR application designed in cooperation with NDD experts and implemented using HoloLens technology. The goal of HoloLearn is to help people with NDD learn how to perform simple everyday tasks in domestic environments and improve autonomy. An original feature of the system is the presence of a virtual assistant devoted to capture the user's attention and to give her/him hints during task execution in the MR environment. We performed an exploratory study involving 20 subjects with NDD to investigate the acceptability and usability of HoloLearn and its potential as a therapeutic tool. HoloLearn was well-accepted by the participants and the activities in the MR space were perceived as enjoyable, despite some usability problems associated to HoloLens interaction mechanism. More extensive and long term empirical research is needed to validate these early results, but our study suggests that HoloLearn could be adopted as a complement to more traditional interventions. Our work, and the lessons we learned, may help designers and developers of future MR applications devoted to people with NDD and to other people with similar needs
Effects of Printing Speed and Thermal Post-processing Treatments on the Mechanical Properties of PEEK Processed by Fused Deposition Modeling
No full textPolyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a thermoplastic polymer that presents notable thermal resistance, high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, durability, chemical resistance, and low density. PEEK can be additively manufactured by Power Bed Fusion (PBF) and Material Extrusion (ME) techniques. However, the latter is easier to operate and less expensive than the first solution. Printing parameters and thermal post-processing are fundamental aspects to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the printed part. In the present study, the effects of two distinct thermal post-processing treatments and three different printing speeds on the mechanical properties of PEEK samples produced by ME were investigated. 45 specimens were manufactured, 15 for each printing speed and 5 for each thermal treatment. The results demonstrated that for the as-printed condition, higher printing speeds produced the greatest outcomes in terms of ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus, whereas the lowest printing speed produced the maximum strain at break. The thermal post-processing treatments revealed that the one carried out at lower temperatures resulted in negligible changes, while the other significantly improved the mechanical performance of the material. The study's findings provide a solid foundation for printing and post-processing a cutting-edge polymer like PEEK to maximize its potential
MemHolo: mixed reality experiences for subjects with Alzheimer’s disease
No full textHoloLens is the most recent and advanced forms of wearable Mixed Reality (MR) technology. It enables the user wearing a head-mounted device to experience 3D holographic objects “inside” the visualization of the real environment where he or she is located. Existing HoloLens applications have been developed in domains such as data visualization, entertainment, industrial training, education, and tourism, but the use of this technology in the arena of mental health is largely unexplored. The paper presents a HoloLens-based system called MemHolo that addresses persons with mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). AD is associated to a chronic progressive neurodegenerative process that severely affects cognitive functioning (especially memory) and some motor functions. MemHolo is intended to be used as a cognitive training tool to practice short-term and spatial memory in a safe and controlled virtual environment, and to mitigate the effects of mental decline. The paper discusses the design process of MemHolo, and describes three evaluation studies on progressive prototypes. To our knowledge, MemHolo is the first HoloLens application designed natively for persons with AD. Our empirical work sheds a light on how these people experience HoloLens applications, highlights some challenges and potential benefits of using MR technology in the AD arena, and may pave the ground towards new forms of treatment
Knowledge-based mathematical algorithm to design personalized dental alignment
No full textDesigning individualized orthodontic treatments for malocclusions and misaligned teeth is a complex task due to the numerous conditions that must be met. These conditions include personal patient considerations, technical constraints, physiological restrictions, and specific instructions from orthodontists. Achieving the ideal final dental arrangement remains a significant challenge in orthodontic practice. The current process primarily involves collaboration between orthodontists and technicians, using manual procedures and specialized software. This study describes the formalization of a model designed to simplify this orthodontic procedure. The creation of a patient’s final dental configuration, necessary for manufacturing all the devices for the treatment plan, is automated using a mathematical model based on current knowledge in the field. The mathematical model has been incorporated into a modeling and animation software tool, and a case study has been tested with a manufacturer specializing in orthodontic devices. The comments received highlights the usefulness of the proposed algorithm and its value as a significant resource for discussing with orthodontists
Effect of printing parameters on extrusion-based additive manufacturing using highly filled CuSn12 filament
Full text linkTypical additive manufacturing (AM) processes for producing metal and ceramic parts are highly energy-consuming and expensive to install and maintain. On the other hand, material extrusion AM (MEAM) technologies are conventionally used to produce polymeric parts but only marginally to process metallic materials. A feasible alternative is to process polymeric filaments loaded with metal particles. Debinding and sintering processes are then required to join the metal particles and obtain the final parts. In recent years, highly filled metal filaments consisting of a polymer loaded with a high concentration of metal powder have been commercialized for this purpose. In this study, the printability of a commercial CuSn12 filament was investigated by evaluating the influence of the process parameters on the density, shrinkage, porosity, and mechanical properties of the additively manufactured samples using a low-cost desktop 3D printer. Parameters such as the flow rate and ironing had the greatest influence on the density of the green samples. The correct selection of these parameters may reduce shrinkage after sintering. Furthermore, the obtained bronze had a notable ultimate tensile strength (mean value of 107 MPa), high stiffness (E values range from 38 to 50 GPa), and a greater elongation at break (mean value of 13%) than that of cast bronze of the same CuSn12 type. In this case, the extrusion pattern and ironing had the most significant influence on the final mechanical performance. The study provides insights into the use of highly filled bronze filaments combined with MEAM to produce functional parts for engineering applications
Tintoretto Unveiled: Interactive Virtual Experience for Artworks
No full textConventionally, visitors of exhibitions cannot directly interact with artworks but remain mainly passive. This work presents a new way to discover paintings through an extended reality application with the aim of enhancing visitors’ engagement. The workflow consists of digitally recreating a painting. All its constitutive elements are contoured and then removed by the artwork. These elements will be unveiled by the visitors with gesture interaction. The discovery of each element is followed by additional information on the subject. The application also proposes an alternative experience where the user paints the components of the artwork with gestures. The hands’ position was tracked by the Leap Motion Controller, an optical sensor by Ultraleap. The process has been applied to one of the Tintoretto’s pieces of art: “L’Annunciazione del Doge Grimani”. The extended reality application has been experienced by over twenty thousand visitors at the dedicated exhibition. Numerous positive comments received from both visitors and guides are encouraging
Automatic Algorithm to Design Bespoke Teeth Whitening Trays
Full text linkThe growing attention of people to aesthetics has led to a greater demand
for dental whitening treatments. Several solutions can be utilized to obtain the desired
visual whiteness of teeth but, according to literature, at-home supervised treatments are the
standard in dental bleaching. They require soft plastic trays to contain a whitening gel,
with active chemical agents, and keep it in contact with the patient’s teeth. The fitting,
comfort, and tightness of trays play a fundamental role in the treatment. Any gel leakage
can compromise the effectiveness of the treatment and damage soft tissues. Commonly, the
trays are ready-made or based on physical dental impressions and manually modified by the
dental technician. These procedures have low repeatability and do not always ensure high
accuracy. This work presents an automatic digital algorithm to design customized whitening
trays. Starting from a digital scan acquisition of the patient’s dental arches, it generates
the 3D models of the bespoke trays, in approximately two minutes per arch, ready to be
produced by additive manufacturing and thermoforming technologies. The evaluation of the
method involved 20 patients. The results emphasize that the custom trays were comfortable
and ensured high levels of tightness and fitting
Immersive Virtual Reality System for Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain (PLP)
No full textThis paper presents an immersive virtual reality system (IVRS) that has been designed for unilateral amputees in order to reduce the phantom limb pain (PLP). The patient’s healthy limb is tracked by using a motion sensor. Data of the limb in motion are used as input parameters to move the phantom limb in the immersive virtual reality system. In this way, the patient has the illusion of moving the phantom limb while moving the real and contra-lateral limb. The system has been implemented by using low cost and open technologies, and combines the Oculus Rift SDK2 device, the LeapMotion device, a motion sensor, and an engine for interactive 3D content and gaming generation (Unity 3D). The Oculus Rift head mounted display is used to provide the immersive experience
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