Prototype development of bilateral arm mirror-like-robotic rehabilitation device for acute stroke patients.

During the early six months after the onset of a stroke, patients usually remain disabled with limbs weakness and need intensive rehabilitation. An increased number of stroke patients is countered with a reduced number of physical therapists. The development of medical robots to substitute therapists' work should be helpful. We developed a prototype of a bilateral arm mirror-like-robotic rehabilitation device covering the shoulder to the elbow as a 4-degrees of freedom (DOF). The device was operated by gripping the patient's arm or forearm. The motor for arm movement and point of force was calculated from static and dynamic. A developed microcontroller drove the assistive control system to regulate the movement of a robotic arm by getting the position of the normal arm's movement to control the weak arm's movement position. The prototype was built with an operation control system and tested in acute stroke patients. The effectiveness of rehabilitation using developed robots was assessed and compared with the conventional training group. Patients with either left or right arm paresis can practice with the device. They can safely train the weakened arm by using the normal arm as a working model. A bilateral robot was designed to be easy to use, lightweight, and compact size. Patients can use the device regularly for rehabilitation training, even at home.

The effect of temperature of eye irrigation solution to reduce corneal endothelial cell loss during phacoemulsification: an in vitro model study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of eye irrigation solution (balanced salt solution: BSS) stored in a refrigerator and air-conditioned room to reduce the number of corneal endothelial cell loss during the process of phacoemulsification. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Porcine corneal endothelial cells (PCEC) isolated from porcine eyes were used as a model. The porcine eyes were obtained from a local slaughterhouse within 6 h after death and PCEC were cultured as standard method. The percentage of cell survival was evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS: The PCEC was successfully grown in the standard culturing system. The growth curve of PCEC demonstrated that log phase was reached in 3-6 days. The evaluation of heat effect (40-60 degrees C) to PCEC survival was shown that cells death was found at 55 and 60 degrees C which the percentage of cell survival reduced to 30% at 60 degrees C, 180 sec. Further observation on the efficiency of BSS stored in different conditions, refrigeration (8 degrees C) and air-conditioned room (25 degrees C) to PCEC survival was revealed that the number of cell survival increased from 40% to almost 70% when using refrigerated BSS as irrigation solution, while from air-conditioned BSS only at 55%. CONCLUSION: From using PCEC as a model and mimic the process of irrigation in phacoemulsification, it was found that the eye irrigation solution (balanced salt solution: BSS) stored in the refrigerator had a better result in helping protection the corneal endothelial cell loss from heat damaged than BSS stored in air-conditioned room.

Development of a DIY rehabilitation device for lower limb weakness in acute to subacute ischemic stroke.

Many patients have significantly lower limb weakness after getting a stroke. Continuous regular physical therapy is essential to promote the improvement of the weakness and overall outcomes. Home rehabilitation provides motivation and enhances regular rehabilitation in stroke patients. The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) medical device is developed to fill the gap of unmet medical management needs and becomes increasingly applied in rehabilitation. The DIY device should support the concept of home rehabilitation in stroke patients. We designed and developed a low-cost, easy-to-use, DIY rehabilitation device to promote regular physical therapy in stroke patients with lower limb weakness. The methods and rationale of device development were described. The feasibility and safety of the device were also evaluated.•The DIY rehabilitation device for the lower limb is convenient and easy to assembly.•Regular home rehabilitation is enhanced with the DIY rehabilitation device.•The device is feasible and safe for physical therapy in stroke patients with lower limb weakness.

Fluid temperature at the corneal endothelium during phacoemulsification: comparison of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device and balanced salt solution using the finite element method.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the temperatures of two different anterior chamber solutions at the corneal endothelial level during phacoemulsification. An ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) and balanced salt solution (BSS) were compared using the finite element method (FEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The thermal properties of an OVD (IAL-F) and BSS were studied in an experimental setting. A computer-aided design model of ocular anatomy was created in two dimensions. The phaco needle was considered to be the only source of heat generation. Then, the FEM was used to demonstrate the transient temperature distribution in the two ocular models at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 s. In these models, the anterior chamber was filled with IAL-F (IAL-F model) or BSS (BSS model). RESULTS: The heat generation rate of the phaco needle was 0.0004 cal/s/mm(2). The maximum corneal endothelial temperatures for the two models at 60 s were 52.67 and 41.57 degrees C, respectively. The experimental IAL-F model showed fewer changes in temperature for any given time and location. At larger distances from the heat source, less temperature variation was detected. CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification is a potential heat-generating procedure performed between the delicate anterior chamber structures. During this procedure, IAL-F protects the endothelium against heat better than BSS.