Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.4
Journals
Healthcare
Special Issues
Clinical Robotics
share announcement

Clinical Robotics

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Artificial Intelligence in Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 11200

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Koji Kanayama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Interests: robotic surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Robotics in healthcare has experienced revolutionary advancements in the past several decades. Clinical robots are robots applied in clinical medicine, including surgical robots, rehabilitation robots, biorobots, telepresence robots, pharmacy automation robotic systems, companion robots, and disinfection robots. These robots allow precise surgical operations and minimally invasive surgery, assist individuals with dysfunction of body parts affecting movement, act like living things through imitating the cognition of humans and animals, enable medical professionals to provide a remote healthcare practice, automate pharmacy tasks, communicate emotionally with patients leading to mental therapy effects, and keep our living environment clean to control or prevent infection of patients. This topic intends to present the latest developments in clinical robotics and applications to healthcare fields.

Dr. Koji Kanayama
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Automated pharmacy systems
  • Biomechatronics
  • Micro- to nano-scale interventions
  • Robot-assisted Surgery
  • Robotics in mental healthcare
  • Robotic rehabilitation systems
  • Surgical simulation and navigation telemedicine

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 8036 KiB  
Article
New Rehabilitation Assessment Method of the End-Effector Finger Rehabilitation Robot Based on Multi-Sensor Source
by Hongbo Wang, Peng Chen, Yungui Li, Bowen Sun, Ziyu Liao, Baoshan Niu and Jianye Niu
Healthcare 2021, 9(10), 1251; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9101251 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
In the process of rehabilitation, the objectivity and the accuracy of rehabilitation assessment have an obvious impact on the follow-up training. To improve this problem, using a multi-sensor source, this paper attempts to establish a comprehensive assessment method of the finger rehabilitation effect, [...] Read more.
In the process of rehabilitation, the objectivity and the accuracy of rehabilitation assessment have an obvious impact on the follow-up training. To improve this problem, using a multi-sensor source, this paper attempts to establish a comprehensive assessment method of the finger rehabilitation effect, including three indicators of finger muscle strength, muscle fatigue degree, and range of motion. Firstly, on the basis of the fingertip pressure sensor of the End-Effector Finger Rehabilitation Robot, a mathematical model of finger muscle strength estimation was established, and the estimated muscle strength was scored using the entropy weight method. Secondly, using an sEMG signal sensor, a fatigue monitoring system was designed in the training process, and the fatigue degree was determined on the basis of the change trend of the eigenvalues of MAV and RMS. Lastly, a human–machine motion coupling model was established, and the joint range of motion acquisition and scoring model were obtained on the basis of the motor encoder. According to the above three indicators, using the AHP assessment method to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation assessment method, the effectiveness of the method was verified by experiments. This paper provides a potential new idea and method for objective, accurate, and convenient assessment of finger function rehabilitation, which is of positive significance for alleviating the burden on rehabilitation doctors and improving rehabilitation efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Robotics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2064 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Assessment of Muscle Activity and Muscle Characteristics during Training with Powered Robotic Exoskeleton: A Repeated-Measures Study
by Sung-Hyeon Kim, Ho-Jin Shin and Hwi-Young Cho
Healthcare 2021, 9(8), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9081003 - 5 Aug 2021
Viewed by 1738
Abstract
A variety of robotic exoskeletons have been developed for patients with spinal cord injuries. However, the optimal training method and period for using a robotic exoskeleton have been uncertain until now. The purpose of this study is to determine the minimum training period [...] Read more.
A variety of robotic exoskeletons have been developed for patients with spinal cord injuries. However, the optimal training method and period for using a robotic exoskeleton have been uncertain until now. The purpose of this study is to determine the minimum training period for using a robotic exoskeleton with minimal muscle activity by investigating the changes in muscle activity and muscle characteristics of healthy adults during robotic exoskeleton training. A total of 16 people participated in the study. The robotic exoskeleton locomotion training consisted of three 50-min sessions a week for 7 weeks. The assessment consisted of sitting, standing, wide standing, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit where muscle activity and muscle characteristics were measured during each motion. All measurements were performed in the first session and every five sessions. Participants showed decreased muscle activity up to 10 sessions of training in the standing position, and 15 sessions in sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit motions. Upper extremity muscles showed decreased muscle activity, tone, stiffness, and logarithmic decrement up to the 15th session. The study results show that at least 15 training sessions are required to use the robotic exoskeleton with minimal load on the musculoskeletal system, and longer training is required for patients with spinal cord injury. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Robotics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 5906 KiB  
Review
Review of Current Spinal Robotic Orthoses
by Siu Kei David Mak and Dino Accoto
Healthcare 2021, 9(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010070 - 13 Jan 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6396
Abstract
Osteoporotic spine fractures (OSF) are common sequelae of osteoporosis. OSF are directly correlated with increasing age and incidence of osteoporosis. OSF are treated conservatively or surgically. Associated acute pain, chronic disabilities, and progressive deformities are well documented. Conservative measures include a combination of [...] Read more.
Osteoporotic spine fractures (OSF) are common sequelae of osteoporosis. OSF are directly correlated with increasing age and incidence of osteoporosis. OSF are treated conservatively or surgically. Associated acute pain, chronic disabilities, and progressive deformities are well documented. Conservative measures include a combination of initial bed rest, analgesia, early physiotherapy, and a spinal brace (orthosis), with the aim for early rehabilitation to prevent complications of immobile state. Spinal bracing is commonly used for symptomatic management of OSF. While traditional spinal braces aim to maintain the neutral spinal alignment and reduce the axial loading on the fractured vertebrae, they are well known for complications including discomfort with reduced compliance, atrophy of paraspinal muscles, and restriction of chest expansion leading to chest infections. Exoskeletons have been developed to passively assist and actively augment human movements with different types of actuators. Flexible, versatile spinal exoskeletons are designed to better support the spine. As new technologies enable the development of motorized wearable exoskeletons, several types have been introduced into the medical field application. We have provided a thorough review of the current spinal robotic technologies in this paper. The shortcomings in the current spinal exoskeletons were identified. Their limitations on the use for patients with OSF with potential improvement strategies were discussed. With our current knowledge of spinal orthosis for conservatively managed OSF, a semi-rigid backpack style thoracolumbar spinal robotic orthosis will reduce spinal bone stress and improve back muscle support. This will lead to back pain reduction, improved posture, and overall mobility. Early mobilization is an important part of management of patients with OSF as it reduces the chance of developing complications related to their immobile state for patients with OSF, which will be helpful for their recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Robotics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop