Development of Input Device for Electric Wheelchair Considering Physical Functions of Persons with Severe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for improvement of the quality of life inside the House

• Project/Area Number: 24700591
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: SHINO Motoki 東京大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10345085)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2013)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,550,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,050,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000)
• Keywords: インターフェイス / 操作能力 / デュシェンヌ型筋ジストロフィ / 電動車いす / 可操作力 / 可操作域 / デュシャヌ型筋ジストロフィ / 手指変形

Research Abstract

Persons with severe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) cannot operate electric wheelchairs because they lack muscular power and are affected by deformation of the hands. To address this difficulty, first we determined the requirements of input device based on the survey of daily living of the persons with DMD and the we developed new input devices for an electric wheelchair which considers the characteristics of the hands function of persons with DMD. These devices were based on quantitative evaluation of the hand functions which consists of fingertip force and range of motion of fingers for persons with DMD. A new input device was developed, considering hand function, posture, and hand shape of the persons with DMD. Thus, the devices can be operated using slight force and movement of the fingers to move an electric wheelchair for person with DMD. Furthermore, we achieved that the persons with DMD can move inside the house by using electric wheelchair with the proposed input device.

Research Products

• [Presentation] 重度DMD患者の手指特性を考慮した電動車いす入力装置の一提案 (2013)
  • Author(s): 小竹元基, 山本裕喜、井上剛信
  • Organizer: 生活生命支援医療福祉工学系学会連合大会
• [Presentation] Development of Input Device of Electric Wheelchair Considering the Characteristic of the Hand Function of Person with Severe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (2013)
  • Author(s): Yuki Yamamoto, Motoki Shino, Takashi Mikata, Takenobu Inoue
  • Organizer: Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe
• [Presentation] 重度DMD患者の手指特性を考慮した電動車いす入力装置の一提案 (2013)
  • Author(s): 小竹元基，山本裕喜、井上剛信
  • Organizer: 生活生命支援医療福祉工学系学会連合大会2013(LIFE2013)
  • Place of Presentation: 山梨大学, 甲府市、山梨県
• [Presentation] Development of Input Device of Electric Wheelchair Considering the Characteristic of the Hand Function of Person with Severe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (2013)
  • Author(s): Yuki Yamamoto, Motoki Shino, Takashi Mikata, Takenobu Inoue
  • Organizer: Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (12th European AAATE Conference)
  • Place of Presentation: Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.sl.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/