A Portable Instrument for Characterizing Patellar Tendon Reflex

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24700599
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: YASUAKI Ohtaki 神奈川工科大学, 創造工学部, 准教授 (50344693)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 医用機器 / 膝蓋腱反射 / センサ / 運動計測 / 生体計測 / 携帯型装置

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A method for quantitative assessment for patellar tendon reflex (PTR) was investigated. Considering kinematic features of the PTR, integrated portable equipment was developed utilizing a multi-axes inertial sensor, a tap force sensor, and an EMG sensor. Relationships between tap forces and kicking movements of lower leg were evaluated for identifying a nature of patellar tendon reflex, which was expressed by an exponential function and delay parameters. The results demonstrated that the method quantifies reflex intensities and latencies reasonably, which is not easily characterized by the conventional scale, and potentially useful for assessing PTR in daily practice with the effortless handy device.

Free Research Field

生体医工学