Validation of a 3D-Printed Silicone-Based Laryngeal Model for Resident Education.

Objective: We sought to validate a laryngeal simulation model and subsequently demonstrate its efficacy in improving surgical technique.

Study Design: Pre-post interventional study.

Setting: Otolaryngology Program at a Tertiary Care Center.

Closing the Loop on Concentric Tube Robot Design: A Case Study on Micro-Laryngeal Surgery.

Concentric tube robots (CTRs) are well-suited to address the unique challenges of minimally invasive surgical procedures due to their small size and ability to navigate highly constrained environments. However, uncertainties in the manufacturing process can lead to challenges in the transition from simulated designs to physical robots. In this work, we propose an end-to-end design workflow for CTRs that considers the often-overlooked impact of manufacturing uncertainty, focusing on two primary sources - tube curvature and diameter.

Swing-phase pelvis perturbation improves dynamic lateral balance during walking in individuals with spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the control of lateral balance can be improved by applying repeated lateral perturbation force to the pelvis during swing versus stance phase walking in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Fourteen individuals with incomplete SCI were recruited in this study. Each participant visited the lab once and was tested in two experimental sessions that consisted of (1) treadmill walking with bilateral perturbation force applied to the pelvis in the lateral direction during either swing or stance phase of each leg and (2) overground walking pre- and post-treadmill walking.

Anodal transcutaneous DC stimulation enhances learning of dynamic balance control during walking in humans with spinal cord injury.

Deficits in locomotor function, including impairments in walking speed and balance, are major problems for many individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). However, it remains unclear which type of training paradigms are more effective in improving balance, particularly dynamic balance, in individuals with iSCI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) can facilitate learning of balance control during walking in individuals with iSCI.

Increased motor variability facilitates motor learning in weight shift toward the paretic side during walking in individuals post-stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether applying "varied" versus constant pelvis assistance force mediolaterally toward the paretic side of stroke survivors during walking would result in short-term improvement in weight shift toward the paretic side. Twelve individuals post-stroke (60.4 ± 6.

Targeted Pelvic Constraint Force Induces Enhanced Use of the Paretic Leg During Walking in Persons Post-Stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of muscles in the paretic leg, particularly contributing to propulsion, and gait symmetry can be improved by applying a targeted resistance force to the pelvis in the backward direction during stance phase while walking in individuals post-stroke. Thirteen individuals post-stroke participated in two experimental sessions, which consisted of treadmill walking, with either targeted or constant resistances, together with overground walking. For the targeted condition, a resistance force was applied to the pelvis during the stance phase of the paretic leg.

Varied movement errors drive learning of dynamic balance control during walking in people with incomplete spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the application of a varied pelvis perturbation force would improve dynamic balance control and gait stability of people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Fourteen participants with iSCI completed the test in two conditions, i.e.

Error variability affects the after effects following motor learning of lateral balance control during walking in people with spinal cord injury.

People with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) usually show impairments in lateral balance control during walking. Effective interventions for improving balance control are still lacking, probably due to limited understanding of motor learning mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine how error size and error variability impact the motor learning of lateral balance control during walking in people with iSCI.

The influence of operator and wheelchair factors on wheelchair propulsion effort.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the relative influence of operator and wheelchair factors on propulsion effort during over-ground wheelchair manoeuvres. This observational study included 23 full-time manual wheelchair users and 13 able-bodied subjects. The operator factors included shoulder position, aerobic capacity and propulsion strength.

Motor Adaptation to Weight Shifting Assistance Transfers to Overground Walking in People with Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Locomotor training has been used to improve walking function in people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), but functional gains are relatively small for some patients, which may be due to the lack of weight shifting training.

Objective: To determine whether applying a pelvis assistance force in the coronal plane during walking would improve weight shifting and stepping in people with iSCI.

Design: Repeated measures study.

Inertial and frictional influences of instrumented wheelchair wheels.

Background: Instrumented wheelchair wheels can be used to study the kinematics and kinetics of manual wheelchair propulsion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of instrumented wheels on the inertial and frictional parameters of a wheelchair system.

Methods: This study compared mechanical parameters of an ultralightweight rigid frame wheelchair configured with pairs of SMARTwheels and spoke pneumatic wheels and loaded with an ISO 75 kg wheelchair dummy.

Evaluation of wheelchair resistive forces during straight and turning trajectories across different wheelchair configurations using free-wheeling coast-down test.

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple approach to evaluate resistive frictional forces acting on manual wheelchairs (MWCs) during straight and turning maneuvers. Using a dummy-occupied MWC, decelerations were measured via axle-mounted encoders during a coast-down protocol that included straight trajectories and fixed-wheel turns. Eight coast-down trials were conducted to test repeatability and repeated on separate days to evaluate reliability.