SEAT DESIGN FOR OPTIMAL LOAD TRANSFER TO SOFT TISSUES

压疮仍然是一种常见的并发症和昂贵的临床费用 有问题。使用计算机辅助技术改进的座椅设计具有 有可能提供经济高效的座椅系统，以降低 压疮的发展。这项研究的目标是改进 基于人体生物力学的定制座椅设计方法 臀部-座椅接口并将体内信息应用于 计算机辅助设计过程。研究假设是组织 使用系统设计的支撑面可以提高生存能力 优化臀部软组织的负荷转移，减少组织 扭曲。在初步研究中，一台计算机辅助的 座椅系统(CASS)设计用于控制支撑面形状和 测量界面力。提出了一种自适应控制算法 并在样机上实现。使用组织模拟进行评估 测试机构证明了这种方法的可行性。由此产生的 最佳支撑面显示了所需的界面力和组织 刚性特性。 拟议调查的具体目标是：(1)完成 开发并实现了人体受试者的控制算法； (2)验证支撑面在过程中和之后的特性 (3)临床疗效的测定。 实现聚亚安酯泡沫塑料的最佳外形。首字母A 使用10名身体健全的受试者(5名男性和5名女性；年龄在18岁到 40)，以微调控制算法。这个 优化标准基于活体内力-挠度测量 人类臀部的软组织。该算法设计为迭代地 更新支撑件形状以使用力和组织优化载荷传递 刚度测量。中间和最终支承表面力和 将使用多变量来分析组织刚度分布 向量分析(霍特林的T2统计量) 比较一下。最佳支撑面将被雕刻成聚亚安酯 使用基于个人计算机的制造系统的泡沫。组织 受试者坐姿时臀部的刚度分布 将定制的轮廓泡沫与刚性支撑件上的泡沫进行比较 卡斯。这项评估将决定使用 符合要求的材料以实现规定的组织承载能力 特点。拟议调查的第二阶段是 临床处方定制脊髓异形泡沫垫 受伤的和年老的受试者。上述协议将是 对20例截瘫受试者(男10例，女10例)， 四肢瘫痪受试者(男10人，女10人)，老年受试者30人 (15名男性和15名女性，年龄等于或大于65岁)，依赖 轮椅为您提供出行便利。

Pressure sores continue to be a common complication and costly clinical problem. Improved seat design using computer-aided technology has the potential to provide cost-effective seating systems that reduce risk of pressure sore development. The goal of this research is to improve custom seat design methods by investigating the biomechanics of the human buttocks-seat interface and applying the in vivo information to a computer-aided design process. The research hypothesis is that tissue viability can be enhanced using support surfaces systematically designed to optimize load transfer to buttock's soft tissue and reduce tissue distortion. In a preliminary study, a prototype of a computer-aided seating system (CASS) was designed to control support surface shape and measure interface forces. An adaptive control algorithm was developed and implemented on the prototype. Evaluation using tissue simulating test bodies demonstrated the feasibility to this approach. The resulting optimal support surfaces displayed the desired interface force and tissue stiffness characteristics. The specific aims of the proposed investigation are to: (1) complete the CASS development and implement the control algorithm on human subjects; (2) verify the characteristics of the support surfaces during and after the optimization procedure; (3) determine the clinical efficacy of realizing the optimal contours in polyurethane foams. An initial experiment using 10 able-bodied subjects (5 male and 5 female; ages 18 to 40) will be conducted to fine tune the control algorithm. The optimization criteria are based on in vivo force-deflection measurements of human buttocks' soft tissue. The algorithm is designed to iteratively update support shape to optimize load transfer using force and tissue stiffness measurements. Intermediate and final support surface force and tissue stiffness distributions will be analyzed using multivariate analysis of vectors (Hotelling's T2 statistic) for quantitative comparison. The optimal support surface will be carved into polyurethane foam using a personal computer based manufacturing system. The tissue stiffness distribution of the subject's buttocks while seated on the custom contoured foam will be compared to that on the rigid support of the CASS. This evaluation will determine the appropriateness of using compliant materials to implement the prescribed tissue load bearing characteristics. The second phase of the proposed investigation is to clinically prescribe custom contoured foam cushions for spinal cord injured, and elderly subjects. The protocol described above will be conducted on 20 paraplegic subjects (10 male add 10 female), 20 quadriplegic subjects (10 male and 10 female), and 30 elderly subjects (15 male and 15 female, age equal to or greater than 65), who depend on wheelchairs for mobility.