Restoration of singing ability to quadriplegic professional singer

Tendon-Drive Force transmission

Tendon wrap construction mimics the natural action of the abdominal muscles, which apply pressure circumferentially.

The user inputs the position setpoint for the tendon via a joystick. A DC brushless motor is actuated accordingly under PD position control. This motor tightens the tendon by winding it onto a drum. The tendon encircles the user's abdomen, and a cushion at the ventral abdomen redirects the belt tension onto the abdomen surface, providing enhanced pressure.

Biomimetic Test Platform

In order to rapidly prototype the breathing assistance device, a biofidelic abdomen was developed. Following the method of Rouhana et al., a replica abdomen was fabricated with two layers:

  1. a shell of 30A durometer silicone rubber (Mold Max 30, Smooth-On, Inc.)
  2. a plug of flexible polyurethane foam (FlexFoam-iT!, Smooth-On, Inc.)

In contrast to traditional fabrication methods, this device was cast in three steps from 3D-printed mold sections. Among the advantages of this method provides are:

  • tunable outer layer thickness
  • incorporation of point cloud data from 3D scanners
  • possibility of rapid design changes
  • incorporation of sensors into the skin

'더 크로스' 남성 그룹 출신 김씨는 교통사고로 사지가 마비 됐다. 사지가 마비되면서 갈비뼈 근육을 제대로 움직일 수 없어 노래를 부를 수 없게 됬지만 서울대 공대 기계항공공학부 학생들이 김씨에게 배를 압박하는 보조기구 벨트를 완성하면서 가수로서의 희망을 되살려주었다./이태경 기자 '온몸 마비 歌手'도 노래하게 한 따뜻한 기술 http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/12/25/2013122500108.html

Presentation at 한국로봇학회 제9회 한국로봇종합학술대회 논문집 (The 9th Korea Robotics Society Annual Conference): 호흡 재활 보조 로봇 개발용 복부 모형 제작 (Simulated Human Abdomen Device for Development of a Respiratory Rehabilitation Device)

initial prototype

Biomimetic abdomen

revised prototype