Development of automation and robotization in manufacturing process stimulates interest in pneumatic servo-systems whose advantages include low manufacturing costs, high dynamics and reliability (Situm et al., 2004). Unsatisfactory positioning accuracy of multiaxis pneumatic servosytems considerably reduces their application in manipulating machines, manipulators and robots. Rapid advance in pa...

Children aged six months to 10 years in one practice who were diagnosed with acute otitis media were examined one, three, six and 12 months after diagnosis by a general practitioner and an otolaryngologist on the same day using pneumatic otoscopy. Tympanometry and pure tone audimetry were also carried out. Tympanograms were combined with the specialist's otoscopy findings to determine whether e...

Pneumatic servo actuators have the benefits of lowcost, cleanliness and a high power-to-weight ratio. However, their relatively poor accuracy prevents them from competing with electro-mechanical systems when higher accuracy is needed. The cause of the steady-state error for a pneumatic servo system with an open-center servo valve is investigated. Full nonlinear and linearized plant models are p...

BACKGROUND Cholesteatomas are epithelial cysts that contain desquamated keratin. Patients commonly present with progressive hearing loss and a chronically discharging ear. We report an unusual presentation of the disease with an acute hearing loss suffered immediately after prolonged use of a pneumatic drill. CASE PRESENTATION A 41 year old man with no previous history of ear problems present...

Pneumatic muscles with similar characteristics to biological muscles have been widely used in robots, and thus are promising drivers for frog inspired robots. However, the application and nonlinearity of the pneumatic system limit the advance. On the basis of the swimming mechanism of the frog, a frog-inspired robot based on pneumatic muscles is developed. To realize the independent tasks by th...

Robotic exoskeleton is getting important to human in many aspects such as power assist, muscle training, regain motor function and rehabilitation. The research and development towards these functions are expected to be combined and integrated with the human intelligent and machine power, eventually becoming another generation of robot which will enhance the machine intelligent and human power. ...

This paper describes a multi-fingered haptic palpation method using stiffness feedback actuators for simulating tissue palpation procedures in traditional and robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Soft tissue stiffness is simulated by changing the stiffness property of the actuator during palpation. For the first time, granular jamming and pneumatic air actuation are combined together to r...

background:       lymphedema is a common complication for breast cancer therapy. patients with lymphedema may experience pain and body image issues. this study investigates the effect of combined decongestive therapy and pneumatic compression pump on body image in patients with lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment. methods:       42 women with breast cancer related lymphedema partici...

introduction: transtibial amputation is the most common amputation in lower limbs. volume loss of residual limb occurs during daily use of prostheses, which results in pistoning between residual limb and prosthetic socket. the goal of this study was to design and fabricate a pneumatic suspension system in transtibial supracondylar prostheses and to evaluate its effect on residual limb pistoning...