Rehabilitation Engineering
Nima Jamshidi; Mostafa Rostami; Siamak Najarian; Mohammad Bagher Menhaj; Mohammad Saadatnia; Firouz Salami
Volume 2, Issue 1 , June 2008, , Pages 57-64
Abstract
In this research the kinematics parameters derived from ground reaction forces were evaluated to limit the differential diagnoses and measure the degree of disabilities during the walking among neuropathic subjects. 25 neuropathic subjects affected by drop foot and 20 normal subjects were enrolled in ...
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In this research the kinematics parameters derived from ground reaction forces were evaluated to limit the differential diagnoses and measure the degree of disabilities during the walking among neuropathic subjects. 25 neuropathic subjects affected by drop foot and 20 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. There were no differences in the age, weight and height between the patients and normal subjects (p > 0.05). Each subject was tested in average 10±2 times for calculating the kinetic parameters derived from ground reaction forces. Then time parameters and vertical components of force including three extremums of vertical forces, which state various phases in gait, anterior-posterior component of ground reaction force, maximum propulsion force, maximum breaking force during loading stage, maximum propulsion force in the end phase of terminal stance, impact derived from the contact of the patient' foot with floor, loading rate and unloading of vertical forces during the contact' phase of the patient's foot with floor and center of pressure displacement in sole of foot and friction' coefficient between foot and floor were calculated. The results revealed that correlation between the first and second peaks of the anterior-posterior component of ground reaction forces, center of pressure displacement pattern in the sole of foot and time parameters of the vertical forces can be good indexes for differential diagnoses and measuring the degree of disabilities. This research can extend the clinical applications of ground reaction force plate, introduce suitable criteria to limit differential diagnoses and measure the degree of disabilities among the neuropathies. There is a need to replicate this research with more patients and normal subjects to confirm our findings.
Tissue Engineering
Farhad Farmanzad; Siamak Najarian; Mohammad Reza Eslami; Amir Saeed Seddighi
Volume 1, Issue 4 , June 2007, , Pages 281-288
Abstract
Two different types of computer modeling, i.e., the elastic and hyperelastic plane strain models were employed and compared with each other. Using finite element analysis, we determined a suitable model for describing the biomechanical behavior of the brain, especially the deformation and displacement ...
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Two different types of computer modeling, i.e., the elastic and hyperelastic plane strain models were employed and compared with each other. Using finite element analysis, we determined a suitable model for describing the biomechanical behavior of the brain, especially the deformation and displacement of the brain ventricles. The CT-Scan of an epidural hematoma patient was modeled using both approaches. Then, by varying the mechanical parameters of the tissue (i.e., C10, C01, E, and v) and the internal ventricular pressure, the displacement rate of the corresponding points in the ventricles was simulated. Finally, the results of the simulation were compared with those of the actual ventricles, and then, the data set with the least amount of error was identified. For various types of loadings and with different pressure gradients, the results of the simulation show that if the effect of an increase in the internal pressure of the ventricles is neglected, it will lead to unrealistic results. Particularly, in unidirectional strain loading with a pressure gradient of zero (AP= 0), the walls of the ventricle adjacent to the hematoma will collapse completely. The best results were obtained for the elastic model where ΔP = 9.4 mmHg (1.25 kPa) and for the hyperelastic model where ΔP = 7.5 mmHg (1.00 kPa). These findings are consistent with the clinical conditions of the patient. In the plane strain biomechanical modeling, for unidirectional strain loading (conditions which are similar to the application of navigation systems in surgeries), neglecting the geometry and the variation of the internal pressure of the ventricles will not lead to acceptable results. Taking into account the abovementioned parameters in describing the mechanical behavior of the brain (for epidural hematoma lesions), the elastic model (88.7% average relative accuracy) brings about better results compared with those of the hyperclastic model (86.9% average relative accuracy).
Cardiovascular Biomechanics
Faramarz Firouzi; Nasser Fatouraee; Siamak Najarian
Volume -1, Issue 2 , June 2005, , Pages 129-142
Abstract
Nowadays in the industrial world, because of increase of heart transplantation demand, long-term ventricular assist devices (VAD) are more needed. Implantable sac-type is one of the newest of them producing pulsatile flow. In this research, three different models of sac-type VAD are numerically simulated. ...
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Nowadays in the industrial world, because of increase of heart transplantation demand, long-term ventricular assist devices (VAD) are more needed. Implantable sac-type is one of the newest of them producing pulsatile flow. In this research, three different models of sac-type VAD are numerically simulated. Simple motion is supposed for moving wall in model 1. In model 2, the motion of moving wall is assumed wavy form to study the effect of moving wall form on blood flow. In model 3, the pressure boundary condition is added to model 2. In this model, the effect of actual blood pressure on flow pattern is considered. Results of each model demonstrate the viscose term of blood flow stresses applied to the membrane is negligible, and only pressure term is effective. However, the motional pattern of membrane and also applied pressure on boundary are approximately ineffective on blood flow pattern.