Device helps patients with lower back pain
A TEAM of mechanical engineering students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic has collaborated with Singapore General Hospital (SGH) to design a device for patients with lower back pain.
As part of their final-year project, the students created a portable harness to help lift a patient's upper body from the pelvic region.
The harness is wrapped around the bottom of the ribcage and has a battery-operated motor that lifts the patient's upper body while the pelvic area is strapped to the seat of a chair. This process, known as traction, reduces pressure on the lower back when the user is sitting down.
Currently, traction for the lower back is done using a set of harnesses while the patient is lying down, said SGH's senior principal physiotherapist, Dr Celia Tan.
There is no known commercially available device to do this in an upright position, she added.
With the portable device, patients can manage pain without a physiotherapist present, even when at work.
The amount of force to be exerted and the duration of use can be adapted to each individual's situation as directed by a physiotherapist.
Over the last few years, SGH has been admitting about 160 new patients with lower back pain every week.
Wheelchair helps elderly to stand
STUDENTS from Singapore Polytechnic have designed a wheelchair that can help seniors with weak legs to get on their feet.
At the push of a button, the battery-powered chair moves upward and straightens, easing the user into a standing position.
The wheelchair doubles as a washroom - seniors can relieve themselves into a commode below. They can also be given a shower while seated on it.
Mr Lim Jiew Dong, 25, Mr Muhammad Firdaus Omar, 21, and Miss Khine Zar Lin, 19, all final-year bioelectronics students, took about a year to design and produce the wheelchair. It will be refined further before it is given to Jamiyah Nursing Home.
Tool builds muscles for swallowing
ANOTHER team from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, together with Singapore General Hospital, has built a device (right) to help patients with swallowing problems.
The tool is strapped to the upper body and helps patients to strengthen their throat muscles by providing resistance to the chin area.
Patients need to use the device only three times a day, doing about 99 chin 'nods' daily. The amount of resistance can also be customised using springs with different levels of tension.
With the tool, a patient can perform the exercises independently and in the correct manner, said team member Alvin Lee, 19.
Therapists can also monitor the progress of the patient through an attached electronic device.
Physiotherapy with imaginary objects
IN FUTURE, stroke patients may be able to practise 'virtual physiotherapy'. Instead of picking up a real cup as an exercise to strengthen their hands, they may perform the action without it.
A computer program will project an image of a hand holding a cup to a visor worn by the patient. The image will correspond to the movement and force the patient exerts, and will 'drop' the simulated cup if the user is not 'holding' it tightly enough.
Virtual physiotherapy saves time and is more convenient, said Mr Ronny Tham, a bio-engineering lecturer from Singapore Polytechnic who is on a team designing the program for use here.
The poly will work with St Luke's Hospital to develop the program. The tie-up was inked yesterday.
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