Feasibility study and preliminary design of load-assisting clothes for lumbar protection inspired by human musculoskeletal systems

Riho Hashimoto; Arata Masuda; Hao Chen; Sou Kobayashi

doi:10.1117/12.2219526

22 April 2016 Feasibility study and preliminary design of load-assisting clothes for lumbar protection inspired by human musculoskeletal systems

Riho Hashimoto, Arata Masuda, Hao Chen, Sou Kobayashi

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9797, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication 2016; 979712 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219526
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop load assisting clothes for caregivers. Low back pain is one of the most major reasons for caregivers to leave their jobs. In this study, load assisting clothes which reduce the risks of low back pain of caregivers are designed and manufactured, targeting at the use in small care-houses and family caregiving. The load assisting clothes should have two functions. One is to reduce the compressive load acting on the lumbar spine as well as the tensile load on the lumbar muscles by providing an appropriate assisting force. The other is not to interfere with wearers’ motion. The proposed approach in this study is to put elastic compressive members and tensioner belts integrated in the garment to provide the assisting forces without hindering natural movement and comfortable feeling. We study human musculoskeletal systems in the lumbar part, and consider to construct a parallel reinforcement of it on the body surface by embedding passive support structures. The arrangement of those elements is determined based on the study of the principal strain directions and the non-extension directions of the body surface to manage the appropriate assisting force without spoiling the mobility. The effectiveness of the proposed support principle is verified through experimental studies.

Citation Download Citation

Riho Hashimoto, Arata Masuda, Hao Chen, and Sou Kobayashi "Feasibility study and preliminary design of load-assisting clothes for lumbar protection inspired by human musculoskeletal systems", Proc. SPIE 9797, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication 2016, 979712 (22 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219526

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Spine

Prototyping

Manufacturing

Abdomen

Design for manufacturability

Actuators

Artificial muscles

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years