Shock Absorbing Brace for Study of Upper Extremity MSD's

用于研究上肢 MSD 的减震支架

• 批准号: 6552195
• 负责人: MICHAEL D POTTENGER
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: SMARTWEAR, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-09-26 至 2003-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6552195
• 关键词: arm; assistive device /technology; bioengineering /biomedical engineering; biomedical equipment development; carpal tunnel syndrome; clinical research; electrical property; hand; human subject; musculoskeletal disorder; occupational health /safety; orthopedics; safety equipment; vibration; wrist

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The use of hand-held power tools can result in absorption of significant vibration energy by the worker's hand and arm, and is a causal factor in the development of various musculoskeletal disorders (MSD's) such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). A novel brace incorporating vibration damping materials is proposed that will dramatically reduce this energy absorption, resulting in lower incidence of vibration-related occupational MSD's. The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) has identified this type of injury as a priority research area. The proposed brace will have utility in the top three NORA-sponsored areas for research tools and approaches: clinical assessment of exposure to environmental vibration: practical use as improved personal protective gear; and evaluating the effects of reduced vibration exposure on MSD incidence. Feasibility will be determined through clinical testing of prototype braces. Frequency response will be measured for each test brace, and performance will be compared to currently available braces. Technical feasibility will be investigated by comparing the damping ratios (DR's) obtained from frequency response plots. An ideal brace provides critical damping (DR=1), and technical feasibility will be determined by demonstrating that the proposed brace has a DR closer to unity than currently available braces.

描述（由申请人提供）：使用手持式电动工具会导致工人的手和手臂吸收大量振动能量，并且是导致各种肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）（例如腕管综合症）的致病因素（CTS）和手臂振动综合症（HAVS）。提出了一种结合振动阻尼材料的新型支架，该支架将显着减少能量吸收，从而降低与振动相关的职业 MSD 的发生率。国家职业研究议程 (NORA) 已将此类伤害确定为优先研究领域。拟议的支架将在 NORA 资助的三大研究工具和方法领域发挥作用：环境振动暴露的临床评估：作为改进的个人防护装备的实际应用；并评估减少振动暴露对 MSD 发病率的影响。可行性将通过原型支架的临床测试来确定。将测量每个测试支架的频率响应，并将性能与当前可用的支架进行比较。将通过比较从频率响应图中获得的阻尼比（DR）来研究技术可行性。理想的支架提供临界阻尼 (DR=1)，技术可行性将通过证明所提出的支架的 DR 比当前可用的支架更接近一致来确定。