Review on the interlimb neural coupling and its potential usage in walking rehabilitation

Human performs bipedal gait with synchronized arm swing. Apart from the observation that arm movement during gait is the outcome of a mechanical and energetic optimization, the synergetic upper and lower limb movement during gait is a neutrally coordinated motor output, that is, the interlimb movement is neutrally coupled. Patients with injuries to the central nervous system demonstrate the interlimb neural coupling. Researches on central pattern generator and the reflex studies reveal that the interlimb neural coupling is a quadrupedal heritage. Based on the theory of the interlimb neural coupling, both the upper and lower limbs should be practiced synchronously during regular gait training to promote walking rehabilitation for patients with gait disorders. Frther development of a gait robotic system with synchronized arm swing is required to test the clinical application of the neural coupling in gait restoration.     

Robust and real-time guidewire simulation based on Kirchhoff elastic rod for vascular intervention training

Virtual reality （VR） based vascular intervention training is a fascinating innovation, which helps trainees develop skills in safety remote from patients. The vascular intervention training involves the use of flexible tipped guidewires to advance diagnostic or therapeutic catheters into a patient＇s vascular anatomy. In this paper, a real-time physically-based modeling approach is proposed to simulate complicated behaviors of guidewires and catheters based on Kirchhoff elastic rod. The slender body of guidewire and catheter is simulated using more efficient special case of naturally straight, isotropic Kirchhoff rods, and the short flexible tip composed of straight or angled design is modeled using more complex generalized Kirchhoff rods. We derive the equations of motion for guidewire and catheter with continuous elastic energy~ and then they were discretized using a linear implicit scheme that guarantees stability and robustness. In addition, we apply a fast-projection method to enforce the inextensibility of guidewire and catheter, while an adaptive sampling algorithm is implemented to improve the simulation efficiency without reducing accuracy. Experimental results reveal that our guidewire simulation method is both robust and efficient in a real-time performance.     

The Application of Virtual Reality Technology to Ear Microsurgery

The broad application of virtual reality (VR) to medicine has been of great value. The virtual surgery is one of technically difficult applications. With the expansion of the increasingly fine and complicated ear microsurgery, new methods are required to train the doctors. It is necessary and of practical significance to apply VR to the ear micro-operation, which is a functional operation with high precision and great difficulties. In this article,medical VR applications were reviewed. The application of VR to the ear microsurgery was discussed and the virtual ear microsurgery system was designed.