Cyborg and bionic systems (Washington, D.C.)最新文献

Carbon-based nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, and carbon nanofibers, are becoming a research hotspot due to their unique structure and good mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and chemical properties. With the development of material synthesis technology, they can be functionalized and used in various fields such as energy, environment, and biomedicine. In particular, stimuli-responsive carbon-based nanomaterials have stood out in recent years because of their smart behavior. Researchers have applied carbon-based nanomaterials to different disease treatments based on their stimulus-response properties. In this paper, based on stimuli-responsive carbon-based nanomaterials' morphology, we categorize them into carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, and carbon nanofibers according to their morphology. Then, their applications in probes, bioimaging, tumor therapy, and other fields are discussed. Finally, we address the advantages and disadvantages of carbon-based stimuli-responsive nanomaterials and discuss their future perspective.

The innovation of wearable devices is advancing rapidly. Activity monitors can be used to improve the total hip replacement (THR) patients' recovery process and reduce costs. This systematic review assessed the body-worn accelerometers used in studies to enhance the rehabilitation process and monitor THR patients. Electronic databases such as Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews library, CINAHL CompleteVR, Science Citation Index, and MedlineVR from January 2000 to January 2022 were searched. Due to inclusion criteria, fourteen eligible studies that utilised commercial wearable technology to monitor physical activity both before and after THR were identified. Their evidence quality was assessed with RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I. This study demonstrates that wearable device technology might be feasible to predict, monitor, and detect physical activity following THR. They could be used as a motivational tool to increase patients' mobility and enhance the recovery process. Also, wearable activity monitors could provide a better insight into the individual's activity level in contrast to subjective self-reported questionnaires. However, they have some limitations, and further evidence is needed to establish this technology as the primary device in THR rehabilitation.

In this paper, we describe the advances in the design, actuation, modeling, and control field of continuum robots. After decades of pioneering research, many innovative structural design and actuation methods have arisen. Untethered magnetic robots are a good example; its external actuation characteristic allows for miniaturization, and they have gotten a lot of interest from academics. Furthermore, continuum robots with proprioceptive abilities are also studied. In modeling, modeling approaches based on continuum mechanics and geometric shaping hypothesis have made significant progress after years of research. Geometric exact continuum mechanics yields apparent computing efficiency via discrete modeling when combined with numerical analytic methods such that many effective model-based control methods have been realized. In the control, closed-loop and hybrid control methods offer great accuracy and resilience of motion control when combined with sensor feedback information. On the other hand, the advancement of machine learning has made modeling and control of continuum robots easier. The data-driven modeling technique simplifies modeling and improves anti-interference and generalization abilities. This paper discusses the current development and challenges of continuum robots in the above fields and provides prospects for the future.