**5. References**


<sup>\*</sup> Corresponding Author

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116 Smart Actuation and Sensing Systems – Recent Advances and Future Challenges

ankle probably helped limit any influence on image encoding.

compactness, light weight or wearability are desired features of the device.

*National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Energetics and Interphases, Lecco, Italy* 

The authors would like to thank the staff of ITAB, University of Chieti, where the tests employing MEG and fMRI were conducted: in particular Gian Luca Romani, Filippo Zappasodi, Vittorio Pizzella and Gabriella Tamburro for the MEG measurements, Cosimo Del Gratta, Antonio Ferretti and Mauro Gianni Perrucci for the fMRI trials. The financial support from Regione Lombardia (Mind in Italy Project) is most gratefully acknowledged.

[1] Gracies J-M (2005) Pathophysiology of spastic paresis I: paresis and soft tissue changes,

[2] Gracies J-M (2005) Pathophysiology of spastic paresis II: emergence of muscle

and Stefano Viscuso

**4. Conclusions** 

**Author details** 

Simone Pittaccio\*

**5. References** 

Corresponding Author

 \*

Muscle Nerve 31: 535–551.

overactivity, Muscle Nerve 31: 552–571.

**Acknowledgement** 

from all parts of the brain and in some areas seemed to be temporally dependent on the movements of the ankle. The use of conductive materials in the implementation of the device did not affect the acquisition. The distance between the gantry (or head coil) and the

This Chapter showed some innovative applications of Shape Memory Alloys requiring deep understanding of the interaction of the material characteristics with the complex constraints imposed by the human body. In particular, it was explained how the design plan should be laid considering the many aspects connected to the state of the target patient, and the technical requirements should be chosen to meet very well identified needs. The field of Medical Rehabilitation is an interesting domain for exploiting the functional properties of NiTi-based alloys in making new lightweight and portable actuators. The Neuroscience applications introduced in this Chapter, on the other hand, albeit representing a niche sector *per se*, both make the most of the typical design techniques employed for rehabilitation devices, and provide a development ground for interesting industrial actuators with amagnetic characteristics. It is hoped that the SMA-based design strategies presented here will be of inspiration to engineers interested in utilising shape memory actuation for biomedical, robotic, aerospace or automotive applications with tight and mandatory external constraints where

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IFBME Proceedings 23. Berlin: Springer. pp. 1584–1587.

25/9. Berlin: Springer. pp. 178-181.

2002. Berlin: Springer. pp. 227-234.

Services. pp. 117-120.

Biol Res. 36: 683-691.

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305-318.

Proceedings 25/9. Berlin: Springer. pp. 182-185.

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[20] Viscuso S, Pittaccio S, Caimmi M, Gasperini G, Pirovano S, Besseghini S, Molteni F (2009) Pseudoelastic alloy devices for spastic elbow relaxation. In: Lim CT, Goh JC, editors. ICBME 2008 – 13th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering,

[21] Pittaccio S, Viscuso S (2009) The use of muscle "creep" as opposed to relaxation in stretching braces: a pseudoelastic device. In: Dössel O, Schlegel WC, editors. World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2009, IFMBE Proceedings

[22] Pittaccio S, Viscuso S (2009) Customizable neuro-mechanical model of a hemiplegic elbow interacting with a pseudoelastic dynamic orthosis. In: Dössel O, Schlegel WC, editors. World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering 2009, IFMBE

[23] Viscuso S, Pittaccio S, Caimmi M, Gasperini G, Pirovano S, Villa E, Besseghini S, Molteni F (2009) Pseudoelastic Nitinol-Based Device for Relaxation of Spastic Elbow in

[24] Patent Number: WO/2011/137999. Joint For Articulations With Pseudo-Elastic Elements. [25] Pittaccio S, Viscuso S, Beretta E, Turconi AC, Strazzer S (2010) Pilot studies suggesting new applications of NiTi in dynamic orthoses for the ankle joint. Prosthet Orthot Int 34:

[26] Hanafusa A, Isomura T, Sekiguchi Y, Takahashi H, Dohi T (2002) Orthosis Design System for Malformed Ears Based on Spline Approximation. In: Dohi T, Kikinis R, editors. Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention — MICCAI

[27] Shimizu Y, Kobayashi (2011) The Development of Foot Orthotics using Shape Memory Alloy for Preventing Falls. In: Werner B, editor. 2011 IEEE 11th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering. Washington: Conference Publishing

[28] Takami M, Fukui K, Saitou S, Sugiyama I, Terayama K (1992) Application of a shape

[31] Machado LG, Savi MA (2003) Medical applications of shape memory alloys. Braz J Med

[32] Lai YJ, Yeh LJ, Chiu MC (2010) An Assessment of the Body Joint Bending Actuator

[33] Lai YJ, Yeh LJ, Chiu MC (2012) An experimental investigation on shape memory alloy dynamic splint for a finger joint application. Sens Actuator A-Phys 173: 210–218. [34] Torri M, Viscuso S, Pittaccio S, Nespoli A, Besseghini S (2006) Biomechanical design of a shape memory alloy spring for the activation of a flaccid hand rehabilitation device. In: Venugopalan R, Wu MH, editors. Medical Device Materials III: Proceedings of the Materials & Processes for Medical Devices Conference. Materials Park: ASM

[29] Patent Number: US 2008/0294079 A1. Orthotic Apparatus And Method Of Operation. [30] Patent Number: US 2011/0131838 A1. Dynamically Adjustable Orthotic Device.

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