Biomedical Engineering 

Abstract: The paper describes a simplified bioengineering analysis for the determination of force actions at the knee joint for normal and pathological gaits. The stance phase of the gait cycle only is considered, and gravitational and inertia forces are excluded from the analysis. The anatomical and functional assumptions required for analysis are discussed. Force actions transmitted at the knee joint by the bearing surfaces, muscles and ligaments for normal individuals are presented with reference to magnitude and phasic relationship for the activity of level walking. Bearing loads transmitted at the knee joints of pathological limbs are also discussed.

Abstract: Sometimes unjustified, but nonetheless ever present need for more information continues to stimulate the development of new sensors and detectors. One of the more recent additions to the armory of these devices is the chemically sensitive field effect transistor (chemfet). It was born in the early seventies out of two very successful technologies: solid state integrated circuits and ion-selective electrodes (ise). It is still in its infancy but already out of the teething stage and with a very bright prospect ahead.

Abstract: EEG-based systems have been the most widely used in the field of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) for two decades. Plenty of applications have been proposed from games to rehabilitation systems. Until recently, EEG recording devices were too expensive for an end-user. Today, several low-cost alternatives have appeared on the market. The most sophisticated of these low-cost devices is the Emotiv Epoc headset. Some studies reported that this device is suitable for customers in terms of performance. However, none of the previous studies reported to what extent the Emotiv headset is working well compared to a medical system. The aim of this paper is thus to scientifically compare a medical system and the Emotiv Epoc headset by determining their respective performances in the context of a P300 BCI paradigm. In this study, seven healthy subjects performed P300 experiments and two different conditions were studied: sitting on a chair and walking on a treadmill at constant speed. Results show that the Emotiv headset, although able to record EEG data and not only artifacts, is sometimes significantly worse than a medical system. Those results suggest that the design of a specific low-cost EEG recording systems for rehabilitation purposes at a low price is still required.