title: Predict human body indentation lying on a spring mattress using a neural network approach.
abstract: This article presents a method to predict and assess the interaction between a human body and a spring mattress. A three-layer artificial neural network model was developed to simulate and predict an indentation curve of human spine, characterized with the depth of lumbar lordosis and four inclination angles: cervicothoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbosacral and the back-hip (β). By comparing the spinal indentation curves described by the optimal evaluation parameters (depth of lumbar lordosis, cervicothoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral), a better design of five-zone spring mattresses was obtained for individuals to have an effective support to the main part of the body. Using such approach, an operating process was further introduced, in which appropriate stiffness proportions were proposed to design mattress for the normal body types of Chinese young women. Finally, case studies were undertaken, which show that the method developed is feasible and practical.
authors.affiliation: College of Furniture and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Shilu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: College of Furniture and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Furniture and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK zguan@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001513:Beds; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Indentation curve; artificial neural network; five-zone mattress; simulation; spine