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Sensor packaging design for continuous underfoot load monitoring
Kylee North1, Erik N Kubiak, Robert W Hitchcock
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 72 S. Central Campus Dr., Rm 2646, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Biomedical Microdevices
|October 20, 2011
Summary
A new sensor enables continuous limb loading monitoring for fracture rehabilitation. This durable, accurate device overcomes current limitations, paving the way for large-scale clinical studies on fracture healing.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- Continuous force measurement is crucial for assessing limb loading during fracture rehabilitation.
- Existing load monitoring devices lack sufficient continuous recording capacity (limited to 1 hour).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel sensor for continuous underfoot load monitoring.
- To enable prolonged monitoring of limb loading for fracture rehabilitation efficacy.
Main Methods:
- A piezoresistive pressure sensor was encapsulated in non-compressible silicone gel.
- Three sensor designs were implemented: rigid housing (I), elastomer bladder (II), and hybrid (III).
- Designs underwent bench and human testing for performance evaluation.
Main Results:
- Design I demonstrated superior performance with high linearity (R=1), low static drift (<1%), and low dynamic drift (<3%).
- Design I captured 35% of body weight during human testing.
- The sensor proved durable and accurate over a 2-week period.
Conclusions:
- The developed sensor offers a low-cost, high-performance solution for continuous load monitoring.
- This technology can facilitate large-scale clinical trials correlating limb loading with fracture healing rates.
