MEMS-based bubble pressure sensor for prosthetic socket interface pressure measurement

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Chronic monitoring of pressure at the prosthetic socket/residual limb interface is crucial for research and clinical practice.
• Existing monitoring technologies may have limitations in performance or applicability.
• Understanding interface pressure is key to improving prosthetic fit and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and characterize a novel fluid-filled bubble sensor for prosthetic socket pressure monitoring.
• To evaluate the performance of the novel sensor against existing commercial technologies.
• To assess the sensor's suitability for long-term data collection in prosthetic applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel sensor comprising a MEMS pressure sensor and custom electronics within a fluid-filled bubble.
• Characterization of the bubble sensor's performance, including drift and resolution.
• Comparative analysis of the bubble sensor against two commercially available pressure sensing technologies.

Main Results:

• The novel bubble sensor demonstrated excellent drift performance and good sensing resolution.
• The sensor exhibited hysteresis, potentially attributable to the silicone molding material.
• Performance metrics suggest potential for valuable data acquisition in prosthetic applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed bubble sensor offers a promising new tool for chronic pressure monitoring in prosthetic sockets.
• Hysteresis was observed, suggesting material or integration considerations for optimization.
• Recommendations include positioning the sensor between the liner and socket to mitigate hysteresis for improved accuracy.