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Pressure Sensor System for Customized Scoliosis Braces.
Franz Konstantin Fuss1, Asliza Ahmad2, Adin Ming Tan1
1Smart Products Engineering Program, Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 10, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new, affordable pressure sensor for thoracolumbar sacral orthoses (TLSOs) used in scoliosis treatment. This innovation allows for mobile, cost-effective pressure monitoring during daily activities.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Orthotics and Prosthetics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Idiopathic scoliosis treatment often involves hard-shell thoracolumbar sacral orthoses (TLSOs).
- Optimal corrective pressure within TLSOs is not well-defined.
- Current pressure measurement systems are costly and lab-bound.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cost-effective and accurate pressure sensor system for TLSOs.
- To enable mobile and affordable pressure monitoring in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- A piezoresistive polymer sensor was fabricated and placed between closed-cell foam liners.
- The sensor was evaluated using a material testing machine and calibrated on a force plate.
- System accuracy was assessed with a root mean square error of 12% within the target pressure range.
Main Results:
- The sensor demonstrated sensitivity to pressure changes during breathing and various activities.
- Peak pressures recorded reached up to 0.135 MPa.
- In-brace pressure measurements during daily activities ranged from 0.014-0.124 MPa.
Conclusions:
- The developed sensor offers a viable, low-cost solution for measuring TLSO pressure.
- This technology facilitates clinical studies on brace comfort and pressure during real-world use.
- Enables cheaper, mobile systems for scoliosis brace research.
