Development of a Body-Worn Textile-Based Strain Sensor: Application to Diabetic Foot Assessment.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Textile Science
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) pose a significant health and economic challenge, often leading to amputation.
• Monitoring shear stress during movement is crucial for DFU prevention.
• Textile strain sensing offers a potential non-invasive method to approximate shear stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conceptualize and develop a novel strain-sensing approach for unobtrusive integration into sock textiles.
• To create a wearable sensor for monitoring mechanical strain relevant to DFU prevention.
• To evaluate the performance and viability of a textile-based strain sensor for clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 12 load-sensing approaches, selecting a conductive adhesive concept.
• Developed the strain sensor on Lycra and then a knitted sock substrate.
• Integrated the sensor into mass-producible textiles using industrial knitting machines.
• Conducted static and dynamic laboratory testing to assess sensor performance.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a viable textile-based strain sensor with a resistance change proportional to mechanical strain.
• Achieved a resolution of 0.013 Ω across a range of 0-430 Ω.
• Exhibited a cyclic strain threshold of 6% and a sensitivity gradient of 0.3 ± 0.02.
• Showcased low dynamic drift (0.039-0.045% of total range).

Conclusions:

• A viable textile-based strain sensor, integrable into knitted structures, has been developed.
• This technology represents a promising advancement for DFU prevention through wearable monitoring.
• Further development could lead to effective sock-based strain sensors for early DFU detection.