A Biomechanical Energy Based Wearable Sensor System for Real Time Human Gait Phase Detection and Postoperative Trauma Monitoring

Abstract

Real time sensitive monitoring of gait phase has important applications for medical treatment and diagnostics. Time periods composing walking phase of gait can be clinically meaningful parameters to reveal differences between normal and pathological gait. In this study, biomechanical energy harvesting have been reported as a feasible solution for directly driving wearable sensors for gait phase monitoring. This not only can save the original space of battery in the sensors but also can avoid environmental pollution caused by waste batteries. Here, we have developed a flexible and wearable sensor with a broader range for pressure detection using triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) to acquire human walking gait phase signals. According to previous studies, if people have trauma on their foot, the walking gait phase will become unusual compared to normal people. In addition, fewer cases of trauma like Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear and Ankle muscle injury have also been analyzed with the developed sensor systems. The obtained time point of gait phase signal and the amplitude of peak can help patient understand their recovery situation precisely. We believed this wearable gait phase system not only expands the applications of biomechanical energy harvesters for wearable sensors, but also provides possible approaches for wearable human motion monitoring which is of great importance in many fields such as sports science and medical diagnostics.