Abstract
The recent use of graduated compression therapy for treatment of chronic venous disorders such as leg ulcers and oedema has led to considerable research interest in flexible and low-cost force sensors. Properly applied low pressure during compression therapy can substantially improve the treatment of chronic venous disorders. However, achievement of the recommended low pressure levels and its accurate determination in real-life conditions is still a challenge. Several thin and flexible force sensors, which can also function as pressure sensors, are commercially available, but their real-life sensing performance has not been evaluated. Moreover, no researchers have reported information on sensor performance during static and dynamic loading within the realistic test conditions required for compression therapy. This research investigated the sensing performance of five low-cost commercial pressure sensors on a human-leg-like test apparatus and presents quantitative results on the accuracy and drift behaviour of these sensors in both static and dynamic conditions required for compression therapy. Extensive experimental work on this new human-leg-like test setup demonstrated its utility for evaluating the sensors. Results showed variation in static and dynamic sensing performance, including accuracy and drift characteristics. Only one commercially available pressure sensor was found to reliably deliver accuracy of 95% and above for all three test pressure points of 30, 50 and 70 mmHg.
Highlights
Chronic venous disorders such as leg ulcers, oedema and venous stasis reduce the quality of life of patients worldwide by impacting their physical, emotional and financial well-being [1,2,3]
This paper presents a comparative performance evaluation of five commercially available low-cost piezoresistive sensors with potential application in compression therapy
An accuracy of 90% is acceptable in compression therapy
Summary
Chronic venous disorders such as leg ulcers, oedema and venous stasis reduce the quality of life of patients worldwide by impacting their physical, emotional and financial well-being [1,2,3]. Compression therapy—the application of persistent pressure on the surface of a limb, most often a leg—is a widely accepted clinical treatment for chronic venous disorders [4]. According to World Union of Wound Healing Societies’ consensus document [5] and the RAL-GZ 387-1 compression hosiery standard [6], compression bandages generally apply pressure below 70 mmHg for treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. For a more pronounced effect, graduated compression therapy [8,9] that moderately reduces the allowed compression pressure range from ankle to calf is practiced. Pressure of 20 mmHg (100%) at the ankle is reduced to 14–20 mmHg (70–100%)
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