Abstract
Strain sensors capable of monitoring complex human motions are highly desirable for the development of wearable electronic devices and healthcare monitoring systems. Excellent sensitivity and a wide working range of the sensor material are important requirements for distinguishing dynamic human motion. In this study, a highly stretchable strain sensor was fabricated via inkjet printing of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films on a stretchable polydimethylsiloxane substrate. The sensor was attached to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the hand in 12 healthy male subjects. The subjects placed their hands next to a conventional goniometer and flexed the MCP joint to predetermined angles. A linear relationship was found between the change in the length of the strain sensor and the intended angle of the MCP joint. The fabricated thin films showed high durability during repeated cycling (1,000 cycles) and good sensitivity with a gauge factor of 2.75. This study demonstrates that the newly developed stretchable CNT strain sensor can be used for effectively measuring MCP joint angles. This sensor may also be useful for the analysis of complex and dynamic hand motions that are difficult to measure using a conventional goniometer.
Highlights
Hand therapists record any changes prior to and following treatment by measuring joint angles
Three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis systems [1,2] and instrumented gloves have been used for dynamic recording of finger bending angles during the performance of daily activities [3]
As reported in our previous paper [14], the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) film has excellent mechanical properties even under high strains because of a specific phenomenon that occurs in the film
Summary
Hand therapists record any changes prior to and following treatment by measuring joint angles. Three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis systems [1,2] and instrumented gloves have been used for dynamic recording of finger bending angles during the performance of daily activities [3] Such 3D motion systems can capture complex movements accurately but are bulky and expensive and have large space requirements; they are less suitable for routine clinical use. Instrumented gloves that utilize resistive bend sensors [4] have been developed for application in fields such as computer gaming, virtual reality, rehabilitation, and robotics. These gloves are cheaper and easier to set up, they
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