POFBG-Embedded Cork Insole for Plantar Pressure Monitoring

Sensors

Maria de Fátima Domingues¹  Paulo Antunes¹  Antreas Theodosiou¹  Paulo André²  Débora Vilarinho²  Arnaldo G. Leal-Junior²  Cátia Leitão³  Carlos Marques³  Kyriacos Kalli⁴ 

[1] I3N, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;;Department of Physics &Nanophotonics Research Laboratory, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus;Telecommunications Laboratory, Electrical Engineering Department, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Fernando Ferrari Avenue, Vitoria 29075-910, ES, Brazil;

关键词: polymer optical fiber;    gait plantar pressure;    CYTOP;    physical rehabilitation;    optical fiber sensors;    insole fiber Bragg gratings network;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s17122924

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We propose a novel polymer optical fiber (POF) sensing system based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) to measure foot plantar pressure. The plantar pressure signals are detected by five FBGs, in the same piece of cyclic transparent optical polymer (CYTOP) fiber, which are embedded in a cork insole for the dynamic monitoring of gait. The calibration and measurements performed with the suggested system are presented, and the results obtained demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the sensing platform to monitor the foot plantar pressure distribution during gait motion and the application of pressure. This architecture does not compromise the patient’s mobility nor interfere in their daily activities. The results using the CYTOP fiber showed a very good response when compared with solutions using silica optical fibers, resulting in a sensitivity almost twice as high, with excellent repeatability and ease of handling. The advantages of POF (e.g., high flexibility and robustness) proved that this is a viable solution for this type of application, since POF’s high fracture toughness enables its application in monitoring patients with higher body mass compared with similar systems based on silica fiber. This study has demonstrated the viability of the proposed system based on POF technology as a useful alternative for plantar pressure detection systems.

【 授权许可】

Unknown