IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2015
This paper describes the design, development, and characterization of two wireless instrumented c... more This paper describes the design, development, and characterization of two wireless instrumented crutches for gait monitoring in order to provide clinicians quantitative parameters of upper limbs' contributions during walking. These parameters could be used to teach orthopedic patients to correctly use these supports and minimize problems connected to their usage. These instrumented crutches allow monitoring axial forces and shear forces, tilt angles, and time of impact on the ground in real time. Each crutch is composed of three strain-gauge bridges for measuring axial and shear forces, a conditioning circuit with transmission module, a triaxial accelerometer, a power management circuit, two batteries, and a biofeedback. The data are wirelessly transmitted via Bluetooth without needing any further readout unit, from the crutches to a personal computer, where the data are processed and displayed by a program created in LabVIEW. Each instrumented crutch was tested to assess the response of the accelerometer and the three strain-gauge bridges using a setup designed ad hoc. The mean experimental standard deviation was about 42 mV for axial forces corresponding to about 8 N and about 35 mV for shear forces corresponding to about 4 N. Hysteresis, linearity, and drift were calculated, and the obtained accuracy was about 8-9 N for axial forces and 4-5 N for shear forces. Furthermore, the crutches were tested during a walking activity of ten healthy subjects along a straight path for several trials. These crutches were used for a common analysis usually reported in the literature for weight bearing evaluation. The subjects were monitored performing a nonweight bearing (NWB) and a partial weight bearing (PWB) during a three-point gait. The results showed a mean of 102%$,±, $16% for NWB tests and a mean of 19%,±14% for 10% PWB tests; these values are in agreement with similar studies in the literature. The simplicity th- t includes only constitutive strain gauges and a separable circuit board allows the achievement of the objectives of simplicity, ease of use, and noninvasiveness. Therefore, these crutches could be used as a support tool for controlling the use of crutches during walking not only in hospitals but also at home.
2015 IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications (MeMeA) Proceedings, 2015
In recent years, the demand for wearable devices has grown. This is due in large part to the abil... more In recent years, the demand for wearable devices has grown. This is due in large part to the ability to monitor in real time a critical state in the person's health in all daily activities. However, such devices have not yet had a significant development. This is because of some technological aspects not yet fully consolidated. One of these aspects is the battery power supply that due to the weight and overall dimensions can prevent the movement and / or increase the invasiveness of the system. The present work describes an instrumented autonomous T-shirt adopting a low power circuit board consuming only 8.15 mA in run mode. The proposed low power wearable system can permit smaller and lighter batteries and continuous monitoring in all day long applications. The instrumented T-shirt is capable of measuring the frequency of respiration, heart rate and movement of the body, transmitting data to a readout unit and sending alarms if necessary. The methodology adopted, the design choices and the experimental results are clearly reported and discussed. The proposed methodology can be an effective solution for all wearable devices.
2000 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems. Emerging Technologies for the 21st Century. Proceedings (IEEE Cat No.00CH36353), 2000
In this paper the experimental chaotic behavior of the well known 741 operational amplifier is pr... more In this paper the experimental chaotic behavior of the well known 741 operational amplifier is presented when electromagnetic interference is conveyed to its power supply pins. Such a complex dynamic behavior occurs if the interfering signal is in the 5 MHz-28 MHz range with amplitudes greater than about 100 mV. These frequencies are out of the standard operating conditions, but
2013 Transducers & Eurosensors XXVII: The 17th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (TRANSDUCERS & EUROSENSORS XXVII), 2013
ABSTRACT The tongue has continuously contact with the hard palate during articulation of a syllab... more ABSTRACT The tongue has continuously contact with the hard palate during articulation of a syllable or during swallowing. Patients who have had a cerebrovascular accident or other neurological disorders may present language disorders and lack of tongue coordination. In this work, a proposed device with the aim to provide a non-invasive aid to rehabilitation and care of people with language or swallowing disorders is described. The proposed device is designed with the purpose to measure continuously the tongue pressure on the palate and transmit wirelessly the data. The device is minimally invasive, because no cable connects the measuring system placed in the mouth and the readout unit placed outside. A first prototype has been developed and preliminary tests were performed using an experimental setup designed ad hoc. Preliminary experimental results obtained using a testing machine show a wide measurement range of the fabricated pressure sensor, up to 80 kPa. Fields of use of this device are the treatment of people with language or swallowing disorders.
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2015
The monitoring of any human physiological parameters during rehabilitation exercises requires non... more The monitoring of any human physiological parameters during rehabilitation exercises requires noninvasive sensors for the patient. This paper describes a wireless wearable T-shirt for posture monitoring during rehabilitation or reinforcement exercises. The subject posture is measured through a sensorized T-shirt using an inductive sensor sewn directly on the fabric. The wireless wearable T-shirt design specifications are the following: independence from the remote unit, easy to use, lightweight and comfort of wearing. This paper reports the conceptual framework, the fabricated device description, and the adopted experimental setup. The instrumented T-shirt's output data are compared with the data obtained via an optical system, as a gold standard, that measures the marker positions over the patient's back and chest. The trials performed on four subjects obtained on different days demonstrate that the wireless wearable sensor described in this paper is capable of producing reliable data compared with the data obtained with the optical system. The constitutive sensor simplicity that includes only a copper wire and a separable circuit board allows achieving the objectives of simplicity, ease of use, and noninvasiveness. The sensorized T-shirt, integrated with designed conditioning and transmission electronics for remote communication, could be used as a support tool for postural monitoring during rehabilitation exercises.
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2015
This paper describes the design, development, and characterization of two wireless instrumented c... more This paper describes the design, development, and characterization of two wireless instrumented crutches for gait monitoring in order to provide clinicians quantitative parameters of upper limbs' contributions during walking. These parameters could be used to teach orthopedic patients to correctly use these supports and minimize problems connected to their usage. These instrumented crutches allow monitoring axial forces and shear forces, tilt angles, and time of impact on the ground in real time. Each crutch is composed of three strain-gauge bridges for measuring axial and shear forces, a conditioning circuit with transmission module, a triaxial accelerometer, a power management circuit, two batteries, and a biofeedback. The data are wirelessly transmitted via Bluetooth without needing any further readout unit, from the crutches to a personal computer, where the data are processed and displayed by a program created in LabVIEW. Each instrumented crutch was tested to assess the response of the accelerometer and the three strain-gauge bridges using a setup designed ad hoc. The mean experimental standard deviation was about 42 mV for axial forces corresponding to about 8 N and about 35 mV for shear forces corresponding to about 4 N. Hysteresis, linearity, and drift were calculated, and the obtained accuracy was about 8-9 N for axial forces and 4-5 N for shear forces. Furthermore, the crutches were tested during a walking activity of ten healthy subjects along a straight path for several trials. These crutches were used for a common analysis usually reported in the literature for weight bearing evaluation. The subjects were monitored performing a nonweight bearing (NWB) and a partial weight bearing (PWB) during a three-point gait. The results showed a mean of 102%$,±, $16% for NWB tests and a mean of 19%,±14% for 10% PWB tests; these values are in agreement with similar studies in the literature. The simplicity th- t includes only constitutive strain gauges and a separable circuit board allows the achievement of the objectives of simplicity, ease of use, and noninvasiveness. Therefore, these crutches could be used as a support tool for controlling the use of crutches during walking not only in hospitals but also at home.
2015 IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications (MeMeA) Proceedings, 2015
In recent years, the demand for wearable devices has grown. This is due in large part to the abil... more In recent years, the demand for wearable devices has grown. This is due in large part to the ability to monitor in real time a critical state in the person's health in all daily activities. However, such devices have not yet had a significant development. This is because of some technological aspects not yet fully consolidated. One of these aspects is the battery power supply that due to the weight and overall dimensions can prevent the movement and / or increase the invasiveness of the system. The present work describes an instrumented autonomous T-shirt adopting a low power circuit board consuming only 8.15 mA in run mode. The proposed low power wearable system can permit smaller and lighter batteries and continuous monitoring in all day long applications. The instrumented T-shirt is capable of measuring the frequency of respiration, heart rate and movement of the body, transmitting data to a readout unit and sending alarms if necessary. The methodology adopted, the design choices and the experimental results are clearly reported and discussed. The proposed methodology can be an effective solution for all wearable devices.
2000 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems. Emerging Technologies for the 21st Century. Proceedings (IEEE Cat No.00CH36353), 2000
In this paper the experimental chaotic behavior of the well known 741 operational amplifier is pr... more In this paper the experimental chaotic behavior of the well known 741 operational amplifier is presented when electromagnetic interference is conveyed to its power supply pins. Such a complex dynamic behavior occurs if the interfering signal is in the 5 MHz-28 MHz range with amplitudes greater than about 100 mV. These frequencies are out of the standard operating conditions, but
2013 Transducers & Eurosensors XXVII: The 17th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (TRANSDUCERS & EUROSENSORS XXVII), 2013
ABSTRACT The tongue has continuously contact with the hard palate during articulation of a syllab... more ABSTRACT The tongue has continuously contact with the hard palate during articulation of a syllable or during swallowing. Patients who have had a cerebrovascular accident or other neurological disorders may present language disorders and lack of tongue coordination. In this work, a proposed device with the aim to provide a non-invasive aid to rehabilitation and care of people with language or swallowing disorders is described. The proposed device is designed with the purpose to measure continuously the tongue pressure on the palate and transmit wirelessly the data. The device is minimally invasive, because no cable connects the measuring system placed in the mouth and the readout unit placed outside. A first prototype has been developed and preliminary tests were performed using an experimental setup designed ad hoc. Preliminary experimental results obtained using a testing machine show a wide measurement range of the fabricated pressure sensor, up to 80 kPa. Fields of use of this device are the treatment of people with language or swallowing disorders.
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 2015
The monitoring of any human physiological parameters during rehabilitation exercises requires non... more The monitoring of any human physiological parameters during rehabilitation exercises requires noninvasive sensors for the patient. This paper describes a wireless wearable T-shirt for posture monitoring during rehabilitation or reinforcement exercises. The subject posture is measured through a sensorized T-shirt using an inductive sensor sewn directly on the fabric. The wireless wearable T-shirt design specifications are the following: independence from the remote unit, easy to use, lightweight and comfort of wearing. This paper reports the conceptual framework, the fabricated device description, and the adopted experimental setup. The instrumented T-shirt's output data are compared with the data obtained via an optical system, as a gold standard, that measures the marker positions over the patient's back and chest. The trials performed on four subjects obtained on different days demonstrate that the wireless wearable sensor described in this paper is capable of producing reliable data compared with the data obtained with the optical system. The constitutive sensor simplicity that includes only a copper wire and a separable circuit board allows achieving the objectives of simplicity, ease of use, and noninvasiveness. The sensorized T-shirt, integrated with designed conditioning and transmission electronics for remote communication, could be used as a support tool for postural monitoring during rehabilitation exercises.
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