Ultrathin Shear Force Sensor for Direction and Magnitude

描述(由申请者提供)：该项目将开发和测试一种 符合标准的传感器，可以检测和测量 外加剪力。测量剪切力的能力在许多方面都是必需的 应用包括预防压疮、神经假体反馈 以及假肢。为了预防压疮，这些传感器可以 用于安装假肢、矫形器(如腿部支架)和活动辅助装置 设备(例如轮椅座椅)。该传感器还可以集成到 轮椅座椅、假肢、支架和鞋子，作为系统的一部分 防止压疮。对于神经假体应用，这些传感器可以 用于腿部假肢的足底接触信息和 用于上肢假肢的手指和手反馈。临床部署 需要可靠、寿命长、易于安装且美观的传感器 不惹人注意。第一阶段提案旨在开发和表征 测量接触力的剪切分量的传感器。 可行性数据将从涉及两台计算机的实验中收集 提出的传感器原型的模型和测量结果。在一个阶段中 我们将在轮椅座椅上，膝盖以上，改进和测试这个传感器。 和膝盖以下假体的装配力和脚底接触力 测量。 建议的商业应用： 该设备的主要目标包括测量和监测轮椅、医院病床、使用假肢或穿鞋垫的个人所受剪切力的水平，以防止皮肤破裂和改进设备配件。另一个市场包括在反馈系统中使用传感器来取代感觉丧失，比如在神经假体中。许多其他测量身体或身体部分受力的研究应用也可以受益于这种传感器。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will develop and test a thin, compliant sensor that can detect and measure the direction and magnitude of applied shear forces. The ability to measure shear forces is needed in many applications including prevention of pressure sores, neural prosthesis feedback and in prosthetic limbs. For pressure sore prevention, these sensors can be used in fitting prosthetic, orthotic (e.g. leg braces) and mobility assist devices (e.g. wheelchair seats). This sensor can also be incorporated into wheelchair seating, prostheses, braces and shoes, as part of a system to prevent pressure sores. For neural prosthesis applications, these sensors can be used for foot-floor contact information in lower extremity prostheses and for finger and hand feedback in upper extremity prostheses. Clinical deployment requires sensors that are reliable, long-lived, easily mounted and cosmetically unobtrusive. The Phase I proposal is designed to develop and characterize sensors for the measurement of the shear components of contact forces. Feasibility data will be collected from experiments involving both computer models and measurements from a prototype of the proposed sensor. During a Phase II we will refine and test this sensor in wheelchair seating, above the knee and below the knee prosthesis fitting, and foot-floor contact force measurements. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The primary targets for this device include measuring and monitoring the level of shear forces present on individuals in wheelchairs, hospital beds, using prosthetic limbs, or wearing shoe insoles for both prevention of skin break-down and for improved device fittings. Another market includes using the sensor in a feedback system for replacing sensory loss, as in a neural prothesis. Many other research applications that measure forces on a body or part of a body could also benefit from this sensor.