ULTRATHIN SENSOR OF FORCE DIRECTION AND MAGNITUDE

描述(由申请人提供)：该项目将开发和测试一种薄的、符合要求的传感器，该传感器可以检测和测量所施加的剪切力和法向力的方向和大小。测量剪切力的能力在许多应用中都是必需的，包括预防压疮、神经假体反馈和假肢。为了预防压疮，这些传感器可用于假肢、矫形器和座椅或床上应用的装配和长期监测。对于神经假体应用，这些传感器可用于下肢假肢中的足底接触信息，以及上肢假肢中的手指和手反馈。临床部署要求传感器可靠、寿命长、易于安装且外观不显眼。第一阶段的工作模拟、设计、开发和测试了一种新型的传感器材料原型，该材料可以测量接触力的剪切力和法向分量的方向和大小。该传感器材料的优化、改进和测试将在此阶段进行。广泛的测试将包括静态和动态特性以及在轮椅和鞋类应用中对传感器的临床真实测试。在第二阶段结束时，这些传感器将可供研究人员进行以前不可能进行的新研究。

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 and normal 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 and long-term monitoring of prosthetics, orthotics and seating or bed applications. 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 work modeled, designed, developed and tested a novel prototype sensor material that could measure the direction and magnitude of the shear and normal components of contact forces. Optimization, refinement and testing of this sensor material will be performed in this phase II. The extensive testing will include static and dynamic characterizations along with clinical real-world testing of the sensor in wheelchair and in-shoe applications. At the conclusion of this phase II, these sensors will be made available for researchers to perform new studies, previously not possible.