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Nauman A, Khaliq HS, Choi JC, Lee JW, Kim HR. Topologically Engineered Strain Redistribution in Elastomeric Substrates for Dually Tunable Anisotropic Plasmomechanical Responses. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:6337-6347. [PMID: 38285501 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The prompt visual response is considered to be a highly intuitive tenet among sensors. Therefore, plasmomechanical strain sensors, which exhibit dynamic structural color changes, have recently been developed by using mechanical stimulus-based elastomeric substrates for wearable sensors. However, the reported plasmomechanical strain sensors either lack directional sensitivity or require complex signal processing and device design strategies to ensure anisotropic optical responses. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports on utilizing anisotropic mechanical substrates to obtain directional optical responses. Herein, we propose an anisotropic plasmomechanical sensor to distinguish between the applied force direction and the force magnitude. We employ a simple strain-engineered topological elastomer to mechanically transform closely packed metallic nanoparticles (NPs) into anisotropic directional rearrangements depending on the applied force direction. The proposed structure consists of a heterogeneous-modulus elastomer that exhibits a highly direction-dependent Poisson effect owing to the periodically line-patterned local strain redistribution occurring due to the same magnitude of applied external force. Consequently, the reorientation of the self-assembled gold (Au)-NP array manifests dual anisotropy, i.e., force- and polarization-direction-dependent plasmonic coupling. The cost-effectiveness and simple design of our proposed heterogeneous-modulus platform pave the way for numerous optical applications based on dynamic transformation and topological inhomogeneities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Nauman
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Hafiz Saad Khaliq
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Chan Choi
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- Soft Hybrid Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Lee
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Hak-Rin Kim
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- School of Electronics Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
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Pulcinelli M, Pinnelli M, Massaroni C, Lo Presti D, Fortino G, Schena E. Wearable Systems for Unveiling Collective Intelligence in Clinical Settings. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:9777. [PMID: 38139623 PMCID: PMC10747409 DOI: 10.3390/s23249777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, there is an ever-growing interest in assessing the collective intelligence (CI) of a team in a wide range of scenarios, thanks to its potential in enhancing teamwork and group performance. Recently, special attention has been devoted on the clinical setting, where breakdowns in teamwork, leadership, and communication can lead to adverse events, compromising patient safety. So far, researchers have mostly relied on surveys to study human behavior and group dynamics; however, this method is ineffective. In contrast, a promising solution to monitor behavioral and individual features that are reflective of CI is represented by wearable technologies. To date, the field of CI assessment still appears unstructured; therefore, the aim of this narrative review is to provide a detailed overview of the main group and individual parameters that can be monitored to evaluate CI in clinical settings, together with the wearables either already used to assess them or that have the potential to be applied in this scenario. The working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of each device are introduced in order to try to bring order in this field and provide a guide for future CI investigations in medical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Pulcinelli
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.P.); (M.P.); (C.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Mariangela Pinnelli
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.P.); (M.P.); (C.M.); (E.S.)
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.P.); (M.P.); (C.M.); (E.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Daniela Lo Presti
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.P.); (M.P.); (C.M.); (E.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Fortino
- DIMES, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 41C, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Emiliano Schena
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.P.); (M.P.); (C.M.); (E.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
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Hussain T, Ullah S, Fernández-García R, Gil I. Wearable Sensors for Respiration Monitoring: A Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7518. [PMID: 37687977 PMCID: PMC10490703 DOI: 10.3390/s23177518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of flexible and wearable respiration sensors with emphasis on their significance in healthcare applications. The paper classifies these sensors based on their operating frequency distinguishing between high-frequency sensors, which operate above 10 MHz, and low-frequency sensors, which operate below this level. The operating principles of breathing sensors as well as the materials and fabrication techniques employed in their design are addressed. The existing research highlights the need for robust and flexible materials to enable the development of reliable and comfortable sensors. Finally, the paper presents potential research directions and proposes research challenges in the field of flexible and wearable respiration sensors. By identifying emerging trends and gaps in knowledge, this review can encourage further advancements and innovation in the rapidly evolving domain of flexible and wearable sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauseef Hussain
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (R.F.-G.); (I.G.)
| | - Sana Ullah
- Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Politecnico di Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Raúl Fernández-García
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (R.F.-G.); (I.G.)
| | - Ignacio Gil
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (R.F.-G.); (I.G.)
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Zhang X, Wang C, Zheng T, Wu H, Wu Q, Wang Y. Wearable Optical Fiber Sensors in Medical Monitoring Applications: A Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:6671. [PMID: 37571457 PMCID: PMC10422468 DOI: 10.3390/s23156671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Wearable optical fiber sensors have great potential for development in medical monitoring. With the increasing demand for compactness, comfort, accuracy, and other features in new medical monitoring devices, the development of wearable optical fiber sensors is increasingly meeting these requirements. This paper reviews the latest evolution of wearable optical fiber sensors in the medical field. Three types of wearable optical fiber sensors are analyzed: wearable optical fiber sensors based on Fiber Bragg grating, wearable optical fiber sensors based on light intensity changes, and wearable optical fiber sensors based on Fabry-Perot interferometry. The innovation of wearable optical fiber sensors in respiration and joint monitoring is introduced in detail, and the main principles of three kinds of wearable optical fiber sensors are summarized. In addition, we discuss their advantages, limitations, directions to improve accuracy and the challenges they face. We also look forward to future development prospects, such as the combination of wireless networks which will change how medical services are provided. Wearable optical fiber sensors offer a viable technology for prospective continuous medical surveillance and will change future medical benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhui Zhang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy Technology and Application, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (H.W.)
| | - Chunyang Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy Technology and Application, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (H.W.)
| | - Tong Zheng
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China;
| | - Haibin Wu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy Technology and Application, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (H.W.)
| | - Qing Wu
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy Technology and Application, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Z.); (C.W.); (H.W.)
| | - Yunzheng Wang
- Center for Optics Research and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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Meena JS, Choi SB, Jung SB, Kim JW. Electronic textiles: New age of wearable technology for healthcare and fitness solutions. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100565. [PMID: 36816602 PMCID: PMC9932217 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sedentary lifestyles and evolving work environments have created challenges for global health and cause huge burdens on healthcare and fitness systems. Physical immobility and functional losses due to aging are two main reasons for noncommunicable disease mortality. Smart electronic textiles (e-textiles) have attracted considerable attention because of their potential uses in health monitoring, rehabilitation, and training assessment applications. Interactive textiles integrated with electronic devices and algorithms can be used to gather, process, and digitize data on human body motion in real time for purposes such as electrotherapy, improving blood circulation, and promoting wound healing. This review summarizes research advances on e-textiles designed for wearable healthcare and fitness systems. The significance of e-textiles, key applications, and future demand expectations are addressed in this review. Various health conditions and fitness problems and possible solutions involving the use of multifunctional interactive garments are discussed. A brief discussion of essential materials and basic procedures used to fabricate wearable e-textiles are included. Finally, the current challenges, possible solutions, opportunities, and future perspectives in the area of smart textiles are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagan Singh Meena
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology, Core Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Bin Choi
- Department of Smart Fab Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Boo Jung
- School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Woong Kim
- Department of Smart Fab Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Pawlicki Ł, Fotyga A, Rewieński J, Groth M, Kulas Ł, Fotyga G. Wireless Body Area Network for Preventing Self-Inoculation Transmission of Respiratory Viral Diseases. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:2042. [PMID: 36850640 PMCID: PMC9959337 DOI: 10.3390/s23042042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This paper proposes an idea of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) based on Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) standards to recognize and alarm a gesture of touching the face, and in effect, to prevent self-inoculation of respiratory viral diseases, such as COVID-19 or influenza A, B, or C. The proposed network comprises wireless modules placed in bracelets and a necklace. It relies on the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) measurements between the bracelet and necklace modules. The measured signal is cleared of noise using the exponential moving average (EMA). Next, we use a classification algorithm based on a Least-Squares Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) in order to detect facial touches. When the results of the classification indicate that the hand is moving toward the face, an alarm is sent through the neck module and the vibrator embedded in the wrist module is switched on. Based on the performed tests, it can be concluded that the proposed solution is characterized by high accuracy and reliability. It should be useful, especially for individuals who are regularly exposed to the risk of respiratory infections.
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De Fazio R, Greco MR, De Vittorio M, Visconti P. A Differential Inertial Wearable Device for Breathing Parameter Detection: Hardware and Firmware Development, Experimental Characterization. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:9953. [PMID: 36560322 PMCID: PMC9787627 DOI: 10.3390/s22249953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Breathing monitoring is crucial for evaluating a patient's health status. The technologies commonly used to monitor respiration are costly, bulky, obtrusive, and inaccurate, mainly when the user moves. Consequently, efforts have been devoted to providing new solutions and methodologies to overcome these limitations. These methods have several uses, including healthcare monitoring, measuring athletic performance, and aiding patients with respiratory diseases, such as COPD (chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease), sleep apnea, etc. Breathing-induced chest movements can be measured noninvasively and discreetly using inertial sensors. This research work presents the development and testing of an inertia-based chest band for breathing monitoring through a differential approach. The device comprises two IMUs (inertial measurement units) placed on the patient's chest and back to determine the differential inertial signal, carrying out information detection about the breathing activity. The chest band includes a low-power microcontroller section to acquire inertial data from the two IMUs and process them to extract the breathing parameters (i.e., RR-respiration rate; TI/TE-inhalation/exhalation time; IER-inhalation-to-exhalation time; V-flow rate), using the back IMU as a reference. A BLE transceiver wirelessly transmits the acquired breathing parameters to a mobile application. Finally, the test results demonstrate the effectiveness of the used dual-inertia solution; correlation and Bland-Altman analyses were performed on the RR measurements from the chest band and the reference, demonstrating a high correlation (r¯ = 0.92) and low mean difference (MD¯ = -0.27 BrPM (breaths per minute)), limits of agreement (LoA¯ = +1.16/-1.75 BrPM), and mean absolute error (MAE¯ = 1.15%). Additionally, the experimental results demonstrated that the developed device correctly measured the other breathing parameters (TI, TE, IER, and V), keeping an MAE of ≤5%. The obtained results indicated that the developed chest band is a viable solution for long-term breathing monitoring, both in stationary and moving users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Fazio
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Greco
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Massimo De Vittorio
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Italian Institute of Technology IIT, 73010 Arnesano, Italy
| | - Paolo Visconti
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Italian Institute of Technology IIT, 73010 Arnesano, Italy
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Functional mimicry of Ruffini receptors with fibre Bragg gratings and deep neural networks enables a bio-inspired large-area tactile-sensitive skin. NAT MACH INTELL 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s42256-022-00487-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
AbstractCollaborative robots are expected to physically interact with humans in daily living and the workplace, including industrial and healthcare settings. A key related enabling technology is tactile sensing, which currently requires addressing the outstanding scientific challenge to simultaneously detect contact location and intensity by means of soft conformable artificial skins adapting over large areas to the complex curved geometries of robot embodiments. In this work, the development of a large-area sensitive soft skin with a curved geometry is presented, allowing for robot total-body coverage through modular patches. The biomimetic skin consists of a soft polymeric matrix, resembling a human forearm, embedded with photonic fibre Bragg grating transducers, which partially mimics Ruffini mechanoreceptor functionality with diffuse, overlapping receptive fields. A convolutional neural network deep learning algorithm and a multigrid neuron integration process were implemented to decode the fibre Bragg grating sensor outputs for inference of contact force magnitude and localization through the skin surface. Results of 35 mN (interquartile range 56 mN) and 3.2 mm (interquartile range 2.3 mm) median errors were achieved for force and localization predictions, respectively. Demonstrations with an anthropomorphic arm pave the way towards artificial intelligence based integrated skins enabling safe human–robot cooperation via machine intelligence.
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Di Tocco J, Lo Presti D, Rainer A, Schena E, Massaroni C. Silicone-Textile Composite Resistive Strain Sensors for Human Motion-Related Parameters. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22103954. [PMID: 35632361 PMCID: PMC9147119 DOI: 10.3390/s22103954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, soft and flexible strain sensors have found application in wearable devices for monitoring human motion and physiological parameters. Conductive textile-based sensors are good candidates for developing these sensors. However, their robust electro-mechanical connection and susceptibility to environmental factors are still an open challenge to date. In this work, the manufacturing process of a silicone-textile composite resistive strain sensor based on a conductive resistive textile encapsulated into a dual-layer of silicone rubber is reported. In the working range typical of biomedical applications (up to 50%), the proposed flexible, skin-safe and moisture resistant strain sensor exhibited high sensitivity (gauge factor of −1.1), low hysteresis (maximum hysteresis error 3.2%) and ease of shaping in custom designs through a facile manufacturing process. To test the developed flexible sensor, two applicative scenarios covering the whole working range have been considered: the recording of the chest wall expansion during respiratory activity and the capture of the elbow flexion/extension movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Di Tocco
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (J.D.T.); (D.L.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Daniela Lo Presti
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (J.D.T.); (D.L.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Alberto Rainer
- Unit of Tissue Engineering and Chemistry for Engineering, Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Emiliano Schena
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (J.D.T.); (D.L.P.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Departmental Faculty of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (J.D.T.); (D.L.P.); (C.M.)
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Varman R, Wang J, Varman A, Li Z, Tang A, Patil Y, Demke J, Cordero J. Comparison of cervical neck strain in common otolaryngology surgeries. Am J Otolaryngol 2022; 43:103405. [PMID: 35429842 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical neck strain and surgical ergonomics is an increasingly important topic being addressed in this time and age. With new technologies, visualizations, and approaches to surgeries, there are now different strains and duration of strains to the cervical neck. Recently the effect of chronic cell phone use has been described as "text neck." In a similar fashion we understand that certain otolaryngology surgeries can also impart chronic strain to the cervical neck. We aim to quantitatively describe strain for different types of surgeries by looking at posture, duration of surgery, and anatomic ergonomics of specific surgeries. METHODS Lateral photo documentation of posture during 6 common otolaryngology procedures, used to estimate cervical neck angle and calculate force and impulse to cervical neck. RESULTS Six common otolaryngology procedures show various cervical neck angles ranging from around 0° to 60° of neck flexion, with subsequent forces ranging from 16 lb to 60 lb of force. When accounting for surgical time, bigger differences arose with impulses ranging from 270,000 N∗s to 3,300,000 N∗s. Noticeably, thyroidectomy and cleft palate showed much higher impulses than the other four types of surgeries. CONCLUSION Both cervical neck flexion and duration of surgery play important roles in total neck theoretical strain. Variance exists between neck strains of common otolaryngology surgeries. There is a necessity for continued study and improvement in surgical ergonomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Varman
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States of America
| | - James Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | | | - Ziyang Li
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States of America
| | - Alice Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Yash Patil
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Joshua Demke
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States of America
| | - Joehassin Cordero
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States of America.
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Vavrinsky E, Esfahani NE, Hausner M, Kuzma A, Rezo V, Donoval M, Kosnacova H. The Current State of Optical Sensors in Medical Wearables. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:217. [PMID: 35448277 PMCID: PMC9029995 DOI: 10.3390/bios12040217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Optical sensors play an increasingly important role in the development of medical diagnostic devices. They can be very widely used to measure the physiology of the human body. Optical methods include PPG, radiation, biochemical, and optical fiber sensors. Optical sensors offer excellent metrological properties, immunity to electromagnetic interference, electrical safety, simple miniaturization, the ability to capture volumes of nanometers, and non-invasive examination. In addition, they are cheap and resistant to water and corrosion. The use of optical sensors can bring better methods of continuous diagnostics in the comfort of the home and the development of telemedicine in the 21st century. This article offers a large overview of optical wearable methods and their modern use with an insight into the future years of technology in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Vavrinsky
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
- Institute of Medical Physics, Biophysics, Informatics and Telemedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 81272 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Niloofar Ebrahimzadeh Esfahani
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Michal Hausner
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Anton Kuzma
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Vratislav Rezo
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Martin Donoval
- Institute of Electronics and Photonics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 81219 Bratislava, Slovakia; (N.E.E.); (M.H.); (A.K.); (V.R.); (M.D.)
| | - Helena Kosnacova
- Department of Simulation and Virtual Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81272 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
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The Ergonomic Association between Shoulder, Neck/Head Disorders and Sedentary Activity: A Systematic Review. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2022; 2022:5178333. [PMID: 35356625 PMCID: PMC8959976 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5178333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Work-associated upper limb and neck disorders are common occupational disorders throughout the world. These disorders are usually observed more in workers who spend a long time sitting, referred to as sedentary activity (SA). The immediate and distorted risk of sedentary-related problems was considered high in Europe, Australia, and the United States. Even though mediation is convenient, it is likely to reduce office workers' risks of developing cervical and upper body pain due to sedentary work. This systematic review addresses risk factors and evaluates the relationship between SA and upper body disorders in office workers (i.e., shoulder and neck/head). Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for articles published between January 2010 and August 2021 in the English language. The three keywords “sedentary,” “upper body elements,” and “work” (and their derivatives) were searched to identify studies and carry out this systematic review. The articles were searched so that all three keywords or at least a derivation of each keyword should appear. Findings. Of the 40 articles that met the enclosure criteria, 32 studies examined the association of SA and upper body elements during both office and computer work. However, three articles were evaluated in the sit-stand work environment, and in the remaining five studies, one was evaluated during teaching, two during hospital work, and two during mixed working conditions. Conclusions Research related to SA focuses mainly on extended risk factors, but there was no focus on other aspects, such as muscle and tendon contractions. As there is a convincing connection between SA and the upper body, our close examination identifies the need to institutionalize a system for collecting, analyzing, and describing the impact and short-term effects of SA on the upper body. Additionally, some suggestions were made to minimize the risk in a sedentary working environment.
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Lo Presti D, Zaltieri M, Bravi M, Morrone M, Caponero MA, Schena E, Sterzi S, Massaroni C. A Wearable System Composed of FBG-Based Soft Sensors for Trunk Compensatory Movements Detection in Post-Stroke Hemiplegic Patients. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22041386. [PMID: 35214287 PMCID: PMC8963020 DOI: 10.3390/s22041386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, a novel wearable system for the identification of compensatory trunk movements (CTMs) in post-stroke hemiplegic patients is presented. The device is composed of seven soft sensing elements (SSEs) based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology. Each SSE consists of a single FBG encapsulated into a flexible matrix to enhance the sensor’s robustness and improve its compliance with the human body. The FBG’s small size, light weight, multiplexing capability, and biocompatibility make the proposed wearable system suitable for multi-point measurements without any movement restriction. Firstly, its manufacturing process is presented, together with the SSEs’ mechanical characterization to strain. Results of the metrological characterization showed a linear response of each SSE in the operating range. Then, the feasibility assessment of the proposed system is described. In particular, the device’s capability of detecting CTMs was assessed on 10 healthy volunteers and eight hemiplegic patients while performing three tasks which are representative of typical everyday life actions. The wearable system showed good potential in detecting CTMs. This promising result may foster the use of the proposed device on post-stroke patients, aiming at assessing the proper course of the rehabilitation process both in clinical and domestic settings. Moreover, its use may aid in defining tailored strategies to improve post-stoke patients’ motor recovery and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Lo Presti
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Center for Integrated Research, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Roma, Italy; (D.L.P.); (M.Z.); (E.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Martina Zaltieri
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Center for Integrated Research, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Roma, Italy; (D.L.P.); (M.Z.); (E.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Marco Bravi
- Unit of Physical Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rehabilitation of Policlinico Universitario, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Michelangelo Morrone
- Unit of Physical Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rehabilitation of Policlinico Universitario, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | | | - Emiliano Schena
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Center for Integrated Research, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Roma, Italy; (D.L.P.); (M.Z.); (E.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Silvia Sterzi
- Unit of Physical Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rehabilitation of Policlinico Universitario, 00128 Roma, Italy; (M.B.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Research Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Center for Integrated Research, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Roma, Italy; (D.L.P.); (M.Z.); (E.S.); (C.M.)
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Mirjalali S, Peng S, Fang Z, Wang C, Wu S. Wearable Sensors for Remote Health Monitoring: Potential Applications for Early Diagnosis of Covid-19. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2022; 7:2100545. [PMID: 34901382 PMCID: PMC8646515 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202100545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Wearable sensors are emerging as a new technology to detect physiological and biochemical markers for remote health monitoring. By measuring vital signs such as respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen level, wearable sensors offer tremendous potential for the noninvasive and early diagnosis of numerous diseases such as Covid-19. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made to develop wearable sensors with high sensitivity, accuracy, flexibility, and stretchability, bringing to reality a new paradigm of remote health monitoring. In this review paper, the latest advances in wearable sensor systems that can measure vital signs at an accuracy level matching those of point-of-care tests are presented. In particular, the focus of this review is placed on wearable sensors for measuring respiratory behavior, body temperature, and blood oxygen level, which are identified as the critical signals for diagnosing and monitoring Covid-19. Various designs based on different materials and working mechanisms are summarized. This review is concluded by identifying the remaining challenges and future opportunities for this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheyda Mirjalali
- School of EngineeringMacquarie University SydneySydneyNSW2109Australia
| | - Shuhua Peng
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
| | | | - Chun‐Hui Wang
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
| | - Shuying Wu
- School of EngineeringMacquarie University SydneySydneyNSW2109Australia
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNSW2052Australia
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15
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Upadhyaya AM, Hasan MK, Abdel-Khalek S, Hassan R, Srivastava MC, Sharan P, Islam S, Saad AME, Vo N. A Comprehensive Review on the Optical Micro-Electromechanical Sensors for the Biomedical Application. Front Public Health 2021; 9:759032. [PMID: 34926383 PMCID: PMC8674308 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.759032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presented an overview of current developments in optical micro-electromechanical systems in biomedical applications. Optical micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) is a particular class of MEMS technology. It combines micro-optics, mechanical elements, and electronics, called the micro-opto electromechanical system (MOEMS). Optical MEMS comprises sensing and influencing optical signals on micron-level by incorporating mechanical, electrical, and optical systems. Optical MEMS devices are widely used in inertial navigation, accelerometers, gyroscope application, and many industrial and biomedical applications. Due to its miniaturised size, insensitivity to electromagnetic interference, affordability, and lightweight characteristic, it can be easily integrated into the human body with a suitable design. This study presented a comprehensive review of 140 research articles published on photonic MEMS in biomedical applications that used the qualitative method to find the recent advancement, challenges, and issues. The paper also identified the critical success factors applied to design the optimum photonic MEMS devices in biomedical applications. With the systematic literature review approach, the results showed that the key design factors could significantly impact design, application, and future scope of work. The literature of this paper suggested that due to the flexibility, accuracy, design factors efficiency of the Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, the demand has been increasing for various photonic devices. Except for FBG sensing devices, other sensing systems such as optical ring resonator, Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), and photonic crystals are used, which still show experimental stages in the application of biosensing. Due to the requirement of sophisticated fabrication facilities and integrated systems, it is a tough choice to consider the other photonic system. Miniaturisation of complete FBG device for biomedical applications is the future scope of work. Even though there is a lot of experimental work considered with an FBG sensing system, commercialisation of the final FBG device for a specific application has not been seen noticeable progress in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anup M. Upadhyaya
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology (ASET), Amity University, Noida, Lucknow, India
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
| | - Mohammad Kamrul Hasan
- Network and Communication Technology Lab, Center for Cyber Security, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, The National University of Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Malaysia
| | - S. Abdel-Khalek
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rosilah Hassan
- Network and Communication Technology Lab, Center for Cyber Security, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, The National University of Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Maneesh C. Srivastava
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology (ASET), Amity University, Noida, Lucknow, India
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
| | - Preeta Sharan
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore, India
| | - Shayla Islam
- Institute of Computer Science and Digital Innovation, University College Sedaya International (UCSI) University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Asma Mohammed Elbashir Saad
- Department of Physics College of Science and Humanities in AL-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, AL-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nguyen Vo
- Department of Information Technology, Victorian Institute of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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16
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Carnevale A, Schena E, Formica D, Massaroni C, Longo UG, Denaro V. Skin Strain Analysis of the Scapular Region and Wearables Design. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21175761. [PMID: 34502652 PMCID: PMC8434297 DOI: 10.3390/s21175761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring scapular movements is of relevance in the contexts of rehabilitation and clinical research. Among many technologies, wearable systems instrumented by strain sensors are emerging in these applications. An open challenge for the design of these systems is the optimal positioning of the sensing elements, since their response is related to the strain of the underlying substrates. This study aimed to provide a method to analyze the human skin strain of the scapular region. Experiments were conducted on five healthy volunteers to assess the skin strain during upper limb movements in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes at different degrees of elevation. A 6 × 5 grid of passive markers was placed posteriorly to cover the entire anatomic region of interest. Results showed that the maximum strain values, in percentage, were 28.26%, and 52.95%, 60.12% and 60.87%, 40.89%, and 48.20%, for elevation up to 90° and maximum elevation in the frontal, sagittal, and scapular planes, respectively. In all cases, the maximum extension is referred to the pair of markers placed horizontally near the axillary fold. Accordingly, this study suggests interesting insights for designing and positioning textile-based strain sensors in wearable systems for scapular movements monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Carnevale
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (U.G.L.); (V.D.)
- Unit of Measurement and Biomedical Instrumentation, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (E.S.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Emiliano Schena
- Unit of Measurement and Biomedical Instrumentation, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (E.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Domenico Formica
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Neuroengineering of Human Technology Interaction (NeXT), Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Unit of Measurement and Biomedical Instrumentation, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (E.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Umile Giuseppe Longo
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (U.G.L.); (V.D.)
| | - Vincenzo Denaro
- Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (U.G.L.); (V.D.)
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17
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Review of Wearable Devices and Data Collection Considerations for Connected Health. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21165589. [PMID: 34451032 PMCID: PMC8402237 DOI: 10.3390/s21165589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Wearable sensor technology has gradually extended its usability into a wide range of well-known applications. Wearable sensors can typically assess and quantify the wearer’s physiology and are commonly employed for human activity detection and quantified self-assessment. Wearable sensors are increasingly utilised to monitor patient health, rapidly assist with disease diagnosis, and help predict and often improve patient outcomes. Clinicians use various self-report questionnaires and well-known tests to report patient symptoms and assess their functional ability. These assessments are time consuming and costly and depend on subjective patient recall. Moreover, measurements may not accurately demonstrate the patient’s functional ability whilst at home. Wearable sensors can be used to detect and quantify specific movements in different applications. The volume of data collected by wearable sensors during long-term assessment of ambulatory movement can become immense in tuple size. This paper discusses current techniques used to track and record various human body movements, as well as techniques used to measure activity and sleep from long-term data collected by wearable technology devices.
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18
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Abstract
A voltage reference is strictly required for sensor interfaces that need to perform nonratiometric data acquisition. In this work, a voltage reference capable of working with supply voltages down to 0.5 V is presented. The voltage reference was based on a classic CMOS bandgap core, properly modified to be compatible with low-threshold or zero-threshold MOSFETs. The advantages of the proposed circuit are illustrated with theoretical analysis and supported by numerical simulations. The core was combined with a recently proposed switched capacitor, inverter-like integrator implementing offset cancellation and low-frequency noise reduction techniques. Experimental results performed on a prototype designed and fabricated using a commercial 0.18 μm CMOS process are presented. The prototype produces a reference voltage of 220 mV with a temperature sensitivity of 45 ppm/°C across a 10–50 °C temperature range. The proposed voltage reference can be used to source currents up to 100 μA with a quiescent current consumption of only 630 nA.
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19
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Requirements for Supporting Diagnostic Equipment of Respiration Process in Humans. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21103479. [PMID: 34067611 PMCID: PMC8156866 DOI: 10.3390/s21103479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There is abundant worldwide research conducted on the subject of the methods of human respiration process examination. However, many of these studies describe methods and present the results while often lacking insight into the hardware and software aspects of the devices used during the research. This paper’s goal is to present new equipment for assessing the parameters of human respiration, which can be easily adopted for daily diagnosis. This work deals with the issue of developing the correct method of obtaining measurement data. The requirements of the acquisition parameters are clearly pointed out and examples of the medical applications of the described device are shown. Statistical analysis of acquired signals proving its usability is also presented. In the examples of selected diseases of the Upper Respiratory Tract (URT), the advantages of the developed apparatus for supporting the diagnosis of URT patency have been proven.
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20
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Vásquez-Ucho PA, Villalba-Meneses GF, Pila-Varela KO, Villalba-Meneses CP, Iglesias I, Almeida-Galárraga DA. Analysis and evaluation of the systems used for the assessment of the cervical spine function: a systematic review. J Med Eng Technol 2021; 45:380-393. [PMID: 33847217 DOI: 10.1080/03091902.2021.1907467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neck injuries and pathologies are widespread and cause disability. Clinicians use different tools to measure the cervical spine' mobility to diagnose different disorders. There are many reliable assessment methods for this purpose, but their benefits have not been deeply investigated and compared, as well as their measurement results. This review aims to summarise the advantages, accuracy, and reliability, of measurement tools and devices used in studies or trails related to the neck and cervical spine evaluation, to evidence the use of inertial sensors and compare them, to highlight the best assessment systems and their characteristics. A literature review has been performed in a range of five years, to obtain information about cervical spine evaluation. Studies that met the established inclusion criteria were selected and classified according their pathology studied, objectives and methodologies followed when evaluating the cervical spine functionality. Studies were described chronologically highlighting the tools employed, where the motion capture systems and cervical range of motion devices stood out as the most used and reliable methods. Cervical spine assessment studies employing systems with inertial sensors as an accurate method, is not evidenced in the sample. However, they are widely tested and different studies validate these systems for their clinical area use, obtaining high reliability and repeatability. Thereby, this review argues that inertial sensors have proven to be a portable, and easy to use tool for the evaluation of neck and its related pathologies, with a great accuracy level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola A Vásquez-Ucho
- School of Biological Sciences & Engineering, Universidad Yachay Tech, Urcuquí, Ecuador
| | - Gandhi F Villalba-Meneses
- School of Biological Sciences & Engineering, Universidad Yachay Tech, Urcuquí, Ecuador.,Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Kevin O Pila-Varela
- School of Biological Sciences & Engineering, Universidad Yachay Tech, Urcuquí, Ecuador
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21
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Hong Y, Wang B, Lin W, Jin L, Liu S, Luo X, Pan J, Wang W, Yang Z. Highly anisotropic and flexible piezoceramic kirigami for preventing joint disorders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/11/eabf0795. [PMID: 33712465 PMCID: PMC7954449 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf0795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The prevention of work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs; e.g., neck pain and shoulder fatigue) requires frequent exercises of neck and shoulder that primarily rely on the assistance of joint motion monitoring devices. However, most available wearable healthcare sensors are rigid, bulky, and incapable of recognizing the full range of human motions. Here, we propose a kirigami-structured highly anisotropic piezoelectric network composite sensor that is able to monitor multiple information of joint motions, including bending direction, bending radius, and motion modes, and to distinguish them simultaneously within one sensor unit. On the basis of the modified template-assisted processing method, we design a functional piezoceramic kirigami with a honeycomb network structure that is stretchable (~100% strain), highly sensitive (15.4 mV kPa-1), and highly anisotropic to bending directions (17.3 times from 90° to 0°). An integrated monitoring system is further established to alarm the prolonged sedentary behaviors, facilitating the prevention of upper extremity MSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Biao Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weikang Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lihan Jin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shiyuan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaowei Luo
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jia Pan
- Department of Computer Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenping Wang
- Department of Computer Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Zhengbao Yang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
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22
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Ladrova M, Martinek R, Nedoma J, Hanzlikova P, Nelson MD, Kahankova R, Brablik J, Kolarik J. Monitoring and Synchronization of Cardiac and Respiratory Traces in Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Review. IEEE Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 15:200-221. [PMID: 33513108 DOI: 10.1109/rbme.2021.3055550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Synchronization of human vital signs, namely the cardiac cycle and respiratory excursions, is necessary during magnetic resonance imaging of the cardiovascular system and the abdominal cavity to achieve optimal image quality with minimized artifacts. This review summarizes techniques currently available in clinical practice, as well as methods under development, outlines the benefits and disadvantages of each approach, and offers some unique solutions for consideration.
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Lind CM, Diaz-Olivares JA, Lindecrantz K, Eklund J. A Wearable Sensor System for Physical Ergonomics Interventions Using Haptic Feedback. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E6010. [PMID: 33113922 PMCID: PMC7660182 DOI: 10.3390/s20216010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a major concern globally affecting societies, companies, and individuals. To address this, a new sensor-based system is presented: the Smart Workwear System, aimed at facilitating preventive measures by supporting risk assessments, work design, and work technique training. The system has a module-based platform that enables flexibility of sensor-type utilization, depending on the specific application. A module of the Smart Workwear System that utilizes haptic feedback for work technique training is further presented and evaluated in simulated mail sorting on sixteen novice participants for its potential to reduce adverse arm movements and postures in repetitive manual handling. Upper-arm postures were recorded, using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), perceived pain/discomfort with the Borg CR10-scale, and user experience with a semi-structured interview. This study shows that the use of haptic feedback for work technique training has the potential to significantly reduce the time in adverse upper-arm postures after short periods of training. The haptic feedback was experienced positive and usable by the participants and was effective in supporting learning of how to improve postures and movements. It is concluded that this type of sensorized system, using haptic feedback training, is promising for the future, especially when organizations are introducing newly employed staff, when teaching ergonomics to employees in physically demanding jobs, and when performing ergonomics interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Mikael Lind
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden; (J.A.D.-O.); (K.L.); (J.E.)
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 4, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jose Antonio Diaz-Olivares
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden; (J.A.D.-O.); (K.L.); (J.E.)
- Department of Biosystems, Biosystems Technology Cluster Campus Geel, KU Leuven, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
| | - Kaj Lindecrantz
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden; (J.A.D.-O.); (K.L.); (J.E.)
- Science Park Borås, University of Borås, SE-501 90 Borås, Sweden
| | - Jörgen Eklund
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Hälsovägen 11C, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden; (J.A.D.-O.); (K.L.); (J.E.)
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 4, 11365 Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Lo Presti D, Dall’Orso S, Muceli S, Arichi T, Neumane S, Lukens A, Sabbadini R, Massaroni C, Caponero MA, Formica D, Burdet E, Schena E. An fMRI Compatible Smart Device for Measuring Palmar Grasping Actions in Newborns. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20216040. [PMID: 33114180 PMCID: PMC7660640 DOI: 10.3390/s20216040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Grasping is one of the first dominant motor behaviors that enable interaction of a newborn infant with its surroundings. Although atypical grasping patterns are considered predictive of neuromotor disorders and injuries, their clinical assessment suffers from examiner subjectivity, and the neuropathophysiology is poorly understood. Therefore, the combination of technology with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may help to precisely map the brain activity associated with grasping and thus provide important insights into how functional outcomes can be improved following cerebral injury. This work introduces an MR-compatible device (i.e., smart graspable device (SGD)) for detecting grasping actions in newborn infants. Electromagnetic interference immunity (EMI) is achieved using a fiber Bragg grating sensor. Its biocompatibility and absence of electrical signals propagating through the fiber make the safety profile of the SGD particularly favorable for use with fragile infants. Firstly, the SGD design, fabrication, and metrological characterization are described, followed by preliminary assessments on a preterm newborn infant and an adult during an fMRI experiment. The results demonstrate that the combination of the SGD and fMRI can safely and precisely identify the brain activity associated with grasping behavior, which may enable early diagnosis of motor impairment and help guide tailored rehabilitation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Lo Presti
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (D.L.P.); (R.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Sofia Dall’Orso
- Division of Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; (S.D.); (S.M.)
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (T.A.); (S.N.)
| | - Silvia Muceli
- Division of Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; (S.D.); (S.M.)
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (T.A.); (S.N.)
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (T.A.); (S.N.)
- Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH, UK;
| | - Sara Neumane
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (T.A.); (S.N.)
- NeuroDiderot Unit UMR1141, Université de Paris, INSERM, F-75019 Paris, France
- UNIACT, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, NeuroSpin, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Anna Lukens
- Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH, UK;
| | - Riccardo Sabbadini
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (D.L.P.); (R.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (D.L.P.); (R.S.); (C.M.)
| | - Michele Arturo Caponero
- Photonics Micro- and Nanostructures Laboratory, ENEA Research Center of Frascati, 00044 Frascati (RM), Italy;
| | - Domenico Formica
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Neuroengineering of Human-Technology Interaction (NeXt Lab), Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Etienne Burdet
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK;
| | - Emiliano Schena
- Unit of Measurements and Biomedical Instrumentation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (D.L.P.); (R.S.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-062-2541-9650
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25
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A Review on Biomedical MIMO Radars for Vital Sign Detection and Human Localization. ELECTRONICS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/electronics9091497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports a thorough overview on the last developments concerning the vital sign detection and the human localization employing the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology. The wireless motion and vital sign detection represents an outstanding research area aimed at monitoring the health conditions of human subjects and at detecting their presence in different environments with minimal concern. MIMO radars exhibit several interesting advantages over conventional single-input-single-output architectures mainly related to their angle detection capabilities and enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. This paper describes the main features and details the operating principles of MIMO technology. Thereafter, it summarizes the state-of-the-art of the available solutions with the purpose of fueling the research activities on this hot topic.
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26
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Parras-Burgos D, Gea-Martínez A, Roca-Nieto L, Fernández-Pacheco DG, Cañavate FJF. Prototype System for Measuring and Analyzing Movements of the Upper Limb for the Detection of Occupational Hazards. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20174993. [PMID: 32899214 PMCID: PMC7506865 DOI: 10.3390/s20174993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the work environment, there are usually different pathologies that are related to Repetitive Efforts and Movements (REM) that tend to predominantly affect the upper limbs. To determine whether a worker is at risk of suffering some type of pathology, observation techniques are usually used by qualified technical personnel. In order to define from quantitative data if there is a risk of suffering a pathology due to movements and repetitive efforts in the upper limb, a prototype of a movement measurement system has been designed and manufactured. This system interferes minimally with the activity studied, maintaining a reduced cost of manufacture and use. The system allows the study of the movements made by the subject in the work environment by determining the origin of the Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) from the movements of the elbow and wrist, collecting data on the position and accelerations of the arm, forearm and hand, and taking into account the risk factors established for suffering from an MSD: high repetition of movements, the use of a high force in a repetitive manner, or the adoption of forced positions. The data obtained with this system can be analyzed by qualified personnel from tables, graphs, and 3D animations at the time of execution, or stored for later analysis.
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27
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Markopoulos P, Shen X, Wang Q, Timmermans A. Neckio: Motivating Neck Exercises in Computer Workers. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20174928. [PMID: 32878179 PMCID: PMC7506721 DOI: 10.3390/s20174928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neck pain is common among computer workers who may spend too much time in a static posture facing their display. Regular breaks and variety in one’s posture can help to prevent discomfort and pain. In order to understand how to support computer workers to do so regularly, we surveyed a convenience sample of computer workers (N = 130) regarding their work habits and their attitudes towards neck exercises at the workplace. The survey showed that they are highly motivated, but not able to comply with a neck exercise program. To address this challenge, we designed Neckio, a system that is aimed at encouraging posture variation and facilitating neck exercises at work. Neckio consists in an interactive application and a wireless angulation sensing appliance that can be mounted on the headset that office workers often use for reasons of privacy. Next to providing an interactive exercise program suitable for the workplace, its design places emphasis on an engaging user experience. We report a short-term user experience valuation of Neckio in an actual office environment (N = 10). Participants rated the overall user experience positively and reported to be intrinsically motivated to do the neck exercises. These results indicate the potential of the Neckio as a behavior change support technology to reduce the risk of developing neck pain in computer workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panos Markopoulos
- Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence:
| | - Xiaoyu Shen
- Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Design & Innovation at Tongji University, Shanghai 200093, China;
| | - Annick Timmermans
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, REVAL, University of Hasselt, 4000 Limburg, Belgium;
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28
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Zaltieri M, Massaroni C, Lo Presti D, Bravi M, Sabbadini R, Miccinilli S, Sterzi S, Formica D, Schena E. A Wearable Device Based on a Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor for Low Back Movements Monitoring. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20143825. [PMID: 32659958 PMCID: PMC7411829 DOI: 10.3390/s20143825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the musculoskeletal disorders that most affects workers. Among others, one of the working categories which mainly experiences such disease are video terminal workers. As it causes exploitation of the National Health Service and absenteeism in workplaces, LBP constitutes a relevant socio-economic burden. In such a scenario, a prompt detection of wrong seating postures can be useful to prevent the occurrence of this disorder. To date, many tools capable of monitoring the spinal range of motions (ROMs) are marketed, but most of them are unusable in working environments due to their bulkiness, discomfort and invasiveness. In the last decades, fiber optic sensors have made their mark allowing the creation of light and compact wearable systems. In this study, a novel wearable device embedding a Fiber Bragg Grating sensor for the detection of lumbar flexion-extensions (F/E) in seated subjects is proposed. At first, the manufacturing process of the sensing element was shown together with its mechanical characterization, that shows linear response to strain with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.99) and a sensitivity value (Sε) of 0.20 nm∙mε−1. Then, the capability of the wearable device in measuring F/E in the sagittal body plane was experimentally assessed on a small population of volunteers, using a Motion Capture system (MoCap) as gold standard showing good ability of the system to match the lumbar F/E trend in time. Additionally, the lumbar ROMs were evaluated in terms of intervertebral lumbar distances (ΔdL3−L1) and angles, exhibiting moderate to good agreement with the MoCap outputs (the maximum Mean Absolute Error obtained is ~16% in detecting ΔdL3−L1). The proposed wearable device is the first attempt for the development of FBG-based wearable systems for workers’ safety monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Zaltieri
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.M.); (D.L.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Carlo Massaroni
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.M.); (D.L.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Daniela Lo Presti
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.M.); (D.L.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Marco Bravi
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (S.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Riccardo Sabbadini
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.M.); (D.L.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Sandra Miccinilli
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (S.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Silvia Sterzi
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.B.); (S.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Domenico Formica
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Neuroengineering of HumanTechnology Interaction, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Emiliano Schena
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 00128 Rome, Italy; (M.Z.); (C.M.); (D.L.P.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence:
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