Proprioceptive sensing system for therapy assessment using textile-based biomedical Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)

Continued demands for better control of the operating conditions used in human motion tracking and medical applications have led to the need for better means of detecting different types of proprioceptive activity pattern. One way to satisfy this need is to use MEMS technology to develop a sensor which can be used later in the rehabilitation treatment of patients and activity monitoring. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development of textile-based proprioceptive sensor for applications in medical system and therapy assessment by Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies. To demonstrate the application of this sensor, a system has been developed in order to detect different finger flexion movements generated on a finger joint. In addition, this paper also describes an ideal design procedure for the development of MEMS proprioceptive sensor fabricated using a cloth as the structural material. Cloth is chosen as the structural material because it is inexpensive, simple to fabricate, readily available for mass production, lightweight and can be fitted onto any arbitrary surface. The cloth is stamped with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) ink to form conductive pattern. The working principle of this textile-based sensor is based on piezoresistivity effect generated by AgNPs on a cloth substrate. Based on this fact, this sensor can give sensing information about different finger flexure movements according to the resistance change of the AgNPs. This sensor can be used as a rehabilitation device, e.g. data glove or even a communication device for the disabled to control appliances, e.g. computer keyboards.