Characterizing the Sensing Response of Carbon Nanocomposite-Based Wearable Sensors on Elbow Joint Using an End Point Robot and Virtual Reality

Amit Chaudhari; Rakshith Lokesh; Vuthea Chheang; Sagar M. Doshi; Roghayeh Leila Barmaki; Joshua G. A. Cashaback; Erik T. Thostenson

doi:10.3390/s24154894

Sensors (Jul 2024)

Characterizing the Sensing Response of Carbon Nanocomposite-Based Wearable Sensors on Elbow Joint Using an End Point Robot and Virtual Reality

Amit Chaudhari,
Rakshith Lokesh,
Vuthea Chheang,
Sagar M. Doshi,
Roghayeh Leila Barmaki,
Joshua G. A. Cashaback,
Erik T. Thostenson

Affiliations

Amit Chaudhari: Center for Composite Materials, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Rakshith Lokesh: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Vuthea Chheang: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Sagar M. Doshi: Center for Composite Materials, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Roghayeh Leila Barmaki: Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Joshua G. A. Cashaback: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Erik T. Thostenson: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Center for Composite Materials, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s24154894
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 15
p. 4894

Abstract

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Physical therapy is often essential for complete recovery after injury. However, a significant population of patients fail to adhere to prescribed exercise regimens. Lack of motivation and inconsistent in-person visits to physical therapy are major contributing factors to suboptimal exercise adherence, slowing the recovery process. With the advancement of virtual reality (VR), researchers have developed remote virtual rehabilitation systems with sensors such as inertial measurement units. A functional garment with an integrated wearable sensor can also be used for real-time sensory feedback in VR-based therapeutic exercise and offers affordable remote rehabilitation to patients. Sensors integrated into wearable garments offer the potential for a quantitative range of motion measurements during VR rehabilitation. In this research, we developed and validated a carbon nanocomposite-coated knit fabric-based sensor worn on a compression sleeve that can be integrated with upper-extremity virtual rehabilitation systems. The sensor was created by coating a commercially available weft knitted fabric consisting of polyester, nylon, and elastane fibers. A thin carbon nanotube composite coating applied to the fibers makes the fabric electrically conductive and functions as a piezoresistive sensor. The nanocomposite sensor, which is soft to the touch and breathable, demonstrated high sensitivity to stretching deformations, with an average gauge factor of ~35 in the warp direction of the fabric sensor. Multiple tests are performed with a Kinarm end point robot to validate the sensor for repeatable response with a change in elbow joint angle. A task was also created in a VR environment and replicated by the Kinarm. The wearable sensor can measure the change in elbow angle with more than 90% accuracy while performing these tasks, and the sensor shows a proportional resistance change with varying joint angles while performing different exercises. The potential use of wearable sensors in at-home virtual therapy/exercise was demonstrated using a Meta Quest 2 VR system with a virtual exercise program to show the potential for at-home measurements.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

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