Back to Search Start Over

A Stretchable Strain Sensor System for Wireless Measurement of Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Strains

Authors :
Qiang Zhang
Fransiska M. Bossuyt
Naomi C. Adam
Byron Llerena Zambrano
Flurin Stauffer
Patrick Rennhard
Roman Gubler
Roland Küng
Sarah Abramovic
Vullnet Useini
Walter Herzog
Tim Leonard
Michael W. Scott
William R. Taylor
Colin R. Smith
Source :
Advanced Materials Technologies, 8 (12)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Wiley, 2023.

Abstract

Measurement of in vivo strain patterns of musculoskeletal soft tissues (MSTs) during functional activities reveals their biomechanical function, supports the identification and understanding of pathologies, and quantifies tissue adaptation during healing. These scientific and clinical insights have motivated the development and application of various strain sensors to quantify MST strains in either intraoperative or dynamic in vivo conditions. In this study, a strain sensor system is developed based on stretchable electronics and radio frequency identification technologies. In this system, a flexible inductor-capacitor-resistor sensor is fabricated such that it can be wirelessly excited by a custom-designed readout box through electronic resonance. The resonant frequency of the sensor changes when the capacitor is stretched, which is then also recorded by the readout box at a sampling rate of 1024 Hz. Suturing the stretchable capacitor onto the MST allows it to be stretched in line with musculoskeletal deformations, hence providing an indirect method to assess strain patterns in vivo. Application of the system ex vivo indicates that the signal remains linear between 0 and 25% strain and is electronically stable in a simulated in vivo environment for one week and over 100 000 cycles of fatigue loadings. The strain sensor exhibits excellent resolution (0.1% strain, approximate to 9 mu m) during wireless strain measurement. Finally, sensor implantation and strain measurement onto the medial gastrocnemius tendon of a sheep indicate that the sensor is able to record repetitive strain patterns in vivo during dynamic movements. This study indicates the potential scientific and clinical applicability in vivo.<br />Advanced Materials Technologies, 8 (12)<br />ISSN:2365-709X

Details

ISSN :
2365709X
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Advanced Materials Technologies
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....6dfc805ba37e95d98bdb8e323cbdacb8
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202202041