Publication: Polymer Optical Fiber Plantar Pressure Sensors: Design and Validation
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2022-05
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MDPI AG
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Abstract
The proper measurement of plantar pressure during gait is critical for the clinical diagnosis
of foot problems. Force platforms and wearable devices have been developed to study gait patterns
during walking or running. However, these devices are often expensive, cumbersome, or have
boundary constraints that limit the participant’s motions. Recent advancements in the quality of
plastic optical fiber (POF) have made it possible to manufacture a low-cost bend sensor with a novel
design for use in plantar pressure monitoring. An intensity-based POF bend sensor is not only
lightweight, non-invasive, and easy to construct, but it also produces a signal that requires almost
no processing. In this work, we have designed, fabricated, and characterized a novel intensity POF
sensor to detect the force applied by the human foot and measure the gait pattern. The sensors were
put through a series of dynamic and static tests to determine their measurement range, sensitivity,
and linearity, and their response was compared to that of two different commercial force sensors,
including piezo resistive sensors and a clinical force platform. The results suggest that this novel
POF bend sensor can be used in a wide range of applications, given its low cost and non-invasive
nature. Feedback walking monitoring for ulcer prevention or sports performance could be just one of
those applications.
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Keywords
Fiber optic macro-bend, Biofeedback tool, Gait monitoring, Optical fiber sensor, Plastic, Optical fiber, Plantar sensor
Bibliographic citation
Safarloo, S., Núñez-Cascajero, A., Sanchez-Gomez, R., & Vázquez, C. (2022). Polymer Optical Fiber Plantar Pressure Sensors: Design and Validation. 22(10), 3883