Department of Mechanical Engineering, Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei.
Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2021 Mar;235(3):346-356. doi: 10.1177/0954411920981243. Epub 2020 Dec 18.
In this study, a non-invasive pressure monitoring system that is portable and convenient was designed for detecting compartment syndrome. The system combines a wireless module and smartphone, which aids in the achievement of mHealth objectives, specifically, the continuous monitoring of the compartment pressure in patients. A compartment syndrome detecting method using a wireless sensor system and finite element analysis is developed and verified with an in vitro lower-leg model by rapid prototyping. The sensor system is designed to measure a five point pressure variation from the outside of the lower leg and transmit the data to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The analysis model based on the finite element method is employed to calculate the change of pressure and volume inside the four compartments of the lower leg. The in vitro experimental results show that the non-invasive detecting method can monitor the compartment pressure and provide a warning for the occurrence of compartment syndrome if the compartment pressure is higher than 30 mmHg. Furthermore, the theoretical simulation of the real lower leg shows similar trends to those of the in vitro experiments and can promptly detect the occurrence of compartment syndrome. Measured pressure values exceeding 6.3, 2.7, and 2.8 kPa for the three sensors contacting the outside centers of the superficial posterior, anterior, and lateral compartments, respectively, can indicate that each compartment contains a pressure higher than 30 mmHg. These results can provide a warning for the risk of compartment syndrome of each compartment. In addition, the measured values from the three sensors contacting the superficial posterior compartment at the outside center, close to the tibia, and close to the lateral compartment exceeding 1.8, 0.7, and 0.7 kPa, respectively, can indicate the risk of deep posterior compartment syndrome.
在这项研究中，设计了一种便携式、方便的非侵入式压力监测系统，用于检测筋膜室综合征。该系统结合了无线模块和智能手机，有助于实现移动医疗目标，特别是对患者筋膜室压力的连续监测。通过快速原型制作，开发并验证了一种使用无线传感器系统和有限元分析的筋膜室综合征检测方法。传感器系统设计用于从小腿外部测量五点压力变化，并通过蓝牙将数据传输到智能手机。基于有限元法的分析模型用于计算小腿四个筋膜室内部压力和体积的变化。体外实验结果表明，非侵入式检测方法可以监测筋膜室压力，如果筋膜室压力高于 30mmHg，则可以发出筋膜室综合征发生的警告。此外，真实小腿的理论模拟显示出与体外实验相似的趋势，可以及时检测到筋膜室综合征的发生。分别接触浅后、前和外侧筋膜室外侧中心的三个传感器测量的压力值超过 6.3、2.7 和 2.8kPa，表明每个筋膜室的压力均高于 30mmHg。这些结果可以为每个筋膜室发生筋膜室综合征的风险提供警告。此外，分别接触浅后筋膜室外侧中心、靠近胫骨和外侧筋膜室的三个传感器测量的压力值超过 1.8、0.7 和 0.7kPa，可以指示深部后筋膜室综合征的风险。
