Iliescu Florina Silvia, Hong Ling Tim, Toh Jin Ming Jaden, Suchea Mirela Petruta, Ionescu Octavian Narcis, Iliescu Ciprian
School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964, Singapore.
National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies (IMT-Bucharest), 077190 Bucharest, Romania.
Micromachines (Basel). 2022 Apr 27;13(5):682. doi: 10.3390/mi13050682.
Improper foot biomechanics associated with uneven bodyweight distribution contribute to impaired balance and fall risks. There is a need to complete the panel of commercially available devices for the self-measurement of BMI, fat, muscle, bone, weight, and hydration with one that measures weight-shifting at home as a pre-specialist assessment system. This paper reports the development of the Early Notice Pointer (ENP), a user-friendly screening device based on weighing scale technology. The ENP is designed to be used at home to provide a graphic indication and customised and evidence-based foot and posture triage. The device electronically detects and maps the bodyweight and distinct load distributions on the main areas of the feet: forefoot and rearfoot. The developed platform also presents features that assess the user's balance, and the results are displayed as a simple numerical report and map. The technology supports data display on mobile phones and accommodates multiple measurements for monitoring. Therefore, the evaluation could be done at non-specialist and professional levels. The system has been tested to validate its accuracy, precision, and consistency. A parallel study to describe the frequency of arch types and metatarsal pressure in young adults (1034 healthy subjects) was conducted to explain the importance of self-monitoring at home for better prevention of foot arch- and posture-related conditions. The results showed the potential of the newly created platform as a screening device ready to be wirelessly connected with mobile phones and the internet for remote and personalised identification and monitoring of foot- and body balance-related conditions. The real-time interpretation of the reported physiological parameters opens new avenues toward IoT-like on-body monitoring of human physiological signals through easy-to-use devices on flexible substrates for specific versatility.
与体重分布不均相关的不当足部生物力学，会导致平衡受损和跌倒风险增加。有必要完善一系列市售设备，用于自我测量BMI、脂肪、肌肉、骨骼、体重和水合作用，再增加一种在家中测量体重转移的设备，作为专科前评估系统。本文报告了早期通知指针（ENP）的开发情况，这是一种基于体重秤技术的用户友好型筛查设备。ENP旨在供家庭使用，以提供图形指示以及基于证据的定制化足部和姿势分类。该设备通过电子方式检测并绘制体重以及足部主要区域（前脚掌和后脚掌）上不同的负荷分布。所开发的平台还具备评估用户平衡的功能，结果以简单的数字报告和地图形式显示。该技术支持在手机上显示数据，并可进行多次测量以用于监测。因此，可以在非专业和专业层面进行评估。该系统已经过测试，以验证其准确性、精密度和一致性。开展了一项平行研究，以描述年轻人（1034名健康受试者）足弓类型和跖骨压力的频率，以解释在家中进行自我监测对于更好地预防与足弓和姿势相关病症的重要性。结果表明，新创建的平台有潜力成为一种筛查设备，可随时与手机和互联网无线连接，用于远程和个性化识别与监测足部和身体平衡相关病症。所报告生理参数的实时解读，通过在柔性基板上使用易于使用的设备实现特定的多功能性，为类似物联网的人体生理信号体表监测开辟了新途径。
