Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
Sensors (Basel). 2024 May 6;24(9):2944. doi: 10.3390/s24092944.
Gait phase monitoring wearable sensors play a crucial role in assessing both health and athletic performance, offering valuable insights into an individual's gait pattern. In this study, we introduced a simple and cost-effective capacitive gait sensor manufacturing approach, utilizing a micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane dielectric layer placed between screen-printed silver electrodes. The sensor demonstrated inherent stretchability and durability, even when the electrode was bent at a 45-degree angle, it maintained an electrode resistance of approximately 3 Ω. This feature is particularly advantageous for gait monitoring applications. Furthermore, the fabricated flexible capacitive pressure sensor exhibited higher sensitivity and linearity at both low and high pressure and displayed very good stability. Notably, the sensors demonstrated rapid response and recovery times for both under low and high pressure. To further explore the capabilities of these new sensors, they were successfully tested as insole-type pressure sensors for real-time gait signal monitoring. The sensors displayed a well-balanced combination of sensitivity and response time, making them well-suited for gait analysis. Beyond gait analysis, the proposed sensor holds the potential for a wide range of applications within biomedical, sports, and commercial systems where soft and conformable sensors are preferred.
步态阶段监测可穿戴传感器在评估健康和运动表现方面发挥着至关重要的作用，为个体的步态模式提供了有价值的见解。在这项研究中，我们引入了一种简单且具有成本效益的电容式步态传感器制造方法，利用置于丝网印刷银电极之间的微图案化聚二甲基硅氧烷介电层。该传感器具有固有的拉伸性和耐用性，即使电极以 45 度角弯曲，其电极电阻仍保持在约 3 Ω。这一特性对于步态监测应用特别有利。此外，所制造的柔性电容压力传感器在高低压下均表现出更高的灵敏度和线性度，并且具有非常好的稳定性。值得注意的是，这些传感器在高低压下都表现出快速的响应和恢复时间。为了进一步探索这些新型传感器的功能，我们成功地将其用作鞋垫式压力传感器，以实时监测步态信号。这些传感器在灵敏度和响应时间之间表现出良好的平衡，非常适合步态分析。除了步态分析，所提出的传感器还具有广泛的应用潜力，包括生物医学、运动和商业系统，这些系统中优先使用柔软且贴合的传感器。
