Affiliations: [a] Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India | [b] Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India | [c] Institute for Infocomm Research, Singapore | [d] Bechtel India Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon, India
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: R. Suresh, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016 India. (Current address: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Visakhapatnam, India.) Tel.: +91 891 2892105; E-mail:rupalis@barc.gov.in
Abstract: BACKGROUND: High importance is given to plantar pressure monitoring
in the field of biomedical engineering for the diagnosis of posture related
ailments associated with diseases such as diabetes and gonarthrosis.
OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the proof-of-concept development of
a new high resolution plantar pressure monitoring pad based on fiber Bragg
grating (FBG) sensors.
METHODS: In the proposed configuration, the FBG sensors are
embedded within layers of carbon composite material (CCM) in turn conforming
to an arc shape. A total of four such arc shaped sensors are instrumented in
the pad at the locations of the forefoot and the hind foot. As a test of the
pad, static plantar pressure is monitored on normal subjects under various
posture conditions. The pad is evaluated both as a standalone platform as
well as a pad inserted inside a standard shoe.
RESULTS: An average pressure sensitivity of 1.2 pm/kPa and a
resolution of approximately 0.8 kPa is obtained in this special
configuration. The pad is found to be suitable in both configurations-
stand-alone pad as well as an insert inside a standard shoe.
CONCLUSION: The proposed set up offers a cost-effective high
resolution and accurate plantar pressure measurement system suitable for
clinical deployment. The novelty of the developed pressure pad lies in its
ability to be used both as platform type as well as inserted in-sole type
sensor system.
