Goal
: To develop bending angle sensors based on double-layer capacitance for monitoring joint angles during cycling exercises.
Methods
: We develop a bending angle sensor based on double-layer capacitive and conducted three stretching, bending, and cycling tests to evaluate its validity.
Results
: We demonstrate that the bending angle sensor based on double-layer capacitance minimizes the change in the capacitance difference in the stretching test. The hysteresis and root mean square error (RMSE) compared with the optical motion capture show hysteresis: 8.0% RMSE and 3.1° in the bending test. Moreover, a cycling experiment for human joint angle measurements confirm the changes in accuracy. The RMSEs ranged from 4.7° to 7.0°, even when a human wears leggings fixed with the developed bending-angle sensor in the cycling test.
Conclusion
: The developed bending angle sensor provides a practical application of the quantitative and observational evaluation tool for knee joint angles.
We proposed a new method to measure swallowing in this study. A flexible polymer sensor was used to measure human swallowing. Electromyogram (EMG) of suprahyoid muscles were measured as a reference of swallowing. We also developed a measurement system for the flexible polymer sensor, which consists of two measurement circuits; the 1(st) one measures the voltage of flexible polymer sensor, and the 2(nd) one EMG of suprahyoid muscles. We conducted measurement experiments focused on human swallowing to confirm the ability of this sensor. At the experiment one subject was asked to sit in three different postures and to drink a cup of water. Results show that human swallowing can be detected by this flexible polymer sensor.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the lower leg swelling using EMG measured with our new voltage divider technology, by which the internal impedance of lower leg can be estimated. The amplitude of EMG measured without voltage divider was compared to it with voltage divider. Eleven healthy subjects (24.3±5.1 y.o.) participated in this study. Six female (swelling group) were asked to work at desk for six hours, and five male (control group) were asked to work a regular day. The internal impedance was calculated and calf circumference was measured before and after desk work. Results show that internal impedance in swelling group significantly decreased with increase in calf circumference, and our new evaluation method was proved to be effective for the evaluation of lower leg swelling.
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