IIT Delhi Researchers Develop Wearable Sensors To Detect Posture Abnormalities; Check Details Here

New Delhi: Researchers at IIT Delhi have developed a scalable wearable pressure sensor based on a nanocomposite material. It has a unique combination of light-sensitive polymer and piezoelectric nanoparticles, which helps in the easy array design for pixelated sensing over large areas, simple process flow, and low-cost implementation for human movement monitoring and injury rehabilitation.

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In a study published in the journal Nano Energy, the researchers from IIT Delhi demonstrated that the sensor can be implemented as a sensor array considering a robust design that comfortably fits inside the insole of varying sizes. It can also be easily attached at the palm or any body part where localized pressure sensing can be useful. 

The use of dual transduction nanocomposite material in the proposed sensor allows concurrent sensing of mechanical strain as well as contact force/pressure that helps in easy integration with current Machine Learning algorithms by providing higher feature elements.

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“The integration of sensors and Machine Learning leads to the invention of intelligent sensors for cutting-edge technologies in fields like healthcare, sports science, defense etc. During the number of tests that we conducted in our laboratory, we found that the proposed sensor can potentially help detect foot problems in adults and children by analyzing the pressure variation on the back end of the foot and converting it into electrical output. Since abnormal hind foot pressure distribution can lead to problems in knee joints, hips, and even spine-related injuries, understanding and correcting it is an important application”, said Dr. Dhiman Mallick, lead researcher and Assistant Professor at Electrical Engineering Department, IIT Delhi.

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The sensor-generated output is analyzed by conventional Machine Learning models and linked to a person's walking behaviour. By comparing the pressure patterns to those of pre-defined patterns of a normal person, clinical specialists can conclude the type of deformity present.

“The resulting pressure patterns can aid doctors and specialists in designing custom insole that balance out the foot deformity by supporting regions of the foot showing abnormal pressure distribution. In effect, the proposed sensor can potentially provide an easy, low-cost alternative to expensive footwear modifications, surgeries, and posture correction accessories”, Dr. Mallick further said.

Additionally, the sensor can help in understanding different human activities. For instance, it can figure out if the user is walking, running, or doing something else by feeling the pressure changes in user’s hind foot. The sensor considers the variability of foot pressure during various biomechanical movements, which helps it to correlate each pressure pattern to a given activity.

This has tremendous application in smart healthcare systems wherein the activity pattern, exercise intensity, number of steps, etc., form important parameters for critical health analysis in people with diabetes, obesity, etc. Additionally, the sensor can be helpful for elderly fall detection, especially in patients with Parkinson's disorder or who are disabled.

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