Laser‐induced graphene (LIG) can be obtained by irradiation of a polymer by a laser source. The present work demonstrates that it is possible to obtain this kind of material using an ultraviolet laser instead of the typical infrared source. Using this approach, a fourfold decrease in the penetration depth (5 µm) is achieved, while the spatial resolution is doubled. Electromechanical strain LIG sensors are patterned in polyimide substrates with different thicknesses and their performance to strain, bending, and force inputs is measured. A low‐cost arterial pulse wave monitor is built, exploring the high force sensitivity of the sensors produced on the thinner substrates.
In the last decades, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) have become increasingly attractive to medical applications due to their unique properties such as small size, biocompatibility, immunity to electromagnetic interferences, high sensitivity and multiplexing capability. FBGs have been employed in the development of surgical tools, assistive devices, wearables, and biosensors, showing great potentialities for medical uses. This paper reviews the FBG-based measuring systems, their principle of work, and their applications in medicine and healthcare. Particular attention is given to sensing solutions for biomechanics, minimally invasive surgery, physiological monitoring, and medical biosensing. Strengths, weaknesses, open challenges, and future trends are also discussed to highlight how FBGs can meet the demands of nextgeneration medical devices and healthcare system. INDEX TERMS biomechanics, biosensing, fiber Bragg grating sensors, minimally invasive surgery, physiological monitoring.
In an era of unprecedented progress in technology and increase in population age, continuous and close monitoring of elder citizens and patients is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. Contributing toward this field and enhancing the life quality of elder citizens and patients with disabilities, this work presents the design and implementation of a noninvasive platform and insole fiber Bragg grating sensors network to monitor the vertical ground reaction forces distribution induced in the foot plantar surface during gait and body center of mass displacements. The acquired measurements are a reliable indication of the accuracy and consistency of the proposed solution in monitoring and mapping the vertical forces active on the foot plantar sole, with a sensitivity up to 11.06 ?? pm / N . The acquired measurements can be used to infer the foot structure and health condition, in addition to anomalies related to spine function and other pathologies (e.g., related to diabetes); also its application in rehabilitation robotics field can dramatically reduce the computational burden of exoskeletons’ control strategy. The proposed technology has the advantages of optical fiber sensing (robustness, noninvasiveness, accuracy, and electromagnetic insensitivity) to surpass all drawbacks verified in traditionally used sensing systems (fragility, instability, and inconsistent feedback).
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