CNT/Graphite/SBS Conductive Fibers for Strain Sensing in Wearable Telerehabilitation Devices

Abstract

Rapid growth of personal electronics with concurrent research into telerehabilitation solutions discovers opportunities to redefine the future of orthopedic rehabilitation. After joint injury or operation, convalescence includes free active range of movement exercises, such as joints bending and straightening under medical supervision. Flexion detection through wearable textile sensors provides numerous potential benefits such as: (1) reduced cost; (2) continuous monitoring; (3) remote telerehabilitation; (4) gamification; and (5) detection of risk-inducing activities in daily routine. To address this issue, novel piezoresistive multi-walled carbon nanotubes/graphite/styrene–butadiene–styrene copolymer (CNT/Gr/SBS) fiber was developed. The extrusion process allowed adjustable diameter fiber production, while being a scalable, industrially adapted method of manufacturing textile electronics. Composite fibers were highly stretchable, withstanding strains up to 285%, and exhibited exceptional piezoresistive parameters with a gauge factor of 91.64 for 0–100% strain range and 2955 for the full scope. Considering the composite’s flexibility and sensitivity during a series of cyclic loading, it was concluded that developed Gr/CNT/SBS fibers were suitable for application in wearable piezoresistive sensors for telerehabilitation application.

Deploying Serious Games for Cognitive Rehabilitation

“…Virtual-reality-based telerehabilitation systems use three-dimensional virtual environments to stimulate and obtain specific movements from the patient. The patient can view the virtual environment on the computer screen or utilise fully immersive devices, such as a head-mounted display, 3D movement sensors, and haptic devices [27][28][29].…”

Deploying Serious Games for Cognitive Rehabilitation

“…Virtual reality-based telerehabilitation systems use three-dimensional virtual environments to stimulate and obtain specific movements from the patient. The patient can view the virtual environment on the computer screen or utilise fully immersive devices, like Head Mounted Display, 3D movement sensors, and haptic devices [25][26][27]. Virtual reality technologies benefit rehabilitation because they can construct virtual worlds and employ activity repetition, feedback, and motivation to encourage learning of damaging abilities and subsequently convert them into the real world [28,29].…”

A study of the interactions of carbon based fillers in acrylonitrile butadiene rubber matrix for high deformation sensor applications

“…So far, the polymer-based strain sensors with single filler systems have been reported to show GF values of ∼0.06-350, with a strain up to ∼800%. 3,9,[12][13][14][15] In recent times, the use of the mixtures of single fillers systems like carbon based fillers like CB/G (18)(19)(20), CB/ NT (21,22), G/NT (23,24) into/onto polymer matrices for the fabrication of polymer based materials for advanced applications including strain sensor, is currently receiving greater attention as an alternative way to improve the GF of polymer-based strain sensors. Kurian et al 17 earlier explored the use of complementary behavior of CB/G in PDMS to prepare sensor with stretchability up to 300%, and the gauge factor (GF) depended on the composition of the composites.…”

“…The purpose of this present work is to investigate the electrical conductivity performance of mechanism of dual filler systems in acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix using theoretical modeling and experimental works and their potential applications for strain sensors. 21,22,23 First, a computational tool was used to predict the electronic properties of single (G, CB, and NT) and the dual (CB-G and CB-NT) filler systems in NBR matrix. In the experimental work, the three carbon-based conducting fillers of CB, NT, and graphene (G) were incorporated separately into NBR by a combination of solvent and melt mixing technique.…”