PLANTOGRAF V12 -New Transducer for Measurement Pressure Distribution Biomechanics and Technique

Abstract

Plantograf V12 is a tactile transducer, which is able to pick up tactile information of a particular object and transfer this information into an electrical signal. This sensor is applied in the following applications: measurement of static and dynamic pressure distribution, human steps analysis, sitting position analysis, pressure distribution on a flat human foot and analysis of status of big joints (Volf, J. & all. 1997), (Volf, J. &Papežová, S. & all. 2001). Plantograf V12 has to fulfil the following conditions: the sensor cannot affect measured pressure distribution results, has to measure static and dynamic load, and has to have sufficient sensitivity and accuracy in each point of the sensor matrix for the given applications. The contribution is focused on the description of the Plantograf V12 matrix construction, optimal electrode size determination in the point where a thin film made of conductive silicon elastomer is used to transfer load to electrical signal and SW properties.