Self-made 3D-printed encapsulation of thin-film transducers for reliable force measurement in biomedical applications

Abstract

In biomedical studies as well as in clinical trials, it is often useful to have a reliable measure of the force exerted by the body(eg. clenching force at the teeth or pinch force at fingertips) or on the body by external stimuli (eg. taps to elicit reflexes orlocal pressure for nociceptive stimulation). Thin-film sensors such as FlexiForce ® provide a very handy and versatile solutionfor these application, but can be easily damaged and offer poor accuracy and repeatability, being heavily affected by thesurface material they get in contact with. The aim of the study is the realization of a 3D-printed cover that completely embedsthe sensor, thus providing mechanical protection and increasing reliability of the measurement. The increasing availability of3D printers and of printing materials for medical use allows the user to shape the cover according to specific needs, with shortdeveloping time and low cost.