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Flexible and large area pressure sensors for human-neuroprostheses and human-neurorobotic interface assessment

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Abstract

Promising results on flexible and large area pressure sensors for human-neuroprostheses and human-neurobotic interface assessment are presented. Sensor arrays of 4 × 4 and 8 × 8 based on a plastic electronics concept, with a resolution of 1 and 0.25 cm2, respectively, have been fabricated and characterized. The working pressure range is between 0 and 1 kg/cm2 and the offset measured is around 0.03 kg/cm2. The response time is around 1 ms. Using these sensor arrays, a sedestation–bipedestation field test by a pressure sensor integrated in a gait orthosis has been carried out in order to corroborate the medical application scenarios cerebrovascular accidents, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by the Spanish government through the project Hyper (Hybrid Neuroprosthetic and Neurorobotic Devices for Functional Compensation and Rehabilitation of Motor Disorders) under program Consolider-Ingenio 2010–2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sensors and Photonics Unit, New Materials Department, CIDETEC, Pº Miramón 196, 20009, San Sebastián, Spain

    J. Herrán, I. Fernández, E. Ochoteco, G. Cabañero & H. Grande

  2. Bioengineering Group, CSIC, Ctra. Campo Real km. 0200, Arganda del Rey, 28500, Madrid, Spain

    J. C. Moreno, E. Rocón & J. L. Pons

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  1. J. Herrán
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  2. I. Fernández
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  3. E. Ochoteco
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  4. G. Cabañero
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  5. H. Grande
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  6. J. C. Moreno
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  7. E. Rocón
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  8. J. L. Pons
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Correspondence to J. Herrán.

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Herrán, J., Fernández, I., Ochoteco, E. et al. Flexible and large area pressure sensors for human-neuroprostheses and human-neurorobotic interface assessment. Microsyst Technol 18, 1155–1161 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-012-1463-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-012-1463-7

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