Skip to main content

Optical Sensor Assembly on knee Brace for continuous knee monitoring application

Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Knee joint is an important part of human body. People with poor knee condition generally have limited physical movement, rendering to mental stress and agony. Current technology to support the knee diagnosis and treatment procedures are limited to the use of manual goniometer, x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Alternative devices with continuous measurement capability for knee monitoring are minimum at this time, mainly due to the difficulties to cover the wide angle of the knee flexion. X-ray and MRI technologies are useful to have some insight on the knee problem, but they are not applicable for continuous monitoring. Aside from being expensive for general use of MRI, x-ray on the other hand can cause short-term side effects due to radiation exposure.

Methods

The method aimed in this paper is to demonstrate the use of optical sensor integrated with mechanical gear system as a knee monitoring device. A plastic compartment, made by using 3D printer is used to place the sensor and the gear system. The design of the overall device allows direct attachment on a knee brace for easy placement on the knee.

Results

Based on current study, the proposed sensor has a range of motion between 0 deg. to 160 deg., 0.08 deg. resolution as well as support continuous monitoring of the knee.

Conclusion

The sensor performance has been demonstrated for gait motion, ascending and descending stairs, sit-to-stand movement and maximum knee flexion applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

References

  1. Zhang, Y., & Jordan, J. M. (Aug 2010). Epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. Vol. 26(3), pp. 355–369

  2. Altman, R. D. (2010). Early management of osteoarthritis, American Journal of Managed Care. Mar Vol. 16(2), pp. S41–S47

  3. Bliddal, H., & Christensen, R. The treatment and prevention of knee osteoarthritis: a tool for clinical decision-making.Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. June 2009, Vol. 10(11), pp.1793–1804

  4. Lespasio, M. J., Piuzzi, N. S., Husni, M. E., Muschler, G. F., Guarino, A. J., & Mont, M. A. Knee osteoarthritis: a primer.The Permanente Journal. Sept 2017, Vol. 21,16–183

  5. Abbott, J. H., Robertson, M. C., McKenzie, J. E., Baxter, G. D., Theis, J., & Campbell, A. J. (2009). Exercise therapy, manual therapy, or both, for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: a factorial randomised controlled trial protocol. Trials Journal, Feb, 10(1), 1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Salim, G. M., & Zawawi, M. A. (2020). Mathematical Representation of Joint Angle Measurement using Step Index Optic Fibre and Linear Array Photodiode Sensor. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 1529 pp. 042089

  7. Salim, G. M., Zawawi, M. A., & Novel, A. (2020). Implementation of Knee Joint Monitoring Device using Step Index Optical Fibre and Linear Array Photodiode Sensor. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Vol. 1529 pp. 042069

  8. Myles, C. M., Rowe, P. J., Walker, C. R. C., & Nutton, R. W. (2002). Knee joint functional range of movement prior to and following total knee arthroplasty measured using flexible electrogoniometry. Gait & Posture, 16(1), 46–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rowe, P. J., Myles, C. M., Walker, C., & Nutton, R. (2000). Knee joint kinematics in gait and other functional activities measured using flexible electrogoniometry: How much knee motion is sufficient for normal daily life? Gait Posture, 12(2), 143–155

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tully, E. A., Fotoohabadi, M. R., & Galea, M. P. (2005). Sagittal spine and lower limb movement during sit-to-stand in healthy young subjects. Gait Posture, 22(4), 338–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Devers, B. N., Conditt, M. A., Jamieson, M. L., Driscoll, M. D., Noble, P. C., & Parsley, B. S. (2011). Does greater knee flexion increase patient function and satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty? Journal of Arthroplasty, 26(2), 178–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Scott, A. P. Knee Braces: Current Evidence and Clinical Recommendations for Their Use, American Family Physician Available online: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0115/p411.html

  13. Riskowski, J. L., Mikesky, A. E., Bahamonde, R. E., & Burr, D. B. (2009). Design and Validation of a Knee Brace with Feedback to Reduce the Rate of Loading.Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, Vol. 131(8), pp. 084503 (6 pages)

  14. Trappler, R., Smith, E., Goldberg, G., Parvizi, J., & Hozack, W. J. Knee Range of Motion: Can we believe the Goniometer Reading?. Orthopaedic Proceedings, Vol 91-B, SUPP_I, 6–6

  15. Clapper, M. P., & Wolf, S. L. Comparison of the Reliability of the Orthoranger and the Standard Goniometer for Assessing Active Lower Extremity Range of Motion.Physical Therapy, Feb 1988, Vol. 68(2), pp.214–218

  16. Stupar, D. Z., Bajic, J. S., Manojlovic, L. M., Slankamenac, M. P., Joza, A. V., & Zivanov, M. B. (2012). Wearable Low-Cost System for Human Joint Movements Monitoring Based on Fibre-Optic Curvature Sensor. IEEE Sensors Journal, 12(12), 3424–3431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zawawi, M. A., & O’Keeffe, S. (2015). An Extrinsic Optical Fibre Bending Sensor: A Theoretical Investigation and Validation. IEEE Sensors Journal, 15(9), 5333–5339

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Abro, Z. A., Yi-Fan, Z., Cheng-Yu, H., Lakho, R. A., & Nan-Liang, C. (2018). Development of a Smart Garment for Monitoring Body Postures based on FBG and Flex Sensing Technologies. Sensors and Actuators A, 272, 153–160

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Massimiliano Donno (August 2008). A New Flexible Optical Fiber Goniometer for Dynamic Angular Measurements: Application to Human Joint Movement Monitoring,IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 57, No. 8,

  20. Andressa, & Rezende (2018). Polymer Optical Fiber Goniometer: A New Portable, Low Cost and Reliable Sensor for Joint Analysis. Sensors, 18(12), 4293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Salim, G. M., & Zawawi, M. A. (2020). Knee Monitoring Device Based on Optical Sensor Embedded in Mechanical Compartment Assembly, Optik (Elsevier). Vol. 223, Dec pp. 165546

  22. Hemmerich, A., Brown, H., Smith, S., Marthandam, S. S., & Wyss, U. P. (2006). Hip, knee, and ankle kinematics of high range of motion activities of daily living. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 24(4), 770–781

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) for the funding awarded to the author to complete this study under the national grant reference number: FRGS/1/2019/TK04/UMP/02/18 (FRGS) and RDU1901218 (UMP).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26600, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    G. M. Salim & M. A. Zawawi

Authors
  1. G. M. Salim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Zawawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. M. Salim.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Future Work

To further validate the sensor’s clinical applicability of the proposed optical based sensor by comparing its results with Vicon system (3D motion analysis). Other than that, to fabricate a smaller and finer mechanical components (gear and rack shaft) using accurate CNC machining to produce a smaller and lighter overall sensor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salim, G.M., Zawawi, M.A. Optical Sensor Assembly on knee Brace for continuous knee monitoring application. J. Med. Biol. Eng. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-022-00708-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40846-022-00708-5