Wearable wireless sensing system for capturing human arm motion

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. Vol. 166; no. 1; pp. 125 - 132
• Main Authors: Lim, Chee Kian, Luo, Zhiqiang, Chen, I-Ming, Yeo, Song Huat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2011
• Subjects: cost effectiveness; Detection; health services; Human; humans; kinematics; Limbs; monitoring; Motion capture; Movement; Optical sensors; patients; plaster; Posture; Rehabilitation; Sensors; stroke; Strokes; viability; Wearable; Wearable sensor; Wearable sensor; Optical sensors; Motion capture
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2010.10.015

Having the capability to track human body kinematics allows clinicians to classify and analyze a stroke patient's progress which aid in the rehabilitation program. Monitoring and capturing real time body motion further permits corrective measures to be implemented for more effective rehabilitation results. In this current work, an innovative and unobtrusive wearable sensing system is being proposed. This compact and cost effective mocap approach effectively captures human joint angles and does that hinder limb motion as commonly encountered in other existing systems. It is easily worn by simply attaching the plaster module onto the limb joints to be monitored. The paper details the design and implementation of the proposed sensor and sensing methodology. The tested wireless optical sensor is able to detect the posture and movement of the human arm with particular attention to its application in post stroke rehabilitation for the healthcare service. Real time experimental data are collected from a subject using a hand exerciser and compared with a commercial motion capture system. The results demonstrate the feasibility and viability of the proposed sensing system in tracking human arm postures and movement.