Wearable low-cost system for human joint movements monitoring based on fiber-optic curvature sensor

Abstract

In this paper, a measurement system for human joint movements monitoring based on a simple and low-cost intensity modulated fiber-optic curvature sensor is presented. The implemented curvature sensor is made up of a plastic optical fiber, which is optimized for small curvature measurements, and has a high sensitivity in a wide measuring range. The sensor sensitivity and resolution, in the measurement range, are 20 mV/° and 1°, respectively. The fabrication process of proposed curvature sensor is also given. The implemented sensor is wearable, noninvasive, nonintrusive, and completely harmless. In this paper, the characteristics of the sensor measured in laboratory conditions as well as measurements of the human knee joint movements are given. Wireless electronics based on ZigBee are also presented. Therefore, the sensor has the possibility of wireless measurement. The main advantages of this sensor are simplicity, lightness, and flexibility. This sensor is also electrically safe and immune to electromagnetic interference. The application, which provides a possibility of remote human joints monitoring over the internet is implemented in the LabVIEW software package. © 2001-2012 IEEE.