Authors:
Raquel Gonçalves
1
;
Carla Quintão
1
;
2
;
Ricardo Vigário
1
;
2
and
Cláudia Quaresma
1
;
2
Affiliations:
1
Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
;
2
LIBPhys - UNL, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Rehabilitation, Orthoses, Monitorization, Temperature, Pressure, Compliance, Upper-limb, Wearable.
Abstract:
This article presents the development of a wearable and portable system, the Ortho-Monitorizer, which allows an objective, continuous and simultaneous monitoration of the temperature and pressure exerted on the skin on the 3 main pressure points derived from the use of a hand and wrist orthosis. It also allows the monitorization of the patient’s compliance to the orthosis, providing its time of use. This way, adjustments to the orthosis can be optimized, reducing the discomfort felt by the patient, increasing compliance, reducing the risk of pressure sores’ formation derived from inadequate levels of pressure applied, and consequently, increasing the effectiveness of orthosis’ use. Therefore, an Arduino Uno, powered by a powerbank, is used as microcontroller. Three force sensors and three temperature sensors are controlled by the microcontroller to detect the pressure and temperature. A Bluetooth Low Energy module is used to send data from the Arduino to an android application under
development, which will allow healthcare professionals to consult all the information and clinical history relating to each patient, as well as allowing the patient to develop a greater awareness and sense of responsibility regarding their performance in relation to the guidelines provided by the health professional.
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