title: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based strain sensors for a wearable monitoring and biofeedback system for pressure ulcer prevention and rehabilitation.
abstract: This paper presents an overview of the functioning principles of CNTs and their electrical and mechanical properties when used as strain sensors and describes a system embodiment for a wearable monitoring and biofeedback platform for use in pressure ulcer prevention and rehabilitation. Two type of CNTs films (multi-layered CNTs film vs purified film) were characterized electrically and mechanically for potential use as source material. The loosely woven CNTs film (multi-layered) showed substantial less sensitivity than the purified CNTs film but had an almost linear response to stress and better mechanical properties. CNTs have the potential to achieve a much higher sensitivity to strain than other piezoresistors based on regular of conductive particles such as commercially available resistive inks and could become an innovative source material for wearable strain sensors. We are currently continuing the characterization of CNTs based strain sensors and exploring their use in a design for 3-axis strain sensors.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Université de Sherbrooke, Research Centre on Aging, CSSS-IUGS and Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada. patrick.boissy@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boissy
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Genest
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patenaude
authors.forename: Marie-Sol
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chenel
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Béland
authors.forename: Georges-Auguste
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Legault
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tapin
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beauvais
mesh_terms: D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014160:Transducers, Pressure
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon