Journal Article: Design and Modeling of a Textile Pressure Sensor for Sitting Posture Classification

Summary

It is important to note, from the onset, that the relevance of analyzing siting posture cannot be overstated in healthcare and biomedical realms. For this reason, there is need to develop posture monitoring systems that are not only confortable, but also economical and more efficient. Towards this end, Meyer, Arnrich, Schumm, and Troster suggest a textile pressure sensor designed to not only monitor but also measure a persons body pressure distribution. In this case, the authors point out that electrodes built with conductive textiles are arranged on both sides of a compressible spacer, forming a variable capacitor.

Over time, various techniques have been utilized in an attempt to gauge siting posture. Some of the said techniques include, but they are not limited to, using radiographs for spinal curve examination, sitting state video analysis, etc. Others include the utilization of specialized chair pressure sensors. All these approaches have had a weakness or two with the most prominent weaknesses being prohibitive cost of acquisition, complexities of use, etc. It is important to note that the utilization of textiles in this case is a welcome step in the right direction. This is more so the case given that as the authors point out, sensors of this kind are not only washable, but also lightweight, and confortable.

The textile pressure sensor adopts a dynamic design that is made up of two parts. These, as the authors point out, are the textile sensor array and the measurement electronics. Towards this end, textile wires are utilized in the routing of electrical signals which are linked and moored to the devices adapted for communication as well as measurement. While the textile sensor is made up of a three key components, i.e. a compressible spacer and two electrodes effectively creating a variable capacitor; it should be noted that with regard to the measurement electronics, the capacitance to digital converter AD7745 from Analog Devices is used to measure the capacitance of the sensor elements. In reference to the textile sensor, the induced pressure causes the thickness of the compressible spacer to vary. On the other hand, the other component of the textile sensor i.e. two electrodes, as the authors point out, are arranged on one side of the spacer as an array, while the other side consists of one common electrode, forming the capacitors between each electrode...…alternations could occur due to aging and changes in the material of the spacer, humidity, or temperature. With that in mind, there is need to further examine and evaluate these parameters and their influence upon capacitance measurement and how adverse or undesired influences could be curtailed or minimized. Addressing the said concerns would be a welcome move especially given that at the present time, the classification accuracy of the textile pressure sensor and that of related work is comparable - effectively making the latter as viable as the commercial system utilized for reference purposes. The relevance of this article is not, therefore, in question.

In the final analysis, it is important to note that in addition to being well-written, this article is well-structured and presents otherwise technical information in an easy to understand format. The data presented is also well argued, thus effectively providing a basis for further enquiry and examination as far as the further advancement of this concept is concerned. As the authors point out, the design as well as evaluation of the textile pressure sensor effectively opens the field for long-term operation for medical applications such as supervision of siting postures, decubitus prevention, muscle activity measurements, or control of pressure…