Background Many rheumatologists perform joint assessments by manually exerting pressure on an area with their thumb or two index fingers to elicit a response. It is generally assumed that fingers will "blanch" at around 4 kg/cm2 of force, which is then used as a benchmark for the physician to...

Optimize Medical Device Functionality Challenge Manufacturers and researchers continuously strive to validate or improve efficiency and accuracy of medical devices and precision tools. Whether evaluating the effectiveness of a surgical apparatus or ensuring the fit of a health-monitoring device...

Smart Ambulatory Device designed with FlexiForce™ Sensors Background: According to the present edition of World Population Ageing, globally, the number of older adults (aged 60 or above) is expected to more than double from 841 million people in 2013 to more than 2 billion in 2050. This increase...

FlexiForce™ Sensors Improve Hand Rehabilitation Device In 2013, a group of bioengineers and rheumatoid specialists in Cagliari, Italy designed a low-cost medical device that monitors the hand rehabilitation of patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Sclerosis (SS). The device...

Speech Pathologists Track Progression of Patient’s Speech Therapy with FlexiForce™ Traditionally, speech pathologists evaluate the health of orofacial muscles by asking a patient to contract their tongue against an imposed object, such as a gloved finger. In recent years, pathologists have sought...

Tactile Feedback in Surgical Applications In recent years, robots have become an increasingly viable part of minimally invasive surgery. They offer improved range of motion in laparoscopic techniques. The drawback has been that robots have lacked the sense of touch, or haptic feedback, that is so...

FlexiForce™ Sensors Enhance Robotic Surgery Due to advances in biomedical engineering, robotic surgery has become increasingly popular. One significant disadvantage of robotic surgery; however, is the lack of haptic technology and inability to provide force feedback to the surgeon. Because many...

Studying Muscle Forces in the MRI Environment Mag Design & Engineering (MD&E) prototypes devices that researchers use to study human brain function and human bone joints. Their services range from computer hardware configuration and assembly to image processing to statistical analysis. MD&E is using...

Video-Assisted Intubation Assessed Using Force Sensors Background: In difficult intubation situations, there is a risk of damage to soft tissues of the mouth and to the patient’s maxillary incisors. Modern video laryngoscopes provide an easier view of the area of the larynx where the vocal cords are...

Infusion Pump Blockage Notification Using Force Sensors Background: Automated, wearable pump systems continuously deliver vital drugs to the user. A crucial design consideration for such devices is a sensor that will detect life-threatening blockages in the system and alert the user in time to take...