In this paper, we will present the development of a flexible fiber optic bend loss sensor for the measurement of plantar pressure and shear stress for diabetic patients. The sensor will allow the measurement of shear stress on the foot, which is a critical parameter in studying diabetic foot ulcers. The basic configuration of the optical sensor systems incorporates a mesh that is comprised of two sets of parallel optical waveguide planes; the planes are configured so the parallel rows of waveguides of the top and bottom planes are perpendicular to each other. The planes are sandwiched together creating one sensing sheet. Two-dimensional information is determined by measuring the loss of light from each of the waveguide to map the overall pressure distribution. The shifting of the layers relative to each other produces different patterns of the sensor output, and shear force information is characterized through repeated training of the sensor and analysis of the training data. The latest development and improvement in the sensors design is presented. Fabrication and sensor characterization results will be presented.
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