Replacement of Sensory Capabilities for the Physically Handicapped

摘要

Work undertaken to develop a system for use in the detection and prevention of levels of tissue pressure sufficient to retard capillary blood flow and cause decubitus ulcers is discussed. Elastomeric materials were examined for possible use in the fabrication of pressure distribution transducers. Devices made from elastomeric materials would be considerably less expensive than sensors made from more conventional materials and measurement errors would be reduced because the compliant elastomers would exert lower reaction forces on the surface being examined than would stiffer instruments. The mechanical and electrical properties of a number of different polymers loaded with conductive carbon were analyzed and conductive films and gels were examined. For all systems studied, it was found that polymer hysteresis effects prevented the development of reliable sensing elements.