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Developing textile shear sensors to prevent ulcers on the skin
The goal of the project is to develop a technology to measure shear forces, which potentially lead to ulceration in the human body. The sensors developed in this project would be based on textiles to enable everyday non-invasive use.
Keywords: wearable, textile, shear, sensor, e-textile, fabric, garment, ulcer, mobile health
Ulceration in many clinical and preclinical settings is caused not only by normal force (i.e. pressure), but also by shear forces applied between human tissues (bone and muscle), skin and garments and/or bed linings. In order to prevent such ulcers before deleterious symptoms arise, shear and normal forces need to be measured. High levels of both forces can be a cause of ulcer, and thus real time monitoring can be beneficial to prevent ulceration. However, common commercially available shear sensors usually rely on mechanisms involving levers. Such constructions are not ideal to use in clinical settings, since levers themselves would become additional pressure points, causing ulcers.
To alleviate this problem, the current project strives to develop shear sensors based on textiles. Textiles are planar materials that are used in everyday settings: socks, shirts, bedsheets, etc. Textile based shear sensing would allow unobstructive prevention of ulcerations in patient with limited mobility and compromised sensation (numbness due to nerve damage) without introducing complex devices and new pressure points.
Ulceration in many clinical and preclinical settings is caused not only by normal force (i.e. pressure), but also by shear forces applied between human tissues (bone and muscle), skin and garments and/or bed linings. In order to prevent such ulcers before deleterious symptoms arise, shear and normal forces need to be measured. High levels of both forces can be a cause of ulcer, and thus real time monitoring can be beneficial to prevent ulceration. However, common commercially available shear sensors usually rely on mechanisms involving levers. Such constructions are not ideal to use in clinical settings, since levers themselves would become additional pressure points, causing ulcers.
To alleviate this problem, the current project strives to develop shear sensors based on textiles. Textiles are planar materials that are used in everyday settings: socks, shirts, bedsheets, etc. Textile based shear sensing would allow unobstructive prevention of ulcerations in patient with limited mobility and compromised sensation (numbness due to nerve damage) without introducing complex devices and new pressure points.
Goals
• Develop a sensor modality capable of measuring shear force
• Produce and test a prototype of a fully-textile shear sensor
• Write a scientific project report
Tasks
• Literature review (10%)
• Shear sensing modality development (60%)
• Fabrication of a textile shear sensor prototype and its validation (20%)
• Data collection and analysis, reporting and presentation (10%)
Your Profile
• Background in Applied Physics, Materials Science, Electronics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or related fields
• Independent worker with critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Goals
• Develop a sensor modality capable of measuring shear force
• Produce and test a prototype of a fully-textile shear sensor
• Write a scientific project report
Tasks
• Literature review (10%)
• Shear sensing modality development (60%)
• Fabrication of a textile shear sensor prototype and its validation (20%)
• Data collection and analysis, reporting and presentation (10%)
Your Profile
• Background in Applied Physics, Materials Science, Electronics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or related fields
• Independent worker with critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Prof Dr Carlo Menon, Valeria Galli, and Dr. Alexander Shokurov will supervise the student and the research will be performed at ETH Zurich’s Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology research group (www.bmht.ethz.ch) in the Balgrist Campus in Zurich, Switzerland.
To apply, use the button below to tell us why you want to do this project ("motivation"); attach a mini CV with your current program of study, your grades and any other info you deem relevant--maybe the name and e-mail of a postdoc or a professor willing to be your reference; and make any further comments ("additional remarks"). Please include length of time that your thesis will occupy (i.e. 6 months, etc), and the earliest date you can start.
Prof Dr Carlo Menon, Valeria Galli, and Dr. Alexander Shokurov will supervise the student and the research will be performed at ETH Zurich’s Biomedical and Mobile Health Technology research group (www.bmht.ethz.ch) in the Balgrist Campus in Zurich, Switzerland.
To apply, use the button below to tell us why you want to do this project ("motivation"); attach a mini CV with your current program of study, your grades and any other info you deem relevant--maybe the name and e-mail of a postdoc or a professor willing to be your reference; and make any further comments ("additional remarks"). Please include length of time that your thesis will occupy (i.e. 6 months, etc), and the earliest date you can start.