A conductive polymer pressure sensor array

Abstract

A 4*4 array of four quad (5 mm*5 mm) Interlink conductive polymer pressure sensors was designed. The array was embedded in a shoe insole under the second metatarsal head of a subject. The sensors were calibrated, and a microprocessor-based portable data-acquisition system was used to monitor the pressure distribution under the second metatarsal head during normal gait. A center-of-pressure algorithm was used to estimate the maximum metatarsal head movement for one subject. A value of 5 mm was obtained, with a maximum error of +or-1.5 mm. Hence the diameter of the sensor must be at least 7 mm to cover the peak pressure area under the metatarsal heads.< >