Measurement of muscle contraction is mainly achieved through electromyography (EMG) and an area interest for many biomedical applications, including prosthesis control human machine interface. However, EMG has some drawbacks, there are also alternative methods measuring activity, such as by monitoring the mechanical variations that occur during contraction. In this study, a new, simple, non-invasive sensor based on force-sensitive resistor (FSR) which able to measure presented. The sensor,...

Voluntary hand movements are usually impaired after a cerebral stroke, affecting millions of people per year worldwide. Recently, the use exoskeletons for assistance and motor rehabilitation has become increasingly widespread. This study presents novel exoskeleton, designed to be low cost, wearable, easily adaptable suitable home use. Most components exoskeleton 3D printed, allowing easy replication, customization maintenance at cost. A strongly underactuated mechanical system allows one...

Human machine interfaces (HMIs) are employed in a broad range of applications, spanning from assistive devices for disability to remote manipulation and gaming controllers. In this study, new piezoresistive sensors array armband is proposed hand gesture recognition. The encloses only three targeting specific forearm muscles, with the aim discriminate eight movements. Each sensor made by force-sensitive resistor (FSR) dedicated mechanical coupler designed sense muscle swelling during...

The precordial mechanical vibrations generated by cardiac contractions have a rich frequency spectrum. While the lowest frequencies can be palpated, higher infrasonic are usually captured seismocardiogram (SCG) signal and audible ones correspond to heart sounds. Forcecardiography (FCG) is non-invasive technique that measures these via force sensing resistors (FSR). This study presents new piezoelectric sensor able record all simultaneously, as well respiration signal. was compared FSR-based...

Cardiac monitoring can be performed by means of an accelerometer attached to a subject’s chest, which produces the Seismocardiography (SCG) signal. Detection SCG heartbeats is commonly carried out taking advantage simultaneous electrocardiogram (ECG). SCG-based long-term would certainly less obtrusive and easier implement without ECG. Few studies have addressed this issue using variety complex approaches. This study proposes novel approach ECG-free heartbeat detection in signals via template...

In the last few decades, a number of wearable systems for respiration monitoring that help to significantly reduce patients’ discomfort and improve reliability measurements have been presented. A recent research trend in biosignal acquisition is focusing on development monolithic sensors multiple vital signs, which could simultaneous recording different physiological data. This study presents performance analysis performed via forcecardiography (FCG) sensors, as compared ECG-derived (EDR)...

Forcecardiography (FCG) is a novel technique that measures the local forces induced on chest wall by mechanical activity of heart. Specific piezoresistive or piezoelectric force sensors are placed subjects’ thorax to measure these very small forces. The FCG signal can be divided into three components: low-frequency FCG, high-frequency (HF-FCG) and heart sound FCG. HF-FCG has been shown share high similarity with Seismocardiogram (SCG), which commonly acquired via accelerometers mainly used...

Seismocardiography (SCG) is largely regarded as the state-of-the-art technique for continuous, long-term monitoring of cardiac mechanical activity in wearable applications. SCG signals are acquired via small, lightweight accelerometers fixed on chest. They provide timings important events, such heart valves openings and closures, thus allowing estimation time intervals clinical relevance. Forcecardiography (FCG) a novel that records cardiac-induced vibrations chest wall by means specific...

A heartbeat generates tiny mechanical vibrations, mainly due to the opening and closing of heart valves. These vibrations can be recorded by accelerometers gyroscopes applied on a subject’s chest. In particular, local 3D linear accelerations angular velocities chest wall are referred as seismocardiograms (SCG) gyrocardiograms (GCG), respectively. signals usually exhibit low signal-to-noise ratio, well non-negligible amplitude morphological changes in posture sensors’ location, respiratory...

Cardiac auscultation is an essential part of physical examination and plays a key role in the early diagnosis many cardiovascular diseases. The analysis phonocardiography (PCG) recordings generally based on recognition main heart sounds, i.e., S1 S2, which not trivial task. This study proposes method for accurate localization sounds Forcecardiography (FCG) recordings. FCG novel technique able to measure subsonic vibrations via small force sensors placed onto subject’s thorax, allowing...

This paper presents forcecardiography (FCG), a novel technique to measure local, cardiac-induced vibrations onto the chest wall. Since 19th century, several techniques have been proposed detect mechanical caused by cardiovascular activity, great part of which was abandoned due cumbersome instrumentation involved. The recent availability unobtrusive sensors rejuvenated research field with most currently established being seismocardiography (SCG). SCG is performed placing accelerometers...

Forcecardiography (FCG) is a novel technique that records the weak forces induced on chest wall by cardio-respiratory activity, using specific force sensors. FCG sensors feature wide frequency band, which allows us to capture respiration, heart motion, valves opening and closing (similar Seismocardiogram, SCG) sounds, all simultaneously from single contact point chest. As result, raw signals exhibit large component related respiratory referred as Forcerespirogram (FRG), with much smaller,...

Cardio-mechanical monitoring techniques, such as Seismocardiography (SCG) and Gyrocardiography (GCG), have received an ever-growing interest in recent years potential alternatives to Electrocardiography (ECG) for heart rate monitoring. Wearable SCG GCG devices based on lightweight accelerometers gyroscopes are particularly appealing continuous, long-term of its variability (HRV). Heartbeat detection cardio-mechanical signals is usually performed with the support a concurrent ECG lead, which,...

Abstract Cardiomechanical monitoring techniques record cardiac vibrations on the chest via lightweight electrodeless sensors that allow long-term patient monitoring. Heartbeat detection in cardiomechanical signals is generally achieved by leveraging a simultaneous electrocardiography (ECG) signal to provide reliable heartbeats localization, which however strongly limits A localization method based template matching has demonstrated very high performance several signals, with no need for...

The actual grip force provided by a hand prosthesis is an important parameter to evaluate its efficiency. To this end, split cylindrical handlebar embedding single-axis load cell was designed, 3D printed and assembled. Various measurements were made the performances of “Federica” hand, simple low-cost prosthesis. placed at different angular positions with respect palm, experimental data processed estimate overall force. In addition, piezoresistive sensors applied on selected phalanxes...

Hand prostheses partially restore hand appearance and functionalities. In particular, 3D printers have provided great opportunities by simplifying the manufacturing process reducing costs. The "Federica" is 3D-printed equipped with a single servomotor, which synergically actuates its five fingers inextensible tendons; no springs are used for opening. A differential mechanical system simultaneously distributes motor force on each finger in predefined portions. proportional control of...

The muscle-like movement and speed of the electrohydraulic actuator have granted it much at-tention in soft robotics. Our aim is to review advancements actuators in-spired by Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic (HASEL) actuator. With this paper we focus on performance 21 designs developed across five Uni-versities, ranging from earliest HASEL latest designs. These reported up 60 N forces contracting strains 99%. with best overall so far, has been HEXEL actuator, at University...

Seismocardiography (SCG) and Gyrocardiography (GCG) use lightweight, miniaturized accelerometers gyroscopes to record, respectively, cardiac-induced linear accelerations angular velocities of the chest wall. These inertial sensors are also sensitive thoracic movements with respiration, which cause baseline wanderings in SCG GCG signals. Nowadays, widely integrated into smartphones, thus increasing potential as cardiorespiratory monitoring tools. This study investigates accuracy smartphone...

Forcecardiography (FCG) uses force sensors to record the mechanical vibrations induced on chest wall by cardiac and respiratory activities. FCG is usually performed via piezoelectric lead-zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors, which simultaneously very slow movements of chest, infrasonic due emptying filling heart chambers, faster valves, are recorded Seismocardiography (SCG), audible corresponding sounds, commonly Phonocardiography (PCG). However, PZT not flexible do adapt well deformations soft...

Triage is the first interaction between a patient and nurse/paramedic. This assessment, usually performed at Emergency departments, highly dynamic process there are international grading systems that according to condition initiate journey. requires an initial rapid assessment followed by routine checks of patients' vitals, including respiratory rate, temperature, pulse rate. Ideally, these should be continuously remotely reduce workload on triage nurses; optimizing tools monitoring can...

Electromyography (EMG) is widely used in human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to measure muscle contraction by computing the EMG envelope. However, largely affected powerline interference and motion artifacts. Boards that directly provide envelope, without denoising raw signal, are often unreliable hinder HMIs performance. Sophisticated filtering provides high performance but not viable when power computational resources must be optimized. This study investigates application of feed-forward comb...

Active hand prostheses are usually controlled by electromyography (EMG) signals acquired from few muscles available in the residual limb. In general, it is necessary to estimate envelope of EMG real-time implement control prosthesis. Recently, sensors based on Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR) proved be a valid alternative monitor muscle contraction. However, FSR-based measure mechanical phenomena related contraction rather than those electrical. The aim this study test difference between and...