Photonic-Based Wearable Sensor for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Abstract

This paper presents the design and validation of a novel photonic-based wearable sensing sleeve for monitoring the upper limb for rehabilitation. The smart sleeve provides simultaneous monitoring capabilities of the shoulder's range of motion, as well as chest thoracic displacement for the assessment of the respiratory rate and effort level. The proposed solution addresses shoulder subluxation, a common challenge in stroke survivors, by providing a non-invasive, continuous monitoring solution of the relevant parameters. Leveraging the plastic optical fiber macro-bending principle, an optical fiber is incorporated into a wearable elastic shoulder sleeve, and different macro-bending configurations are explored for angular and linear displacement assessment. The novel wearable was validated on a healthy participant, demonstrating its potential for accurate, reliable continuous physiological and movement assessment in healthcare settings and beyond.

Keywords: Sensors, Plastic Fiber Optic, Upper-Limb Rehabilitation, Biomechanics, Rehabilitation Engineering