Special Issue "Sensors in Biomechanics and Biomedicine"

Guest Editor
Dr. Rezaul K. Begg
VU Biomechanics, Victoria University - City Flinders Campus, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Vic 8001, Australia
Website: http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/begg/
E-Mail:
Interests: Gait Analysis, Biomechanics, Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Instrumentation, Biosignal processing

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, there has developed a considerable research interest in biomechanical and biomedical sensors and their inherent information processing techniques. This has led to many innovative applications in biomedicine and biomedical engineering. Such developments have also created exciting opportunities for solving a variety of complex problems in healthcare. The aim of this special issue is to present recent research findings on developments in the application of sensor- technologies to healthcare and human performance. In particular, the special issue will report on various sensor applications for measuring either the whole body or individual limbs. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts for publication on the following (but not limited to) areas:

• Biosensors, sensor design, sensor fusion for improved diagnosis
• Biomechanical sensors for health, human performance and biometrics
• Smart sensors
• Sensor signals and associated signal processing

Application areas (but not limited to):

• Disease diagnosis e.g. Cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, gait, sleep apnea
• Ageing healthcare e.g. Falls and injury prevention, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia
• Patient tracking and monitoring
• Movement analysis and sports performance
• Human computer interface

Dr. Rezaul K. Begg
Guest Editor

Submission

• biosensors
• biomechanics
• bioinstrumentation
• movement analysis
• signal processing
• locomotion
• rehabilitation
• healthcare

Title: A Server-Based Mobile Coaching System
Authors: Arnold Baca, Philipp Kornfeind, Emanuel Preuschl, Sebastian Bichler, Martin Tampier and Hristo Novatchkov
Affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Kinesiology and Applied Computer Science, ZSU, University of Vienna, 1150 Wien, Austria; E-Mail: arnold.baca@univie.ac.at (A.B.)
Abstract: A system for monitoring, transmitting and processing performance data in sport in order to provide feedback has been developed. During training, athletes are equipped with a mobile device and wireless sensors based on the ANT™ protocol, which carry out biomechanical, physiological and other sport specific measurements. The measured data is stored locally and immediately forwarded via the Internet to a server component. The server provides experts (coaches, biomechanists, sport medicine specialists etc.) with remote data access, analysis and (partly automated) feedback routines. In this way, experts are able to analyze the athlete’s performance and return personal feedback messages from remote locations.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Sensor Technologies in Cell Biomechanics Research
Authors: Bin Li ¹ and James H-C. Wang ²
Affiliations: ¹ Institute of Orthopaedics, Soochow University, 708 Renmin Rd, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215007, China
² MechanoBiology Laboratory, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bioengineering, and Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, 210 Lothrop St, BST E1640, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; E-mail: wanghc@pitt.edu
Abstract: Cells use traction forces to maintain cell shape, enable migration, and generate and detect mechanical signals. Over the years, many technologies have been developed to quantify CTF for a better understanding of its role in biological processes such as angiogenesis, inflammation, and wound healing. In this article, we will review the work on sensor technologies for quantification of CTF, including our work on micropost sensor and cell traction force microscopy (CTFM), which is considered to be one of the most efficient and reliable methods for measurement of CTF. Future research directions in terms of improvement of current sensor technologies for cell biomechanics research will also be suggested.

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Compensation for Goniometer Crosstalk due to Endblock Misalignment in Frontal and Transverse Planes
Authors: Tatiana de Oliveira Sato ¹, Gert-Åke Hansson ² and Helenice Jane Cote Gil Coury ¹
Affiliations: ¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; E-mail: helenice@ufscar.br (H.J.C.G.C.)
² Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, SE-22185, Lund, Sweden
Abstract: Electrogoniometers are prone to crosstalk errors related to endblocks rotation (general crosstalk) and to the characteristics of each sensor (individual crosstalk). The crosstalk due to endblock misalignments in transverse and frontal planes were evaluated using a precision jig for simulating pure knee movements. A procedure to compensate errors was proposed. For valgus/varus misalignments, the individual crosstalk caused a pronounced error for angles exceeding 60° (18.8°), subsequent compensation reduced these errors to 4.5°. For rotational misalignment, compensations reduced the errors from 15.5° to 2.4°. Crosstalk was efficiently compensated by the procedures applied, which might be useful in preprocessing of functional data.
Keywords: knee; gait; movement; measurement errors