Electrospun piezoresistive pressure sensor integrated into a soft ball for portable, battery-free monitoring of hand grip strength
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Sanli, Abdulkadir
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Hand grip strength is a critical biomarker for assessing muscular function and rehabilitation progress, but existing measurement systems are bulky, expensive, and confined to clinical settings, limiting accessibility. We report a portable, low-cost monitoring system using a soft spherical device embedded with a highly sensitive, scalable multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-enhanced electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane nanofiber sensor. The sensor exhibits a 600 % relative current change at 10 N load and maintains stability over 500 cycles, enabling precise grip assessment. Integrated into an elastomeric ball, the system wirelessly transmits data via near-field communication, allowing real-time smartphone monitoring without batteries. Results confirmed reliable detection of inter-hand strength differences, demonstrating clinical applicability for rehabilitation and home-based care. This scalable, user-friendly platform bridges the gap between lab-grade sensing and practical rehabilitation, offering a versatile solution for personalized biomechanical monitoring.
Date Issued
2025-08-01
Date Acceptance
2025-06-16
Citation
Materials & Design, 2025, 256
ISSN
1873-4197
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Materials & Design
Volume
256
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114257
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 114257
Date Publish Online
2025-06-16