Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization
The development of an instrumented patellar prosthesis, able to measure the contact forces at the patellofemoral joint, can significantly aid in investigating the causes of total knee arthroplasty failures due to patellar complications. This study focuses on developing and validating an instrumented...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1226 |
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| author | Vera Maioli Matteo Zauli Angelo Cappello Luca Cristofolini |
| author_facet | Vera Maioli Matteo Zauli Angelo Cappello Luca Cristofolini |
| author_sort | Vera Maioli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of an instrumented patellar prosthesis, able to measure the contact forces at the patellofemoral joint, can significantly aid in investigating the causes of total knee arthroplasty failures due to patellar complications. This study focuses on developing and validating an instrumented patellar prosthesis to measure contact forces in the patellofemoral joint. A piezoresistive force sensor was characterized and integrated into a conditioning circuit, with the aim of its implementation in the prosthesis. To measure medial and lateral forces independently, the sensors were trimmed in half. Compression tests (up to 2000 N) assessed sensor performance in terms of linearity (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.998 intact vs. 0.989 trimmed), repeatability (0.9% intact vs. 0.8% trimmed), and accuracy (1.7% intact vs. 2.3% trimmed) for forces up to 250 N. Higher force levels resulted in increased errors, but at a rate still comparable to that of existing sensors in the literature. Key considerations for the design of the instrumented prosthesis, such as minimizing point and shear loads, were identified. A prototype prosthesis capable of housing the sensor was proposed. The integrated system shows potential for improving the understanding of Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) failures through in vitro studies and could serve as an intraoperative tool for the evaluation of bone resections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9efb8c471dab44deb16d290f0df497bd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-9efb8c471dab44deb16d290f0df497bd2025-08-20T02:03:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01254122610.3390/s25041226Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and CharacterizationVera Maioli0Matteo Zauli1Angelo Cappello2Luca Cristofolini3Department of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Umberto Terracini 24-28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyCIRI ICT, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Umberto Terracini 24-28, 40131 Bologna, ItalyThe development of an instrumented patellar prosthesis, able to measure the contact forces at the patellofemoral joint, can significantly aid in investigating the causes of total knee arthroplasty failures due to patellar complications. This study focuses on developing and validating an instrumented patellar prosthesis to measure contact forces in the patellofemoral joint. A piezoresistive force sensor was characterized and integrated into a conditioning circuit, with the aim of its implementation in the prosthesis. To measure medial and lateral forces independently, the sensors were trimmed in half. Compression tests (up to 2000 N) assessed sensor performance in terms of linearity (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.998 intact vs. 0.989 trimmed), repeatability (0.9% intact vs. 0.8% trimmed), and accuracy (1.7% intact vs. 2.3% trimmed) for forces up to 250 N. Higher force levels resulted in increased errors, but at a rate still comparable to that of existing sensors in the literature. Key considerations for the design of the instrumented prosthesis, such as minimizing point and shear loads, were identified. A prototype prosthesis capable of housing the sensor was proposed. The integrated system shows potential for improving the understanding of Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) failures through in vitro studies and could serve as an intraoperative tool for the evaluation of bone resections.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1226piezoresistiveforce sensorinstrumented prosthesispatellapatellofemoral jointtotal knee arthroplasty |
| spellingShingle | Vera Maioli Matteo Zauli Angelo Cappello Luca Cristofolini Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization Sensors piezoresistive force sensor instrumented prosthesis patella patellofemoral joint total knee arthroplasty |
| title | Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization |
| title_full | Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization |
| title_fullStr | Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization |
| title_short | Force Sensor for Instrumented Patellar Prostheses: Development and Characterization |
| title_sort | force sensor for instrumented patellar prostheses development and characterization |
| topic | piezoresistive force sensor instrumented prosthesis patella patellofemoral joint total knee arthroplasty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1226 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT veramaioli forcesensorforinstrumentedpatellarprosthesesdevelopmentandcharacterization AT matteozauli forcesensorforinstrumentedpatellarprosthesesdevelopmentandcharacterization AT angelocappello forcesensorforinstrumentedpatellarprosthesesdevelopmentandcharacterization AT lucacristofolini forcesensorforinstrumentedpatellarprosthesesdevelopmentandcharacterization |