A.V. Hutter, T. Hutter
The University of Texas at Austin,
United States
Keywords: optical fiber, transmission, body movement, rehabilitation
Summary:
Optical fiber technology is revolutionizing healthcare by offering innovative solutions for monitoring patients during rehabilitation and managing chronic health conditions. These thin, flexible strands of plastic can be embedded in wearable devices, clothing, or even medical equipment to track vital signs, movement, and muscle activity in real time. This allows doctors and therapists to collect precise data on a patient’s recovery progress, detect early signs of complications, and tailor treatments accordingly. Unlike traditional monitoring methods, optical fibers are lightweight, non-invasive, and sensitive, making them ideal for continuous health tracking without disrupting a patient's daily activities. To explore the effectiveness of optical fibers to monitor finger movements, fibers were sewed onto a glove, each positioned strategically along the fingers to detect bending. The ends of the fibers were connected to a light source and to a photodetector. Upon bending, the transmitted light intensity through the fiber decreases. This decrease is proportional to the degree of bending of the fiber. Similarly, optical fibers were sewed onto pants to test the ability to monitor leg movements, particularly knee bending. Different types of optical polymer fibers were studied to determine which will produce the largest decrease in transmission upon bending as this determines the sensitivity of measurement. Additionally, the positioning of the fiber along the fingers and legs plays an important role, and our work also explored these effects. Through these experiments, we successfully measured bending and demonstrated the integration of optical fibers into clothing - such as gloves and pants - to monitor body movements in real time. Our results show that this approach is a promising tool for wearable motion-tracking systems. In the biomedical field, this technology has significant potential. One key application is in rehabilitation therapy, where patients recovering from injuries, strokes, or surgeries could wear fiber-integrated clothing to track their progress. For instance, a stroke patient regaining hand function could wear a fiber-enhanced glove to measure finger flexibility and strength over time, allowing therapists to adjust treatments based on real-time data. Similarly, individuals with Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis could use fiber-integrated pants to monitor gait stability and detect early signs of mobility decline, helping doctors intervene before symptoms worsen. Athletes recovering from injuries could also benefit, as fiber sensors could track muscle movement and strain during physical therapy, preventing re-injury.