UCLA

An orthopedic plaster or fiberglass cast is often applied after a bone fracture to hold the broken bone in place and allow the fracture to heal and the bone to set. If this cast becomes loose, due to a reduction in swelling for example, the bone may not heal properly and a misalignment of the bone may occur. If this problem goes unnoticed, surgery may need to be performed to re-break and reset the bone. This is particularly a problem with patients who are unable to accurately express what they are feeling, e.g. children, and who may not be able to identify that their cast is loose. The SmartCast system has been designed to avoid this complication and to identify early if a cast is not fitting well. SmartCast consists of a sleeve with novel textile sensors capable of measuring the pressure the cast is applying to an appendage as well as electronics to sample and log the sensor data. Several types of textile piezoresistive sensor sleeves have been designed and tested to determine which type would best be able to measure the cast pressure. A full prototype system, including firmware, sensor sleeve, and printed circuit board, has been designed, implemented and tested. The SmartCast system will allow doctors and orthopedic professionals to obtain a better understanding of how well a cast fits over time and to avoid the painful procedure of resetting a bone.