Smart Brace: A Way for ACL Patients to Track Rehab Progression Taylor Ellsworth Advisor: Professor Buma

Motivation Knee injuries are prevalent in today’s society The rehab programs are not geared towards the individual Is there a way to track an individual’s rehab progress?

Smart Brace Sensors to measure range of motion Wireless transmission to computer

Normal ROM is 0 degrees of extension to 135 degrees of flexion User Requirements What will the Smart Brace record? Range of Motion Normal ROM is 0 degrees of extension to 135 degrees of flexion

User Requirements When to use? How long to record? Rehab exercises How long to record? 2 Minute Exercises 1 Hour Total How often to record? 300 times per second Size and Weight? Cannot interfere with user

Components Potentiometer Arduino Nano Rotation: 312° Arduino Nano Small size (0.73” x 1.70”, 5 g) SRAM Memory: 2 KB Bluefruit EZ-Link Bluetooth Module Detect and change serial baud rate

Picture of Actual Knee Brace

Wireless Data Transmission Wi-Fi Long range is not necessary High power consumption Bluetooth High latency is not an issue Better for short range Easier to use

Data Transmission – Arduino Side Sending one value at a time Buffering data then sending it

Data Transmission – Computer Side Receiving one data at a time Receiving buffered data

User Interface What Will The User See? Range of Motion Value for every rep Overall Max Range of Motion Value Plot of Range of Motion Values 117

Results Array of range of motion values

Results

Results Tested accuracy of Smart Brace by comparing it to a protractor measurement Unfortunately, the measurements using the Smart Brace were roughly 3.5 degrees off

Conclusion Designed a knee brace with a sensor to track a user’s range of motion Wirelessly transmitted the data over Bluetooth, so the user can track their rehab progress However, I do not believe the project was successful as it should have been Goal Was it met? Attach Potentiometer to Brace and convert readings to Range of Motion Yes Wirelessly Buffer and Transmit Data Display useful data so the user can track their progress Data accuracy within 1 degree No

Future Work Increase accuracy of data Design an Android application

Thank You

Data Transmission – Arduino Side

Data Transmission – Computer Side