Wearable Fiber Optics Tracks Body Movements
December 5, 2017 | Terry Sharrer
Engineers at Beijing’s Tsinghua University have created a sensitive and flexible optical fiber that opens new possibilities for wearable devices. The fiber is made from a special silicone, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which can be drawn as thin as 0.5mm. Because it is not electronic, electromagnetic interference presents no obstacle. Movement bends the fiber which then changes the amount of light transmitted. A “light” glove might be used to measure change in muscle movement for patients suffering from a stroke, peripheral neuropathy, or various kinds of paralysis. MORE
Image Credit: Changxi Yang, Tsinghua University and MDTMag.com