A Dual-Padded, Protrusion-Incorporated, Ring-Type Sensor for the Measurement of Food Mass and Intake

Abstract

Dietary monitoring is vital in healthcare because knowing food mass and intake (FMI) plays an essential role in revitalizing a person’s health and physical condition. In this study, we report the development of a highly sensitive ring-type biosensor for the detection of FMI for dietary monitoring. To identify lightweight food on a spoon, we enhance the sensing system’s sensitivity with three components: (1) a first-class lever mechanism, (2) a dual pad sensor, and (3) a force focusing structure using a ring surface having protrusions. As a result, we confirmed that, as the food arm’s length increases, the force detected at the sensor is amplified by the first-class lever mechanism. Moreover, we obtained 1.88 and 1.71 times amplification using the dual pad sensor and the force focusing structure, respectively. Furthermore, the ring-type biosensor showed significant potential as a diagnostic indicator because the ring sensor signal was linearly proportional to the food mass delivered in a spoon, with R2 = 0.988, and an average F1 score of 0.973. Therefore, we believe that this approach is potentially beneficial for developing a dietary monitoring platform to support the prevention of obesity, which causes several adult diseases, and to keep the FMI data collection process automated in a quantitative, network-controlled manner.