Effect of Calibration Method on Tekscan Sensor Accuracy

Author:

Brimacombe Jill M.1,Wilson David R.2,Hodgson Antony J.1,Ho Karen C. T.3,Anglin Carolyn4

Affiliation:

1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC, V6R 2L7, Canada

2. Division of Orthopaedic Engineering Research, Department of Orthopaedics, and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, University of British Columbia, 500-828 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6K 1L8, Canada

3. Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, and Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

4. Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, and Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

Abstract

Tekscan pressure sensors are used in biomechanics research to measure joint contact loads. While the overall accuracy of these sensors has been reported previously, the effects of different calibration algorithms on sensor accuracy have not been compared. The objectives of this validation study were to determine the most appropriate calibration method supplied in the Tekscan program software and to compare its accuracy to the accuracy obtained with two user-defined calibration protocols. We evaluated the calibration accuracies for test loads within the low range, high range, and full range of the sensor. Our experimental setup used materials representing those found in standard prosthetic joints, i.e., metal against plastic. The Tekscan power calibration was the most accurate of the algorithms provided with the system software, with an overall rms error of 2.7% of the tested sensor range, whereas the linear calibrations resulted in an overall rms error of up to 24% of the tested range. The user-defined ten-point cubic calibration was almost five times more accurate, on average, than the power calibration over the full range, with an overall rms error of 0.6% of the tested range. The user-defined three-point quadratic calibration was almost twice as accurate as the Tekscan power calibration, but was sensitive to the calibration loads used. We recommend that investigators design their own calibration curves not only to improve accuracy but also to understand the range(s) of highest error and to choose the optimal points within the expected sensing range for calibration. Since output and sensor nonlinearity depend on the experimental protocol (sensor type, interface shape and materials, sensor range in use, loading method, etc.), sensor behavior should be investigated for each different application.

Publisher

ASME International

Subject

Physiology (medical),Biomedical Engineering

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