Shear sensor for lower limb prosthetic applications

Lower limb amputees using a prosthetic device often suffer from mechanically-induced skin injuries. Shear stresses are believed to play a significant role in the formation of these skin injuries. The work presented in this paper is aimed at creating a new class of adaptive prosthetic and orthotic interfaces involving a capacitive shear stress sensor. The sensor design and transfer function are discussed. A few preliminary test results demonstrating the functionality of the sensor are also presented.