novel systems represent the state of the art technology in dynamic pressure distribution measurement. There are three product families:
pliance systems for a wide range of dynamic pressure distribution measurement applications.
Dynamic pedography is widely used as an objective method for functional diagnostics of foot and ankle deformities. During surgical correction of the foot and the ankle it is difficult to assess the influence of the procedure on the plantar load distribution. Therefore novel has developed the Intraoperative Pedography (IOP) system in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Martinus Richter (Germany).
The novel IOP system consists of a sensor mat with 812 individ-ually calibrated, accurate capacitive sensors. The sensor mat is connected to the pliance analyzer transmitting the data real-time to a PC. To simulate physiological loads a force simulator device (KIOP®) can be used to provide a 50% body weight loading condition to the foot of the anesthetized patient.
The load distribution in the different anatomical foot areas is automatically calculated and displayed real-time during the surgical procedure.
This instantaneous feedback during the procedure regarding the current state of the load distribution allows the surgeon – if required - to perform additional modifications to optimize the plantar load distribution.
For further scientific information please read:
Intraoperative Pedobarography Leads to Improved Outcome Scores:
A level I study; Richter, M. and Zech, S.
Foot and Ankle Int.; 2009, 1029 - 1035
Leonard J. Goldner Award, 2009
pictures of IOP load distributions and KIOP® courtesy of Prof. Richter;
KIOP® is a registered trademark of Martinus Richter, www.MartinusRichter.de
The novel pliance car seat measuring system is today a standard tool in the automotive industry. This system consists of a flexible and elastic measuring mat, multi-channel analyzer, calibration device and software package for PCs.
The measuring mats come in various sizes, sensor configurations and force ranges. The analyzers vary from small portable 16x16 sensor-matrix types to large 32 x 64 sensor matrix types with a wide range of options, such as master-slave synchronisation of several systems, dynamic amplification control and many other.
The calibration device can be used at any time to verify the quality of the measuring results. It uses homogeneous air pressure on all sensors through increasing steps of pressure. Thus an individual calibration curve for each sensor can be calculated. The software operates in a Windows environment and contains many useful methods of data collection and scientific analysis of dynamic pressure. It also allows continuous memory of data.
The system transmits the data wireless via Bluetooth technology to the notebook. For mobile tests even pocket PCs can be used. As in all physical measuring systems the most important part is the sensor technology. pliance works with capacitive transducers in a matrix configuration. Because of the elasticity of the sensor mats they adapt perfectly to 3-dimensional deformations. The force transducing elements contain high-tech elastomers manufactured by novel. Restoring force, range of force, threshold, hysteresis, temperature effect, frequency response and other characteristics are determined during the manufacturing process. This makes it possible to adapt the sensor characteristic to the measuring application.
Together with the mat, the quality of electronic circuitry is also important. Particularly, the stability of the analogue amplifiers, the type of signal conditioning and the processing algorithms can dramatically influence the accuracy of the system.
novel developed a new analyser technology that allows not only individual calibration curves for each sensor, but also individual dynamic amplification control and cross talk suppression, resulting in very accurate and reproducible pressure values. Physiological artefacts that always occur in seat measuring are no longer hidden by technical artefacts.
Features
pliance is manufactured by novel, the leader in accurate PDM.
More information
In preparation of a new "art in science" project, novel took preliminary measurements of the individual forces exerted whilst striking the keys of a piano.
For the data collection the German concert pianist Henriette Gärtner played the introductory tunes of Schubert's "Wandererphantasie".
novel has developed a large size bed rest sensor mat that covers the full area of a mattress. The mat is highly elastic and conforms perfectly to the surface of a mattress under body load. As with all novel systems the sensors are calibrated accurately to the pressure range obtained during body contact.
A custom designed novel pliance sensor array is used by the University Salzburg to monitor the positioning and stability of the riffle in Biathlon sports. A combination of montion analysis, pressure distribuion measurement and EMG.
The work is in progress.
Universität Salzburg
Fachbereich Sport- und Bewegungswissenschaft/USI
www.olympiazentrum-salzburg.at