ELECTRONIC SENSOR SKIN – REVOLUTIONIZING IT IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION

Abstract

Background: The development of electronic sensor skin (e-skin) represents a significant advancement in rehabilitation technology. By providing sensory feedback to artificial limbs, it assists amputees, paraplegic individuals, stroke patients, and athletes affected by neurological disorders, enhancing their ability to perceive pressure, temperature, and texture. This innovation aims to improve interaction with the environment.

Objective: This study investigates the efficacy of e-skin in facilitating sensory feedback for users, thereby enhancing their functional capabilities and overall rehabilitation experience.

Methods: An integrated, flexible sensor-embedded skin was developed and applied to wearable robotic systems, specifically exoskeletons designed to augment human physical capabilities. The e-skin serves as an interface for robotics by enabling continuous, non-invasive monitoring through multimodal physical and biochemical sensors. Key materials include advanced substrates and active sensing elements.

Results: The integration of e-skin enables more sophisticated interactions between the device and the user, providing feedback that enhances control, comfort, and responsiveness.

Conclusion: Recent advancements in nanomaterials, organic electronics, and bio-inspired designs have made e-skin more robust, durable, and sensitive to a wide range of stimuli, paving the way for its application in rehabilitation.

Implications: The implications of this technology extend to movement analysis and rehabilitation, real-time biofeedback, nerve stimulation and recovery, adaptive prosthetics and exoskeletons, pain management, and the detection of changes in muscle fatigue or stress