Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research (대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지)

The Korean Society of Medical and Biological Engineering (대한의용생체공학회)
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Development of Quantitative Lymphedema Screening System to Monitor Change in Skin Elasticity through the Measurement of Indentation Force and Return Time

피부의 탄성변화에 따른 피부 가압과 복귀시간 측정을 통한 정량적 림프부종 진단 시스템 개발

  • Seo, Jong Hyun (Biomedical Engineering Branch, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Cho, Chang Nho (Biomedical Engineering Branch, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Kim, Sung Chun (Biomedical Engineering Branch, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Chung, Seung Hyun (Rehabilitation Clinic, Center for clinical specialty, National Cancer Center) ;
  • Koh, Eun Sil (Rehabilitation Medicine, National Medical Center) ;
  • Kim, Kwang Gi (Biomedical Engineering Branch, National Cancer Center)
  • 서종현 (국립암센터 융합기술연구부 의공학연구과) ;
  • 조창노 (국립암센터 융합기술연구부 의공학연구과) ;
  • 김성천 (국립암센터 융합기술연구부 의공학연구과) ;
  • 정승현 (국립암센터 지원진료센터 재활의학클리닉) ;
  • 고은실 (국립중앙의료원 재활의학과) ;
  • 김광기 (국립암센터 융합기술연구부 의공학연구과)
  • Received : 2013.06.20
  • Accepted : 2013.10.17
  • Published : 2013.12.31
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Abstract

Lymphedema is a phenomenon in which fluid is accumulated inside tissues due to the damaged lymphatic systems. Lymphedema can cause complications such as lymphangitis, infection, changes in skin texture, fibrosis, and lymphangiosarcoma. In this study, a lymphedema screening system based on the elasticity of the skin is proposed to easily quantify lymphedema. The developed probe consists of touch sensors, a load cell and hall-effect sensors to measure the indentation force on the skin and the return time of the skin. The developed system can be used to estimate the change in the elasticity of the skin to quantify lymphedema. The system was tested with a thyroid phantom and gelatin phantoms of different concentrations and the resulting force and the time were recorded. It was found that the increase in the elasticity leads to a higher indentation force and shorter return time. This shows that the developed system can monitor the change in the skin elasticity by measuring the return time and the indentation force. The feasibility of the system in clinical applications will be evaluated in the future study.

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References

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