THE VALIDITY OF MEASURING SKIPPING CADENCE WITH A NOVEL WEARABLE SENSOR - SINTEC SMART PATCH

The aim of this study was to test the validity of running cadence assessed with a novel smart patch designed within a SINTEC Horizon 2020 project. Participants performed 3 consecutive 20-seconds skipping with increasing intensity (slow, medium, fast). Cadence was derived from raw data from a “SINTEC” smart patch, Dytran accelerometers, and HBM bilateral force plates. Data from all devices were compared using Bland-Altman analysis and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The mean bias between cadence measured with Dytran accelerometer and force plates with ‘’SINTEC’’ smart patch was 0.08 and -0.17 steps/min, respectively. In addition, there were no statistically significant difference between the mean cadence determined with different sensors/devices. Therefore, we can conclude that the measurement of cadence using a novel SINTEC smart patch showed good validity

Supercooled Liquid Ga Stretchable Electronics

By controlling the properties of its medium, supercooled liquid Ga (SLGa) based stretchable remains stretchable at -22 degrees C, i.e., 52 degrees C below its thermo-dynamic melting point of Ga. Thus far, our oldest deposited SLGa circuit and film have remained liquids for 2 years at room temperature. The study investi-gates the crystallization of SLGa triggered by the surface energy of nucleation agents, temperature, circuit cross-section, and mechanical impact. Based on these parameters, a method is presented to integrate electronic components with SLGa circuits without compromising its supercooling effect. Further, the large stiffness variation induced by phase transition is demonstrated in dif-ferent applications. For the desired stiffness variation, the crystallization rate can be controlled by varying the temperature and cross-section area. Finally, spray-printing an ink of microscale SLGa microscale particles can confor-mally pattern Ga on a rough surface, e.g., to fabricate a stretchable array of SLGa microelectrodes. A smart patch with stretchable SLGa electrode arrays records human electrocardiogram signals in cold water and does not stain the skin after use. Its low and stable impedance in water will enable novel applications in wearable electronics

Reliability and validity of running step rate derived from a novel wearable Smart Patch

A novel, wearable, stretchable Smart Patch can monitor various aspects of physical activity, including the dynamics of running. However, like any new device developed for such applications, it must first be tested for validity and reliability. Here, we compare the step rate while running on a treadmill measured by this smart patch with the corresponding values obtained with the ”gold standard” OptoGait, as well as with other devices commonly used to assess running dynamics, i.e., the MEMS accelerometer and commercially available and widely used Garmin Running Dynamic Pod. The 14 healthy, physically active volunteers completed two identical sessions with a 5-minute rest between. Each session involved two one-minute runs at 11 km/h and 14 km/h separated by a one-min rest. The major finding was that the Smart Patch demonstrated fair to good test-retest reliability. The best test-retest reliability for the Running Pod was observed in connection with running at 11 km/h and both velocities combined (good and excellent, respectively) and for the OptoGait when running at 14 km/h (good). The best concurrent validity was achieved with the Smart Patch, as reflected in the highest Pearson correlation coefficient for this device when running at 11 or 14 km/h, as well as for both velocities combined. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the novel wearable Smart Patch shows promising reliability and excellent concurrent validity in measuring step rate during treadmill running, making it a viable tool for both research and practical applications in sports and exercise science.Full text license: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0;</p

A Comparison of a Novel Stretchable Smart Patch for Measuring Runner's Step Rates with Existing Measuring Technologies

A novel wearable smart patch can monitor various aspects of physical activity, including the dynamics of running, but like any new device developed for such applications, it must first be tested for validity. Here, we compare the step rate while running in place as measured by this smart patch to the corresponding values obtained utilizing ''gold standard'' MEMS accelerometers in combination with bilateral force plates equipped with HBM load cells, as well as the values provided by a three-dimensional motion capture system and the Garmin Dynamics Running Pod. The 15 healthy, physically active volunteers (age = 23 +/- 3 years; body mass = 74 +/- 17 kg, height = 176 +/- 10 cm) completed three consecutive 20-s bouts of running in place, starting at low, followed by medium, and finally at high intensity, all self-chosen. Our major findings are that the rates of running in place provided by all four systems were valid, with the notable exception of the fast step rate as measured by the Garmin Running Pod. The lowest mean bias and LoA for these measurements at all rates were associated consistently with the smart patch