Research area »Healthcare Technologies and Processes«
System for recording mechanical stresses on body-worn products
Testing systems for wearable products
The assessment and recording of mechanical loads on body-worn products such as orthoses, prostheses, shoes, or other technical systems is highly complex in relation to humans. Realistic testing therefore requires a comprehensive understanding of testing as well as comprehensive testing equipment.
Our research team works on optimizing existing testing methods and developing complex dynamic test systems for the mechanical stress of individual components or entire products, and carries out these tests on behalf of customers.
Simplified stress tests can be performed using tensile/compression/3-point bending tests. Prostheses, orthoses, and shoes are tested with a test machine based on ISO 22675 and ISO 16955 in a force- and position-controlled manner.
Complex 3D movement sequences are simulated using a 6-axis robot. Individual human movements and forces, which are stored in our Motion Lab are recorded and serve as the basis for programming the robot's movements. This creates a realistic representation of the robot's movement sequence, which can also be performed in a force- and position-controlled manner.
Our range of services:
- Conducting mechanical test series Functional, durability, and strength tests in a controlled environment
- Testing of body-worn components, sub-systems, and complete systems using various testing machines and procedures
- feasibility studies
- Comprehensive consulting services for the development of testing methods and the execution of test series
- Development of mechanical testing machines and procedures according to customer requirements for the evaluation of body-worn products, e.g., orthoses, prostheses, exoskeletons, shoes
- Transfer of real human movement data to a machine and mapping of user profiles
- Support with optimization of your product, by simulating the future location of use with its various environmental conditions during mechanical testing
Advantages:
- Fast, reliable test results thanks to comprehensive test expertise
- Realistic testing using 3D kinematics and kinetics based on a comprehensive understanding of biomechanics
- Testing of prototypes in the early development phase under real stress conditions before conducting studies with test subjects
- High repeatability, reproducibility, and comparability compared to human trials
Facilities
- Mechanical testing laboratory with adaptive test setups
- Dynamic gait simulator (Shore Western KS2-07) according to ISO 22675
- Hydraulic tensile/compression testing machine for material testing (Shore Western 301-1)
- 6-axis robot Kuka Quantec
- Various dummies based on biomechanical models, e.g., foot including integrated sensors, hand, upper body, thigh stump
- Optical 3D motion capture with infrared camera system (Qualisys)
- 3D motion capture with inertial sensor system (Xsens)
- Force plates for 3D ground reaction forces (AMTI)
- Mobile pressure, force, and moment sensors, e.g., for hand forces or prosthetic attachments
- Pressure distribution measurement with specified sensor mats
Supplementary services
- Numerical simulation: Finite elements and musculoskeletal simulations
- Movement analysis in a fully equipped Motion Lab
- Ergonomic