Medical Device Link.

Originally Published EMDM March/April 2003

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Turnkey Solution Quantifies the Sense of Touch

The ConTacts Versatile Tactile Analysis System (VTAS) by Pressure Profile Systems Inc. overcomes the shortcomings of most ergonomic data collection devices by presenting data in graphical form and offering real-time data analysis.

An innovative way to measure the sense of touch is now at the fingertips of medical device manufacturers. Pressure Profile Systems Inc. (Los Angeles, CA, USA) is quantifying the way we feel with its ConTacts Versatile Tactile Analysis System (VTAS).

A combination of software and tactile pressure sensing pads, the system features up to 16 pressure sensors that can be custom designed, mounted, and controlled by a LabView-based interface. The raw sensor data are converted into a colour-coded visual representation, providing real-time data visualization and analysis of the sensed pressures measured on the device under test. “The beauty of VTAS is its ability, through its customization, to accurately collect and portray the contact pressures as they actually occur,” says Jae S. Son, PhD, CEO of Pressure Profile Systems Inc.

VTAS delivers a highly realistic, informative representation of ergonomic test results for products such as surgical instruments, razors, tool handles, joysticks, and prosthetics. One current application of VTAS by a European manufacturer of surgical and analysis equipment is in joint-replacement surgery. VTAS is being used in knee replacement surgery to quantify the pressure applied to the knee joint by the ligament as it is stretched across the artificial joint. The sensors placed on the joint, which are attached to a monitoring device, can be moulded to the shape of the artificial knee. This provides surgeons with precise contact pressures and allows them to perform with the utmost accuracy, says Son.

The data graphs that are generated from VTAS can be captured and imported into reports and other documents, while the raw data can be exported into software packages such as Excel or MatLab. The system delivers continuously reliable data after only an initial calibration. This translates into faster, more repeatable data collection.

While the typical cost for such a system is less than $20,000, it varies among customers, based on customization. The price includes a complete system with conformable sensors, drive and interface electronics, a data acquisition card, customized acquisition and visualization software, and a one-year warranty. A complete boxed solution is also available, with an average delivery time of 6 to 8 weeks. 

Elaine Paoloni

Copyright ©2003 European Medical Device Manufacturer