An electronically integrated load cell [for monitoring pressures of orthotic braces]

An electronically integrated strain-gauge load cell has been developed for monitoring pressures between orthotic braces and the human body for adolescents who have spinal deformities. This load cell has a built in amplifier and low-pass filter. High signal-to-noise ratio, temperature compensation, low power consumption and cost effectiveness are the major advantages of this design. The maximum load for this cell is 110 cm of water (approximately 20 N). Laboratory tests have established that the nonlinearity and hysteresis are less than /spl plusmn/2.5%, and the signal to noise ratio is greater than 70 dB. This paper describes both the structure and the operational principles of the load cell, and presents the calibration results.