Human scratching motion analysis method by using three-dimensional motion measurement system

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Watanabe, Keisuke^a | Abe, Takao^a | Isozaki, Goushiro^a | Okuyama, Takeshi^a; | Tanaka, Mami^b

Affiliations: [a] Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan | [b] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Takeshi Okuyama, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba-aramaki 6-6-04, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Monitoring of scratching motion accompanied with itch is important for the medical treatment of skin diseases. Although there were some studies on monitoring scratching motion, the mechanical characteristics of scratching have not been researched enough. Therefore, in this paper, we developed an estimation method of human scratching motion characteristics, especially contact force. In experiment, we measured motions of scratching weakly and strongly against artificial skin placed on three-axis force sensor. Displacement of artificial skin and fingertip trajectory were analyzed by using three-dimensional motion measurement system and compared with contact force measured by the force sensor. In addition, an analysis of scratching motion against human skin by using the developed system was conducted too. From these results, we confirmed that measuring skin displacement of skin surface and fingertip trajectory are effective for the estimation of the mechanical characteristics of scratching.

Keywords: Scratching, motion analysis, itch, skin damage, artificial skin

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-171181

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 59, no. 3, pp. 1111-1118, 2019