Study in Application of Carbon Nanotube Yarn to Biomedical High Sensitive Force Sensing

Abstract

In this paper, force sensing in the body with a carbon nanotube yarn (CNTy) was proposed and a high sensitivity force sensor was developed. The CNTy is very flexible material having high aspect ratio. Furthermore, CNT have an electrical characteristic of increasing electric resistance to mechanical deformation. From these characteristics, the CNTy has a potential as an optimal material for force sensing in narrow and complicated organ. First, to examine potential of force sensing with CNTy, resistivity change to tensile force was measured. Then, a prototype sensor was developed. This sensor perceives bending deformation of the structure. Finally, sensitivity of the sensor was evaluated. As a result, the sensor was able to perceives 0.004N at a minimum. The data presented here show the potential of force sensing with carbon nanotube yarn in narrow and complicated organ.