Jacques Stites, Sriram Boppana, Daniel Haugan, Rohith Jayakumar
Proper monitoring of the knee mechanics, such as flexion and extension, is essential for prevention of recurrent and costly injuries that may occur due to improper exercise form. There is currently no low-cost, simple, and individualized method of ensuring proper form over a wide variety of exercises for both injury prevention as well as injury rehabilitation. This gap in the market led to the invention of the IntelliSleeve.
In the design of the IntelliSleeve, a microprocessor, two microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers, a printed circuit board, and a phone application are integrated together to effectively collect data and communicate recommendations to the user. After initial prototype testing, knee angle measurements obtained from the preliminary prototype indicate consistent and accurate measurements for an extensive number of flexion and extension cycles on the knee. This device has also been proven to be nonrestrictive and yet durable enough for nearly any land based activity through rigorous water resistant, impact resistant, and user movement testing. Additionally, the cost of materials to make this device is under $40.
Ultimately, because the device allows both athlete and knee injury rehabilitation patients to monitor their activity and ensure proper form over a wide variety of exercises, this device will have a large impact on the way athletes train and patients rehabilitate. The IntelliSleeve is unique because it integrates innovative exercise technology in a sleeve that is not only comfortable for athletes to wear but also provides information in a quantitative, convenient, and objective manner.