“Monitoring Dentists’ Posture during Work”

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are a common concern for dental professionals due to the precise and prolonged physical demands of their work. To address this, a posture monitoring system has been developed that includes real-time data processing and calibration to ensure accurate tracking of the dentist’s posture. The system is based on reference angles along the Ox, Oy, and Oz axes, derived from ergonomic studies. Sensors capture the dentist's posture, and the data is processed through an Arduino-based system, which compares current posture angles to the baseline values. If the dentist’s posture deviates by more than a pre-set threshold (e.g., 5°), an audible buzzer alerts them to adjust their position, helping prevent long-term musculoskeletal injuries. The system's accuracy is ensured by comparing the recorded angles to physiological norms, providing immediate feedback and promoting ergonomic posture throughout the workday.

Specification

Description:Introduction
Muscular-skeletal injuries continue to be a significant concern within the medical community, particularly for professionals whose work requires sustained, precise movements. Dental practitioners are especially prone to these injuries due to the technical demands of their work, which places continuous strain on the vertebral axis and upper limbs. This system focuses on monitoring dentists' posture using an experimental approach to assess body positioning in real-time. By utilizing advanced sensors and a microcontroller-based system, this project aims to detect and mitigate the risk of injury by alerting the user when their posture deviates from established safe norms.
System Components and Configuration
The proposed system is built around a Wemos D1 Mini microcontroller, interfaced with two ADXL345 accelerometer modules and a buzzer. The ADXL345 sensors, known for their low noise and low power consumption, are strategically placed on the dentist's body-one at the waist and another on the headgear. This placement allows for comprehensive monitoring of the posture, capturing critical data related to the alignment of the spine and upper body.
Power Supply: The system is powered by a 3S configuration of 18650 lithium-ion cells, providing 12V. A buck converter (LM2596) steps down this voltage to 5V to power the Wemos D1 Mini, ensuring efficient energy usage.
Sensors: The ADXL345 accelerometers are configured to monitor movements along three axes (X, Y, Z). The sensors' outputs are continuously compared against predefined reference values that represent the physiological norms for safe posture.
Alert Mechanism: A buzzer is included in the system to provide an audible alert when the user's posture deviates beyond a certain threshold, indicating a potentially harmful position that could lead to muscular-skeletal stress.
Data Processing and Calibration: The core functionality of the system is achieved through precise calibration and data processing algorithms implemented in the Arduino environment. The calibration process involves recording the sensor data over a set number of samples to establish baseline offsets for each sensor. These offsets account for variations in sensor positioning and individual differences in body structure.
Reference Values: The system uses reference angles based on the Ox, Oy, and Oz axes, derived from extensive studies of ergonomic posture. For example, reference angles on the Ox axis might include values like 95.56°, 97.77°, and 54.52°, which are compared to the measured angles during the dentist's activity.
Real-time Monitoring: During operation, the D1 Mini processes the incoming data from the sensors, subtracting the calibration offsets to ensure accuracy. The system continuously checks for deviations from the reference values. If the deviation exceeds a pre-set threshold (e.g., 5°), the buzzer is triggered, warning the dentist to adjust their posture.
Functionality and Accuracy: The accuracy of the system is ensured by comparing the recorded angles with physiological norms. For instance, if the reference values for the Ox axis are 95.56°, 97.77°, and 54.52°, and the recorded values during operation are 91.66°, 92.75°, and 58.89°, the system can determine how close the user is to the safe posture. This comparison is crucial for providing real-time feedback that can prevent long-term musculoskeletal injuries.

Battery Backup Details

The system is powered by a 3S configuration of three 18650 lithium-ion cells connected in series. Each cell has a capacity of 1200mAh, resulting in a total capacity of 3600mAh at 12V. The power is stepped down to 5V using an LM2596 buck converter to efficiently supply the Wemos D1 Mini microcontroller and the associated components.

Power Consumption Analysis

The power consumption of the system is primarily determined by the following components:
• D1 Mini: ~170mA
• ADXL345 Accelerometer (2 modules): ~0.34mA (0.17mA per module)
• Buzzer: ~20mA (when active)

Total current draw: 170mA + 0.34mA + 20mA = 190.34mA, given the efficiency of the buck converter (~85%), the power drawn from the 12V battery is approximately 93.40mA.

Estimated Battery Backup Time

With the total battery capacity of 3600mAh and a current draw of approximately 93.40mA, the estimated battery backup time is around 38.5 hours. This means that the system can operate continuously for about 38.5 hours on a full charge.

Charging Time and Partial Charging Backup

The system is charged using a 2A adapter. With an estimated charging efficiency of 90%, the effective charging current is 1.8A. The full charging time for the 3600mAh battery is approximately 2 hours. If the battery is charged for 15 minutes (0.25 hours), the charge added is 450mAh. This partial charge provides a backup time of approximately 4.82 hours.

1. Full Charge Backup Time: ~38.5 hours
2. Charging Time with 2A Adapter: ~2 hours for a full charge
3. Backup from 15 Minutes of Charging: ~4.82 hours
The following figure 1 and 2 shows the block diagram and circuit diagram of Monitoring Dentists' Posture during Work.


Figure 1. Block Diagram for Monitoring Dentists' Posture during Work




Figure 2. Circuit Diagram for Monitoring Dentists' Posture during Work
, Claims:I/We claim:


1. Monitoring Dentists' Posture during Work, comprises Muscular-skeletal injuries continue to be a significant concern within the medical community, particularly for professionals whose work requires sustained, precise movements. Dental practitioners are especially prone to these injuries due to the technical demands of their work, which places continuous strain on the vertebral axis and upper limbs. Alert Mechanism: A buzzer is included in the system to provide an audible alert when the user's posture deviates beyond a certain threshold, indicating a potentially harmful position that could lead to muscular-skeletal stress.
2. It comprises the following components in a specified way to achieve the target, Data Processing and Calibration: The core functionality of the system is achieved through precise calibration and data processing algorithms implemented in the Arduino environment. The calibration process involves recording the sensor data over a set number of samples to establish baseline offsets for each sensor. These offsets account for variations in sensor positioning and individual differences in body structure.
3. Reference Values: The system uses reference angles based on the Ox, Oy, and Oz axes, derived from extensive studies of ergonomic posture. For example, reference angles on the Ox axis might include values like 95.56°, 97.77°, and 54.52°, which are compared to the measured angles during the dentist's activity.
4. Real-time Monitoring: During operation, the D1 Mini processes the incoming data from the sensors, subtracting the calibration offsets to ensure accuracy. The system continuously checks for deviations from the reference values. If the deviation exceeds a pre-set threshold (e.g., 5°), the buzzer is triggered, warning the dentist to adjust their posture.
5. Functionality and Accuracy: The accuracy of the system is ensured by comparing the recorded angles with physiological norms. For instance, if the reference values for the Ox axis are 95.56°, 97.77°, and 54.52°, and the recorded values during operation are 91.66°, 92.75°, and 58.89°, the system can determine how close the user is to the safe posture. This comparison is crucial for providing real-time feedback that can prevent long-term musculoskeletal injuries.

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