Porous Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Load Sensing of Total Knee Replacement.

Authors

Elham Mahmoudi, Adam Garry Redgrift, Emre Salman, Milutin Stanacevic, Ryan Willing, Shahrzad Towfighian

Published in

IEEE/ASME transactions on mechatronics : a joint publication of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society and the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division. Jan 23, 2026. Epub Jan 23, 2026.

Abstract

This study addresses the critical need for self-powered, durable pressure sensors in total knee replacement (TKR) implants to enable the collection of postoperative information. The scope of this research encompasses the design, development, and testing of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) integrated into an instrumented knee implant for energy harvesting and pressure sensing. The authors' unique approach involves utilizing a porous silicone rubber as a dielectric material. This allows the TENG to withstand forces up to 2000 N and generate a maximum power output of $18\mu \text{W}$ . Theoretical modeling combined with experimental validation provides deeper insight into the fundamental operating principles. We elucidate the TENG output performance under an MTS servo-hydraulic load frame compared with a VIVO joint simulator. Other important characteristics, such as load sensitivity and the influence of porosity, are also presented. The proposed TENG shows great potential as a pressure sensor in TKR applications, offering high sensitivity, stability, and low cost.

PMID:
41674665
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Oct 2026.

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