Exploring Tactile Resonance Sensors: The Revolutionary Force and Challenges in the Medical Field

Research Article
Open access

Exploring Tactile Resonance Sensors: The Revolutionary Force and Challenges in the Medical Field

Tianze Yu 1*
  • 1 Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China    
  • *corresponding author 3441634743@qq.com
TNS Vol.114
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-163-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-164-8

Abstract

In the past few decades, with the gradual maturation of robotics, especially in medical applications, tactile sensors based on various sensing principles have been developed. A multitude of technical solutions have been employed to design tactile sensors. Notably, microfabrication-based approaches possess several appealing features. Microfabrication technology enables the development of miniature sensors with excellent performance, which exhibit outstanding metrological characteristics, such as high precision, sensitivity, low power consumption, and favorable frequency response. The compact size and superior metrological properties enhance the potential role of tactile sensors in the medical field, particularly tactile resonance sensors (TRS). Its principle involves measuring the frequency shift △f, defined as the difference between the resonance frequency of the freely vibrating sensor and the resonance frequency measured when the sensor encounters an object. Therefore, △ f is related to the acoustic impedance of the object and can be utilized to characterize its material properties. In the medical domain, tactile resonance sensor systems have been developed for various applications, including cancer detection, assessment of human egg fertility, measurement of intraocular pressure, and diagnosis of edema. In this review, we mainly explore the basic principles, major medical applications, technological advancements, and challenges of TRS. TRS shows remarkable potential in medical application. Although innovations in sensor design and materials have expanded its functions, issues such as signal interference, lack of standardization, and insufficient clinical verification still need to be addressed. Overcoming these challenges is essential for realizing the full potential of TRS in improving medical diagnosis and patient care.

Keywords:

Tactile sensors, minimally invasive surgery, medicine, prosthetics

Yu,T. (2025). Exploring Tactile Resonance Sensors: The Revolutionary Force and Challenges in the Medical Field. Theoretical and Natural Science,114,9-15.
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References

[1]. T. Hemsel, R. Stroop, D. Oliva Uribe, and J. Wallaschek, "Resonant vibrating sensors for tactile tissue differentiation," Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 308, no. 3-5, pp. 441–446, 2007, doi: 10.1016/j.jsv.2007.03.063.

[2]. O. A. Lindahl, C. E. Constantinou, A. Eklund, Y. Murayama, P. Hallberg, and S. Omata, "Tactile resonance sensors in medicine," J Med Eng Technol, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 263–73, 2009, doi: 10.1080/03091900802491188.

[3]. L. Zou, C. Ge, Z. J. Wang, E. Cretu, and X. Li, "Novel Tactile Sensor Technology and Smart Tactile Sensing Systems: A Review," Sensors (Basel), vol. 17, no. 11, Nov 17 2017, doi: 10.3390/s17112653.

[4]. H. J. Tseng, W. C. Tian, and W. J. Wu, "Flexible PZT thin film tactile sensor for biomedical monitoring," Sensors (Basel), vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 5478–92, Apr 25 2013, doi: 10.3390/s130505478.

[5]. V. Jalkanen, B. M. Andersson, A. Bergh, B. Ljungberg, and O. A. Lindahl, "Spatial variations in prostate tissue histology as measured by a tactile resonance sensor," Physiol Meas, vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 1267–81, Oct 2007, doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/28/10/011.

[6]. A. P. Astrand, B. M. Andersson, V. Jalkanen, B. Ljungberg, A. Bergh, and O. A. Lindahl, "Prostate Cancer Detection with a Tactile Resonance Sensor-Measurement Considerations and Clinical Setup," Sensors (Basel), vol. 17, no. 11, Oct 26 2017, doi: 10.3390/s17112453.

[7]. Y. F. Liu, W. Wang, and X. F. Chen, "Progress and prospects in flexible tactile sensors," Front Bioeng Biotechnol, vol. 11, p. 1264563, 2023, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1264563.

[8]. Y. Zhang, F. Ju, X. Wei, D. Wang, and Y. Wang, "A Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor for Tissue Stiffness Detection with Arbitrary Contact Angle," Sensors (Basel), vol. 20, no. 22, Nov 18 2020, doi: 10.3390/s20226607.

[9]. N. Bandari, J. Dargahi, and M. Packirisamy, "Tactile Sensors for Minimally Invasive Surgery: A Review of the State-of-the-Art, Applications, and Perspectives," IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 7682–7708, 2020, doi: 10.1109/access.2019.2962636.

[10]. P. Saccomandi, E. Schena, C. M. Oddo, L. Zollo, S. Silvestri, and E. Guglielmelli, "Microfabricated tactile sensors for biomedical applications: a review," Biosensors (Basel), vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 422–48, Dec 2014, doi: 10.3390/bios4040422.

[11]. M. A. Yousuf and B. A. Asiyanbola, "A review of force and resonance sensors used in the clinical study of tissue properties," Proc Inst Mech Eng H, vol. 227, no. 12, pp. 1333–40, Dec 2013, doi: 10.1177/0954411913493722.

[12]. B. Xu et al., "Wireless and Flexible Tactile Sensing Array Based on an Adjustable Resonator with Machine‐Learning Perception," Advanced Electronic Materials, vol. 9, no. 6, 2023, doi: 10.1002/aelm.202201334.

[13]. M. Maezawa, T. Imahashi, Y. Kuroda, H. Adachi, K. Yanagisawa, and IEEE, "Tactile sensor using piezoelectric resonator," in 1997 International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Chicago, Il, 1997, Jun 16–19 1997, 1997, pp. 117–120. [Online]. Available: <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1997BJ35B00026. [Online]. Available: <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1997BJ35B00026

Cite this article

Yu,T. (2025). Exploring Tactile Resonance Sensors: The Revolutionary Force and Challenges in the Medical Field. Theoretical and Natural Science,114,9-15.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: Extended Reality (XR) Applications in Medical Imaging

ISBN：978-1-80590-163-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-164-8(Online)
Editor：Alan Wang, Sheiladevi Sukumaran
Conference website: https://www.icbiomed.org/petalingjaya.html
Conference date: 1 August 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.114
ISSN：2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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References

[1]. T. Hemsel, R. Stroop, D. Oliva Uribe, and J. Wallaschek, "Resonant vibrating sensors for tactile tissue differentiation," Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 308, no. 3-5, pp. 441–446, 2007, doi: 10.1016/j.jsv.2007.03.063.

[2]. O. A. Lindahl, C. E. Constantinou, A. Eklund, Y. Murayama, P. Hallberg, and S. Omata, "Tactile resonance sensors in medicine," J Med Eng Technol, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 263–73, 2009, doi: 10.1080/03091900802491188.

[3]. L. Zou, C. Ge, Z. J. Wang, E. Cretu, and X. Li, "Novel Tactile Sensor Technology and Smart Tactile Sensing Systems: A Review," Sensors (Basel), vol. 17, no. 11, Nov 17 2017, doi: 10.3390/s17112653.

[4]. H. J. Tseng, W. C. Tian, and W. J. Wu, "Flexible PZT thin film tactile sensor for biomedical monitoring," Sensors (Basel), vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 5478–92, Apr 25 2013, doi: 10.3390/s130505478.

[5]. V. Jalkanen, B. M. Andersson, A. Bergh, B. Ljungberg, and O. A. Lindahl, "Spatial variations in prostate tissue histology as measured by a tactile resonance sensor," Physiol Meas, vol. 28, no. 10, pp. 1267–81, Oct 2007, doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/28/10/011.

[6]. A. P. Astrand, B. M. Andersson, V. Jalkanen, B. Ljungberg, A. Bergh, and O. A. Lindahl, "Prostate Cancer Detection with a Tactile Resonance Sensor-Measurement Considerations and Clinical Setup," Sensors (Basel), vol. 17, no. 11, Oct 26 2017, doi: 10.3390/s17112453.

[7]. Y. F. Liu, W. Wang, and X. F. Chen, "Progress and prospects in flexible tactile sensors," Front Bioeng Biotechnol, vol. 11, p. 1264563, 2023, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1264563.

[8]. Y. Zhang, F. Ju, X. Wei, D. Wang, and Y. Wang, "A Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor for Tissue Stiffness Detection with Arbitrary Contact Angle," Sensors (Basel), vol. 20, no. 22, Nov 18 2020, doi: 10.3390/s20226607.

[9]. N. Bandari, J. Dargahi, and M. Packirisamy, "Tactile Sensors for Minimally Invasive Surgery: A Review of the State-of-the-Art, Applications, and Perspectives," IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 7682–7708, 2020, doi: 10.1109/access.2019.2962636.

[10]. P. Saccomandi, E. Schena, C. M. Oddo, L. Zollo, S. Silvestri, and E. Guglielmelli, "Microfabricated tactile sensors for biomedical applications: a review," Biosensors (Basel), vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 422–48, Dec 2014, doi: 10.3390/bios4040422.

[11]. M. A. Yousuf and B. A. Asiyanbola, "A review of force and resonance sensors used in the clinical study of tissue properties," Proc Inst Mech Eng H, vol. 227, no. 12, pp. 1333–40, Dec 2013, doi: 10.1177/0954411913493722.

[12]. B. Xu et al., "Wireless and Flexible Tactile Sensing Array Based on an Adjustable Resonator with Machine‐Learning Perception," Advanced Electronic Materials, vol. 9, no. 6, 2023, doi: 10.1002/aelm.202201334.

[13]. M. Maezawa, T. Imahashi, Y. Kuroda, H. Adachi, K. Yanagisawa, and IEEE, "Tactile sensor using piezoelectric resonator," in 1997 International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Chicago, Il, 1997, Jun 16–19 1997, 1997, pp. 117–120. [Online]. Available: <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1997BJ35B00026. [Online]. Available: <Go to ISI>://WOS:A1997BJ35B00026

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