Abstract
This study presents variability assessment of real time measurements from in-vivo internal joint loads with instrumented implant during post-operative (PO) recovery process from total hip arthroplasty on daily living gait activities. A total of 112 trials walking supported by crutches in both hands, contralateral and ipsilateral sides, walking on treadmill at constant velocities, accelerating, decelerating and free walking, were assessed from 9 different patients ranging 0.3 to 76-month PO. Variability was assessed based on standard deviation of the vertical joint load normalized to each subject body weight with this metric adequacy to monitor PO recover. © 2024 IEEE.

Abstract
In our previous work, we explored a new invisible ECG biometrics approach that uses signals collected at the thighs using polymeric dry electrodes and sensors integrated into a toilet seat. However, the performance of the biometric templates remains unexplored. In this paper we evaluate how the ECG templates evolve, and the impact that potential changes may have on performance, using one case-study subject monitored over 31 days. This work is organized into two main parts. The first explores the morphological and physical traits of the subject throughout the 31 days based on data collected daily, three times per day at 6-hour intervals; in more than 80% of the sessions, all the signals were successfully acquired without showing noise nor movement artefacts. The second part is focused on evaluating the performance of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Binary Convolutional Neural Network (BCNN) classifiers in the identification of the case study subject within a population of 10 individuals, covering an age range of (24 to 35 years); the top performer was the BCNN, achieving a perfect accuracy rate of 100% when tested on a group of two individuals. © 2024 IEEE.

Abstract
The electrical stimulation of pedicle screws is a technique used to ensure its correct placement within the vertebrae pedicle. Several authors have studied these screws' electrical properties with the objective of understanding if they are a potential source of false negatives. As titanium screws are anodized with different thicknesses of a high electrical resistance oxide (TiO2), this study investigated, using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods, how its thickness may affect pedicle screw's resistance and conductivity. Analytical results have demonstrated that the thickness of the TiO2 layer does result in a significant radial resistance increase (44.21 m Omega/nm, for & Oslash; 4.5 mm), and a decrease of conductivity with layers thicker than 150 nm. The numerical approach denotes that the geometry of the screw further results in a decrease in the pedicle screw conductivity, especially after 125 nm. Additionally, the experimental results demonstrate that there is indeed an effective decrease in conductivity with an increase in the TiO2 layer thickness, which is also reflected in the screw's total resistance. While the magnitude of the resistance associated with each TiO2 layer thickness may not be enough to compromise the ability to use anodized pedicle screws with a high-voltage electrical stimulator, pedicle screws should be the subject of more frequent electrical characterisation studies.

Abstract
In the field of vital signs monitoring, there is a growing trend towards transposing monitoring technologies into people’s daily lives. Currently, the work revolves around wearables. However, wearables have known limitations, mainly the need for voluntary actions to acquire the signals of interest, low battery life, and abandonment, which leads to the search for new solutions. An evolution is the integration of sensors into the environment or everyday objects through invisible devices (also known as “off the person” sensing). Properly assessing and matching the patient and their caregiver to the appropriate monitoring technology, while considering the suitability of the home environment for device operation and maintenance is a challenge that depends on sound human factors principles. This article reviews the current key features and technologies to provide an overview of the existing invisibles landscape.

Abstract
This study presents lower limb joint load comparison from subject specific musculoskeletal model simulation (MSK-MS) and direct measurements from instrumented implants on post-operative (PO) patients. A case study was considered for MSK-MS gait analysis of a 40-year-old healthy male with 70 kg and 1.86 m height. Reflective adhesive markers were applied on skin surface of selected anatomical points at right and left lower limbs. Orthostatic and dynamic acquisition on normal gait (NG), stiff-knee gait (SKG) and slow running (SR) was performed from ground reaction forces with two force plates at 2 kHz and trajectories of skin markers with eight-camera system at 100 Hz. Subject specific MSK-MS was performed using AnyGait and morphed Twente Lower Extremity Model (TLEM), matching the size and joint morphology of the stick-figure model. Over-determinate kinematic analysiswas performed, and motion equations solved with hard and soft constraints. Representative MSK-MS gait cycles were selected at NG, SKG and SR lower limb joint vertical force components at the hip, the knee, and the ankle normalized to body weight (JFz/BW). Internal joint direct measurements of four PO patients', 61-83 years, average weight 808 N and 1.71 m height, with telemetric Hip I (4-channel), Hip II (8-channel) and knee (9-channel) instrumented implants were selected from Orthoload database with comparable gait to NG, SKG and SR. Statistical measurements presented similar mean JFz/BW at right/left hip, knee, ankle MSK-MS and asymmetric peak values with dominant NG, SKG and SR different variances (p < 0.05). Direct JFz/BW measures contrasted NG with similar hip and knee mean and variance from SKG and SR with different mean and variance. Peak JFz/BW direct measurements presented higher hip and knee values on SR and NG than SKG, with higher values at the knee than the hip on NG and SKG, and the opposite on SR. Direct JFz/BW measurements presented at the hip and the knee lower values than their corresponding MSK-MS on NG, SKG and SR.