Design, fabrication and characterization of miniature passive wireless force sensors

The majority of the population will have low back pain in their lifetime. Low back pain correlates to degenerative pain disease (DDD) which has been linked to exposure to mechanical loads. Certain occupations involving heavy lifting also correlate with DDD. Analytical models of the spine provide estimates of loading in the spine. However, data is lacking explicitly measuring mechanical forces in the spine. This data is necessary to truly characterize the translation from overload to onset of DDD. There is a need for an implantable device that is better able to characterize the in vivo mechanical environment present in the spine.