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초록

Gout is a major chronic disease that causes various complications, making continuous monitoring essential. However, traditional monitoring methods leave gaps in treatment intervals and fail to provide sufficient information about a patient's condition, hindering effective diagnosis. This study introduces a user-friendly gout monitoring device utilizing contact-based oscillatory indentation. As synovial fluid accumulates between joints, it induces viscoelastic changes. The storage and loss moduli represent the solid- and fluid-like behavior of viscoelasticity, respectively. When subjected to sinusoidal shear strain, viscoelastic materials generate a shear stress response at the same frequency, accompanied by a phase angle. Building on this principle, we developed a contact-based oscillatory indentation device capable of applying sinusoidal oscillatory indentation to viscoelastic materials and measuring the force response. We validated the device's accuracy by comparing its results with those obtained using a rheometer. Subsequent oscillatory indentation experiments on model synovium distinguished internal fluid properties caused by inflammation from the solid properties of the surface. Finally, we fabricated a cost-effective, easy-to-use device prototype using a 3D printer. This research offers a groundbreaking approach to gout management, moving away from invasive and expensive diagnostic methods. It empowers patients to monitor their condition conveniently while providing physicians with data that enhances treatment adherence and improves outcomes.

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