The development and initial testing of a new sensor to simultaneously measure strain and pressure in tendons and ligaments

Author

Stankewich, C.J. ; Beynnon, B.D. ; Fleming, B.C. ; Pope, M.H. ; Johnson, R.J. ; Renstrom, P.A. ; Nichols, C.E.

Author_Institution

McClure Musculoskeletal Res. Center, Vermont Univ., Burlington, VT, USA

fYear

1991

fDate

4-5 Apr 1991

Firstpage

233

Abstract

A miniature sensor was constructed to simultaneously measure both local strain and pressure in soft tissues. An attempt was made to determine if the data output from the sensor can be used to determine the absolute zero strain reference or the Hall effect strain transducer (HEST) length at which the tendon just begins to be loaded. With this reference, an attempt was also made to determine whether the pressure measurement from the sensor can be used to predict the stress applied to the tendon. Six fresh bovine tendon specimens were tested. The authors demonstrated the ability to accurately and reproducibly determine an absolute reference which permits definition of zero strain. The prediction of tendon stress also seems possible

Keywords

Hall effect transducers; biological techniques and instruments; biomechanics; electric sensing devices; pressure transducers; strain measurement; Hall effect strain transducer; absolute zero strain reference; biomechanical measurements sensor; bovine tendon specimens; ligaments; miniature sensor; pressure measurement; soft tissues; strain measurement; tendon stress prediction; Biological tissues; Bovine; Capacitive sensors; Hall effect; Pressure measurement; Strain measurement; Stress; Tendons; Testing; Transducers;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Bioengineering Conference, 1991., Proceedings of the 1991 IEEE Seventeenth Annual Northeast

Conference_Location

Hartford, CT

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0030-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NEBC.1991.154660

Filename

154660