A simple and sensitive force transducer suitable for measuring tensions in small muscle fibers

The design and fabrication of a simple tension force transducer, sensitive enough to measure tensions of individual and fine bundles of muscle fibers, is described. The transducer is capable of accurately measuring tensions as little as 0.5 dynes along the longitudinal axis of fibers. The response of the transducer is linear within the range of 0.5 to 500 dynes. Examples of its use and small crustacean striated and vertebrate cardiac muscle fibers are presented.