Optic fibre as a transducer of tendomuscular forces

Direct in vivo tendon force measurements open up new possibilities for understanding of muscle-tendon loads during natural locomotion. The present report presents a new optic fibre method for such applications. The method is based on light intensity modulation by mechanical modification of the geometric properties of the optic fibre. A special optic fibre with a plastic covering buffer and with a total diameter of either 265 microns or 500 microns was carefully prepared at both ends for receiving and transmitting light. The fibre was inserted through the rabbit common calcaneal tendon with a 20 gauge needle. By removing the needle the optic fibre remained in situ. Static loading demonstrated that the voltage output of the optic fibre transducer showed a good linear fit of r = .999 with added loads. In dynamic loading conditions the optic fibre followed well the response of a strain gauge transducer, which was also attached to the tendon. The optic fibre method seems suitable for many applications for tensile and possibly ligament force measurements.