title: From conventional sensors to fibre optic sensors for strain and force measurements in biomechanics applications: a review.
abstract: In vivo measurement, not only in animals but also in humans, is a demanding task and is the ultimate goal in experimental biomechanics. For that purpose, measurements in vivo must be performed, under physiological conditions, to obtain a database and contribute for the development of analytical models, used to describe human biomechanics. The knowledge and control of the mechanisms involved in biomechanics will allow the optimization of the performance in different topics like in clinical procedures and rehabilitation, medical devices and sports, among others. Strain gages were first applied to bone in a live animal in 40's and in 80's for the first time were applied fibre optic sensors to perform in vivo measurements of Achilles tendon forces in man. Fibre optic sensors proven to have advantages compare to conventional sensors and a great potential for biomechanical and biomedical applications. Compared to them, they are smaller, easier to implement, minimally invasive, with lower risk of infection, highly accurate, well correlated, inexpensive and multiplexable. The aim of this review article is to give an overview about the evolution of the experimental techniques applied in biomechanics, from conventional to fibre optic sensors. In the next sections the most relevant contributions of these sensors, for strain and force in biomechanical applications, will be presented. Emphasis was given to report of in vivo experiments and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; INESC-Porto and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4150-179 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roriz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; INESC-Porto and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4150-179 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: lidiacarvalho@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Lídia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: INESC-Porto and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4150-179 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frazão
authors.affiliation: INESC-Porto and Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4150-179 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: José António
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simões
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D055100:Optical Fibers; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D014159:Transducers
keywords: Biomechanics; Fibre optical sensors; Force; In vivo sensing; Strain