Dynamic assessment of women pelvic floor function by using a fiber Bragg grating sensor system

Luis A. Ferreira; Francisco M. Araújo; Teresa Mascarenhas; Renato M. Natal Jorge; António A. Fernandes

doi:10.1117/12.646824

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15 February 2006 Dynamic assessment of women pelvic floor function by using a fiber Bragg grating sensor system

Luis A. Ferreira, Francisco M. Araújo, Teresa Mascarenhas, Renato M. Natal Jorge, António A. Fernandes

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Proceedings Volume 6083, Optical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Applications VI; 60830H (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646824
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

We present a novel sensing system consisting of an intravaginal probe and an optoelectronic measurement unit, which allows an easy, comfortable and quantitative dynamic evaluation of women pelvic floor muscle strength. The sensing probe is based on a silicone cylinder that transduces radial muscle pressure into axial load applied to a fiber Bragg grating strain sensor. The performance of a first sensor probe prototype with temperature referentiation and of the autonomous, portable optoelectronic measurement unit with data logging capabilities and graphical user interface is disclosed. The presented results refer to an ongoing collaboration work between researchers from the Medical, Optoelectronics and Mechanical areas, directed to the development of equipment that can assist in medical practice and help in the research of primary mechanisms responsible for several pelvic floor disorders, in particular urogenital prolapses.

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Luis A. Ferreira, Francisco M. Araújo, Teresa Mascarenhas, Renato M. Natal Jorge, and António A. Fernandes "Dynamic assessment of women pelvic floor function by using a fiber Bragg grating sensor system", Proc. SPIE 6083, Optical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Applications VI, 60830H (15 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646824

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