Noninvasive ultrasonic monitoring of the mechanical properties of selected muscles and connected tendons

M. Zakir Hossain; W. Grill

doi:10.1117/12.914978

19 April 2012 Noninvasive ultrasonic monitoring of the mechanical properties of selected muscles and connected tendons

M. Zakir Hossain, W. Grill

Proceedings Volume 8348, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2012; 83480U (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.914978
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The force-length relation is one of the most important mechanical properties of skeletal muscular tissue. Due to the rather limited availability of non-invasive methods suitable to quantify the in-vivo biomechanical properties of activated human muscles and connected tendons, the quantification of the bio-mechanical properties is difficult. The measurement principle applied here is based on the detection of the dynamics of the muscle under observation by an ultrasonic caliper and monitoring of the externally present forces by a synchronously operated ultrasonic force sensor. The developed monitoring scheme is exemplified for gradual increasing voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the gastrocnemius muscle up to maximum contraction, with the force sensor restricting the flexion of the joint. The temporal resolution for the monitoring is 0.01 s, relating to a monitoring rate of 100 Hz and is achieved with a spatial resolution concerning the observed lateral extension of the muscle of 0.01 mm. The employed low power, economic and non-intrusive detection scheme and respective instrumentation have the demonstrated potential to quantify the in-vivo hysteretic behavior of the observed force-length relation for MVIC of the human gastrocnemius muscle for the first time. The purpose of this study was to determine in-vivo the force-length relations for the human gastrocnemius and biceps muscles noninvasively by suitable experimental techniques with high temporal and spatial resolution concerning monitoring of the biomechanical relevant parameters involved in the dynamics of activated muscle. The data is collected and analyzed to derive quantitative information on force-length relations, essential for the analysis of muscle performance and interpretation by musculoskeletal models. The involved technologies are demonstrated and the respective results are presented and discussed.

Citation Download Citation

M. Zakir Hossain and W. Grill "Noninvasive ultrasonic monitoring of the mechanical properties of selected muscles and connected tendons", Proc. SPIE 8348, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2012, 83480U (19 April 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.914978

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