Inventors:
James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Fletcher
Cyril Feldstein - Sierra Madre CA
Jules V. Osher - Los Angeles CA
Gilbert W. Lewis - Arcadia CA
Robert H. Silver - Van Nuys CA
Edward N. Duran - Costa Mesa CA
International Classification:
A61B 500
Abstract:
A miniature transducer for sensing muscle displacement substantially consists of a curved beam of high elastic compliance connected at its ends to two prongs. The prongs have sharpened tips which are insertable into the muscle under observation. A sensitive strain gauge is bonded to the beam preferably at the point of greatest curvature. The strain gauge output is directly related to changes in the beam curvature. As the muscle under observation expands the spacing between the prongs increases which decreases the beam curvature. On the other hand, when the muscle contracts the prongs' spacing decreases, thereby increasing the beam curvature.