Intervertebral disc bulging measurement using a Fibre Bragg Grating sensor
Paulo Roriz, Ilda Abe, Marcello Schiller, José Simões, University of Aveiro (Portugal)
The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of a Fibre Bragg Grating sensor to measure strain caused by bulging of the intervertebral disc. Disc bulging is a consequence of intervertebral disc compression and a technique to measure it was addressed in this study. An ex vivo porcine dorsal functional spinal unit was instrumented with a FBG sensor. The sensor was left directly in contact with the intervertebral disc material and the specimen was submitted to axial compression. Non linear behavior and hysteresis were observable suggesting intervertebral disc viscoelasticity.
