A hydraulic-pouch method for assessing muscle dynamics

Abstract

A simple method is described for measuring some mechanical parameters of flat muscle tissue in vivo. The method can be implemented with equipment normally found in a physiological laboratory with the addition of a few extra components. A small pouch is formed from the muscle, and into this is inserted a fluid-filled balloon which can be connected to a variety of hydraulic measurement circuits. The technical and physiological limitations of the system are discussed, and some representative measurements are given. © 1975 International Federation for Medical & Biological Engineering.