Sensitivity enhancement of muscle contraction sensors at various configurations on plastic optical fiber

Research about the sensitivity enhancement of muscle activity sensors at various configurations, diameters, and the number of bends using a plastic optical fiber (POF) has been conducted. Measurement process by using various configurations methods by sewn it on an elastic cloth, it affixed on biceps and triceps muscle surfaces. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a phototransistor connect to each end of the POF. Optical fiber sensors experience strain and pressure when the muscle is active by increasing the load and impact to the light intensity along the core of optical fiber becomes smaller. The phototransistor received the light intensity that propagates from LED into the optical fiber, and it’s displayed on the computer. The best result acquired at the spiral configuration at 0 diameters using 4 bends placed on the biceps muscle mounting position with the sensitivity value of 0.072 V/N and the resolution value of 0.013 N. Sensor can be used to measure muscle contraction with low cost, higher sensitivity, better resolution, can be monitored via computer, easy to fabric and operate.