An experimental test-rig for the biomechanical analysis of human spine segments

The authors of this article describe the technique that they have developed to analyze the biomechanical parameters of human vertebrae using force and inductive displacement transducers.

The application of measurement in the fields of science and engineering influences prac-tically all forms of human activity whether it be at work or at play, but it is in biomechanics that measurement plays one of its most vital roles in improving the quality of life.

The authors of this article describe the technique that they have developed to analyze the biomechanical parameters of human vertebrae using force and inductive displacement transducers. The technique should enable a clearer understanding of the working of the human spine to be obtained, which will then widen the scope for clinical research.

By Lutz-Peter Nolte, Helmut Stumpf, Helmut Lange, Christoph Beerens and Jürgen Krämer