High resolution detector for micromotion in smooth muscle strips

A recent pilot study involving patients has shown that there is a relation between local contraction activity in the urinary bladder wall and the sensation of urge. Although there is a relation between local contractions and bladder pressure, bladder pressure turns out not to correlate well with urge sensation. In order to be able to investigate these small local contractions and the influence of drugs on them, a measurement system has been built with a high spatial resolution (15 /spl mu/m). The system is based on the use of 16 flexible optical fibres positioned on the surface of the tissue and a position sensitive photo detector. Temporal resolution is 1 Hz which is enough for smooth muscle contractions (0.01 to 0.1 Hz). With this system local motion patterns have been recorded in bladder strips.