Detection of skeletal muscle fatigue using an accelerometer in dynamic cardiomyoplasty

• Published in: Journal of artificial organs 2002-12, Vol.5 (4), p.270-275
• Main Authors: Shinohara, M., Kuroda, H., Fukaya, Y., Sato, E., Makino, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fatigue; Muscular system; Musculoskeletal system; Ostomy
• ISSN: 1434-7229; 1619-0904
• DOI: 10.1007/s100470200050

An animal experiment was done using six mongrel dogs that weighed 28 ± 3kg to show that an accelerometer could detect skeletal muscle fatigue in dynamic cardiomyoplasty. Through left-side thoracotomy, the heart was exposed and an electrode to sense the heartbeat was positioned on the left ventricle. A left latissimus dorsi muscle flap (LDMF) was inserted into the left chest cavity and rolled around the heart. An accelerometer was put on the rolled LDMF to sense the ventricular acceleration by contraction of the LDMF and the heart. The LDMF was stimulated under these settings: pulse width, 210μs; stimulation output, 6V; burst frequency, 30Hz; burst duration, 200ms; synchronous ratio, 1:4; and synchronous delay, 66ms. Output voltage from the accelerometer was recorded 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15min after the beginning of stimulation. Percentages of the amplitude in all dogs after 3, 5, 10, and 15min were 81 ± 10%, 63 ± 12%, 48 ± 11%, and 45 ± 14% of the values after 1min, respectively. Significant differences were found between the values after 1min and those after 3min, between the values after 3min and those after 5min, and between the values after 5min and those after 10 min. This study suggests that muscle fatigue is detectable with an accelerometer in actual dynamic cardiomyoplasty.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]