A device configured to be mounted on a mechanical component and to measure an axial load exerted on the mechanical component, the device including a ring provided with an inner cylindrical surface and with an outer opposite cylindrical surface, the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces delimiting the radial thickness of the ring. The device further provides at least one optical sensing fiber disposed in a first circumferential groove provided on one of the outer and inner cylindrical surfaces of the ring.

A force sensor assembly for use in the field of cardiac ablation, for the ablation-based treatment of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias. Various embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a catheter distal force sensor for measuring catheter tip-to-endocardial wall force by measuring displacement of irradiation patterns sensed with a two-dimensional imaging sensor. The disclosed devices sense an array of irradiation pattern characteristics, including changes in size and location of irradiation shapes of the irradiation pattern. In some embodiments, multiple irradiation spots are tracked with the two-dimensional imaging sensor to infer the components of a reaction force vector acting the force sensor assembly. The disclosed force is designed to accommodate typical catheter tip dimensions, the outer diameter of these usually being less than or equal to 9 French (3 mm).

A force sensor assembly for use in the field of cardiac ablation, for the ablation-based treatment of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias. Various embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a catheter distal force sensor for measuring catheter tip-to-endocardial wall force by measuring displacement of irradiation patterns sensed with a two-dimensional imaging sensor. The disclosed devices sense an array of irradiation pattern characteristics, including changes in size and location of irradiation shapes of the irradiation pattern. In some embodiments, multiple irradiation spots are tracked with the two-dimensional imaging sensor to infer the components of a reaction force vector acting the force sensor assembly. The disclosed force is designed to accommodate typical catheter tip dimensions, the outer diameter of these usually being less than or equal to 9 French (3 mm).

A multi-axis force sensor is compact in that it comprises a single strand of optical fiber and a single, movable reflecting element having a reflecting surface separated from a fiber end-face by a gap, and yet is capable of measuring axially and/or laterally applied forces with high sensitivity. The force to be measured causes the reflecting surface to tilt, translate or deform. The single strand of fiber is configured to have multiple cores that carry multiple optical interrogation signals through an end-face of the fiber to incidence on the reflecting surface.

The cores are configured so that the propagation vectors of the interrogation signals, as the signals emanate from the fiber end-face, make non-perpendicular angles with that end-face. Furthermore, the cores are configured to capture a portion of the interrogation signals back-reflected from the reflecting surface. The amount of power coupled back into each core is a function of the position of the reflecting surface, which in turn is a function of the magnitude and direction of the applied force. A deformable casing to which the force is applied may surround the reflecting element, the gap and the fiber end-face.

An optical force sensing element for microsurgical instruments and methods measures force F in three orthogonal directions and includes a monolithic cylinder structure, a cylindrical surface and a top surface that absorbs and transmits the force F. Three punch-like notches, all being parallel to the y-direction, are spaced apart along the z-axis and form two blades between the first and second notch and between the second and the third notch. Three channels parallel to the z-axis extend from the bottom surface to the top surface and cross the first notch while bypassing the other two notches. Three optical fibers, each fixed in one of the three channels, all entering the structure from the bottom surface, cross the first notch and end at or near the top surface while being interrupted in the first notch and forming two surfaces of each fiber that define a Fabry-Perot interferometric cavity.

A force sensing device includes a support member including: a sensor support portion to which a force sensor is coupled on one surface of the support member; and a frame coupling portion extending from the sensor support portion. The force sensing device further includes: a frame disposed to face another surface of the support member, and disposed to be spaced apart from the support member; and at least one spacing member disposed between the support member and the frame, and spacing the support member apart from the frame. The force sensor is not disposed in the frame coupling portion. The spacing member is disposed between the frame coupling portion and the frame.

A force sensing device includes a support member including: a sensor support portion to which a force sensor is coupled on one surface of the support member; and a frame coupling portion extending from the sensor support portion. The force sensing device further includes: a frame disposed to face another surface of the support member, and disposed to be spaced apart from the support member; and at least one spacing member disposed between the support member and the frame, and spacing the support member apart from the frame. The force sensor is not disposed in the frame coupling portion. The spacing member is disposed between the frame coupling portion and the frame.

A deformable sensor comprises an enclosure comprising a deformable membrane, the enclosure configured to be filled with a medium, and an imaging sensor, disposed within the enclosure, having a field of view configured to be directed toward a bottom surface of the deformable membrane. The imaging sensor is configured to capture an image of the deformable membrane. The deformable sensor is configured to determine depth values for a plurality of points on the deformable membrane based on the image captured by the imaging sensor and a trained neural network.

The invention relates to an optical fiber sensing device (9), comprising a base (1), an actuator (3) having an actuator axis (X), an elastic hinge (2) connecting the actuator to the base, allowing the actuator to move or deflect in a movement plane (D) with respect to the base, a pair of optical fiber portions (4) extending in the movement plane, contacting the actuator in a pair of contacting positions (11), wherein the actuator (3) comprises a symmetry plane (S), wherein the pair of optical fiber portions (4) are symmetrically arranged with respect to the symmetry plane, such that the movement of the actuator causes a proportional or equal change in strain in the optical fiber portions (4).

A force sensor includes a first member, a second member, an intermediate member, a first elastic structure that couples the first member and the intermediate member, a second elastic structure that couples the second member and the intermediate member, and a displacement detector that measures displacements of the first member and the second member. It is possible to provide a force sensor that has high detection precision and that is compact.