Safety system for moving coil pressure algometer

The threat of safety failure during use of potent actuators is a known problem. The use of such actuators in the field of pressure algometry requires adaptation of safety measures since stimulation is applied to human beings. This design provides an additional safety level required in the field of computer-controlled pressure algometry but in principle its usage is not restricted just to this area. The fuse consists of four parts (inner cylinder, outer cylinder lid, outer cylinder guide, and the gauge screw) which are simple and cheap to manufacture, easy to reassemble once the fuse has been triggered, and gaugeable with commercially available tools. The prototype showed acceptable levels of performance given the intended usage of the stimulation setup, namely increasing and repeated musculoskeletal stimulation. Repeatable range of holding force has been attained for the particular application against a rubber mat surface mimicking musculoskeletal tissue (96% for forces F <; 20kg, and 30% for forces 25kg <; F ≤ 35kg).