Abstract
In this paper it is proposed an interrogation system based on OTDR for fiber loop mirror intensity sensors. The system has been characterized in order to obtain its maximum dynamic range. The technique demonstrated good linearity with a - 13.3 dB/mm slope. A 0.027 mm resolution was achieved. The proposed interrogation system permits multiplexing of around 10 sensors and showed to be an alternative technique for multiplexing and remote sensing.

Abstract
The pressure measured in the intervertebral discs is a response to the loads acting on the spine. External loads, such as the reaction forces resulting from locomotion, manual handling and collisions are probably the most relevant in studying spine trauma. However, the physiological functions such as breathing and hearth rate also participate in subtle variations of intradiscal pressure that can be observed only in vivo at resting. Present work is an effort to measure the effect of breathing on intradiscal pressure of an anesthetized sheep.

Abstract
A micro-displacement sensing head based on two aligned cleaved fibers inserted into an optical fiber ring and interrogated by an optical time-domain reflectometry is presented. The sensor configuration is characterized for measuring both longitudinal and axial micro-displacements, showing a sensitivity of 0.07 and 2.67 dB/mu m for longitudinal and axial micro-displacements, respectively. A multiplexing system using two of these configurations is also studied.

Abstract
In this work a novel optical fiber sensor based on silica microspheres array is proposed. Different sensing heads are presented and compared, differing on the number of microspheres. These structures, ranging from arrays of one to five, are spliced in series. The sensor is subjected to different physical parameters, such as strain, temperature, refractive index and bending. Depending on the number of microspheres the sensitivities to strain and bending are different. The sensor also presents a high sensitivity to temperature of 20.3 pm/degrees C.

Abstract
In this paper, we report the development of a reduced temperature sensitivity optical fiber sensor for refractive index measurement based on Superimposed Long-Period Gratings (SLPG) inscribed by the electric arc technique in standard fiber. The reduced sensitivity to temperature is achieved by calculation of the difference between resonance wavelengths of two guided cladding modes.

Abstract
A simple optical inclinometer based on a phase-shifted Bragg grating in a taper configuration is proposed. Two phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings were fabricated using a DUV femtosecond laser technique in the taper region, with taper waist diameters of 30 mu m and 50 mu m. Both sensing heads were compared based on their response to angle and strain. Whereas the higher diameter sensor yielded a higher sensitivity to curvature (23.8 +/- 0.3 pm/degree), the lower diameter one was more sensitive to strain (8.94 +/- 0.04 pm/mu epsilon).