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Experimental method for determining the 2-dimensional mechanical properties of living human skin

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Abstract

An experimental method for obtaining the 2-dimensional skin tension/extension-ratio characteristics of living human skin is described. This method incorporates a strain-gauged pretension device used to determine the naturally existing tension and deformation fields in a specific skin area and a suction-cup system that applies a homogeneous, plane strain field to the skin at controlled straining rates. A series of experiments conducted to validate the use of the method for obtaining quantitative measures of the mechanical behaviour of skinin vivo is also presented. This method is being used to investigate the variation of mechanical properties with such factors as age, sex, hormonal change, ultraviolet radiation and various disease states.

Sommaire

Une méthode expérimentale de détermination de la tension de la peau en deux dimensions par rapport au coefficient d'extention de la peau d'individus vivants est décrite. Cette méthode utilise un dispositif de prétensionnement à jauge de contrainte utilisé pour déterminer les champs de tension et de déformation normalement existant sur une surface de peau donnée. Un dispositif à ventouse applique un champ de déformation plan et homogène à la peau selon des valeurs contrôlées. Une série d'expériences effectuée pour démontrer le bien-fonde decette méthode pour la mesure quantitative du comportement mécanique de la peauin vivo est également présentée. Cette méthode est utilisée actuellement pour déterminer les variations de ces propriétés mécaniques en fonction de facteurs tels que l'âge, le sexe, les modifications hormonales, les ultraviolets et à la suite de diverses affections.

Zusammenfassung

Eine Methode zur Bestimmung der Merkmale des Verhältnisses von zweidimensionaler Hautspannung zur-ausdehnung bei lebender menschlicher Haut wird beschrieben. Diese Methode bedient sich einer auf Anspannung geeichten Vorspannungsvorrichtung, die dazu verwendent wird, die natürlich bestehenden Spannungs- und Verformungsfelder in einer bestimmten Hautregion zu bestimmen, sowie eines Saugschalensystems, das ein homogenes Feld ebener Deformation in gesteuerten Anspannungsraten an die Haut anlegt. Außerdem wird eine Reihe von Experimenten beschrieben, die durchgeführt wurden, um die Eignung der Methode für quantitative Messungen des mechanischen Verhaltens von Haut am lebenden Organismus zu prüfen. Diese Methode wird dazu verwendet, Variationen der mechanischen Eigenschaften unter Einwirkung von Faktoren wie Alter, Geschlecht, Hormonänderungen, Ultravioletteinstrahlung und verschiedener Krankheitsheitszustände zu untersuchen.

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Cook, T., Alexander, H. & Cohen, M. Experimental method for determining the 2-dimensional mechanical properties of living human skin. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 15, 381–390 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02457990

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02457990

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