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Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing
Published on: December 13, 2016
Dynamic functional and mechanical response of breast tissue to compression
1Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. carp@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
Near-infrared spectroscopy reveals how breast compression affects blood flow and oxygen levels. This study models tissue dynamics to accurately measure breast tissue oxygen consumption and blood flow.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Physiological Measurement
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers novel contrast mechanisms for breast health assessment.
- Understanding physiological tissue dynamics during breast compression is crucial for disease evaluation.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the interplay between mechanical compression and vascular responses in breast tissue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate physiological tissue dynamics in response to fractional mammographic compression using NIRS.
- To quantify changes in total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation during compression.
- To develop a model for disentangling compression-induced effects and estimating tissue oxygen consumption and blood flow.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in 28 healthy female volunteers.
- Subjecting volunteers to repeated fractional mammographic compression.
- Analyzing tissue viscoelastic relaxation and pressure redistribution effects on NIRS parameters.
Main Results:
- Breast compression reduced blood flow, leading to decreased hemoglobin oxygen saturation.
- Tissue viscoelastic relaxation modulated total hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation.
- A strong correlation was observed between relaxing pressure and changes in total hemoglobin concentration, indicating involvement of different vascular compartments.
Conclusions:
- A novel model was developed to disentangle physiological effects of breast compression.
- Robust estimates for tissue oxygen consumption (OC) and blood flow were obtained.
- Estimated values for OC (1.9+/-1.3 micromol/100 mL/min) and blood flow (2.8+/-1.7 mL/100 mL/min) are consistent with published data.
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