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Method for characterizing viscoelasticity of human gluteal tissue
Journal of Biomechanics
|February 25, 2012
Summary
This study characterizes the mechanical properties of human gluteal adipose and muscle tissue under compression. Researchers developed a method to determine time-dependent, non-linear elastic, and linear viscoelastic behaviors for impact biomechanics applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Biomaterials Science
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Characterizing biological tissue mechanical properties is crucial for impact biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering.
- In vivo mechanical behavior of human gluteal adipose and skeletal muscle tissue under finite strain compression is sparsely documented.
- Accurate tissue characterization is vital for developing medical devices and surgical simulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a combined experimental and numerical method for investigating time-dependent mechanical properties of in vivo gluteal adipose and passive skeletal muscle tissue.
- To characterize the non-linear elastic and linear viscoelastic behavior of these tissues under finite strain.
- To establish an individual characterization of in vivo gluteal adipose and muscle tissue properties.
Main Methods:
- Performed displacement-controlled ramp-and-hold indentation relaxation tests documented with magnetic resonance imaging.
- Utilized a quasi-linear viscoelasticity (QLV) formulation with Prony series for finite strains, coupled with a hyperelastic model.
- Employed a finite element model for inverse parameter estimation to calibrate the constitutive model with experimental data.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated strong non-linear elastic and linear viscoelastic behavior in both gluteal adipose and passive skeletal muscle tissue at finite strains.
- Successfully fitted experimental data using the developed material model and force-equilibrium assumption.
- Derived viscoelastic model parameters and calculated initial shear moduli: G(0,S/F)=1920 Pa (skin/fat) and G(0,M)=1032 Pa (muscle); long-term moduli: G(∞,S/F)=1850 Pa and G(∞,M)=881 Pa.
Conclusions:
- The presented method enables individual characterization of in vivo gluteal adipose and muscle tissue mechanical properties.
- The findings provide essential data for impact biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering, and virtual surgical simulations.
- Established a robust approach for modeling time-dependent, finite-strain behavior of soft biological tissues.
