A skin indentation system using a pneumatic bellows

A pneumatic indentation system using a copper bellows has been developed for physiological studies where a controlled uniaxial compressive force is required to be applied to the surface of the skin. Such a system is useful for studies where the physiological response of the tissues is to be monitored following a known loading history. The indentation system is driven by a vacuum/compression pneumatic pump through solenoid valves under closed-loop computer control. A load cell placed between the indentor and bellows monitors the applied force providing a feedback signal to the computer. The signal from the computer activates the valves supplying air pressure to the bellows, and the applied force is controlled using a digital closed-loop protocol. This system can be used to provide a controlled loading sequence to the skin without utilizing gravitational forces, which allows the subject to keep a more natural position during the experiment.