Multi-Indenter Device for in Vivo Biomechanical Tissue Measurement

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2017 May;25(5):426-435. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2572168. Epub 2016 May 24.

Abstract

Biomechanical tissue properties have been hypothesized to play a critical role in the quantification of prosthetic socket production for individuals with limb amputation. In this investigation, a novel indenter platform is presented and its performance evaluated for the purposes of residual-limb tissue characterization. The indenter comprised 14 position- and force-controllable actuators that circumferentially surround a biological residuum to form an actuator ring. Each indenter actuator was individually controllable in position ( [Formula: see text] accuracy) and force (330 mN accuracy) at a PC controller feedback rate of 500 Hz, allowing for a range of measurement across a residual stump. Data were collected from 162 sensors over an EtherCAT fieldbus to characterize the mechanical hyperviscoelastic tissue response of two transtibial residual-limbs from a study participant with bilateral amputations. At five distinct anatomical locations across the residual-limb, force versus deflection data-including hyperviscoelastic tissue properties-are presented, demonstrating the accuracy and versatility of the multi-indenter platform for residual-limb tissue characterization.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Amputation Stumps / physiopathology*
  • Elastic Modulus*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Hardness Tests / instrumentation*
  • Hardness Tests / methods
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiopathology
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / methods
  • Palpation / instrumentation*
  • Physical Stimulation / instrumentation*
  • Physical Stimulation / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viscosity*