Characterizing skin using a three-axis parallel drive force-sensitive micro-robot

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2010:2010:6481-4. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2010.5627357.

Abstract

There is a strong need to measure the complex mechanical properties of soft tissues such as skin. An in vivo experiment characterizing the mechanical response of human skin is presented. A rich set of deformations were applied to several positions on the arm using a novel force-sensitive micro-robot. All sites studied exhibit highly non-linear, anisotropic, and viscoelastic behavior. The experiments determined directions in which the skin response was stiffest. These directions agree with accepted orientations of Langer or relaxed skin tension lines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Robotics / methods*
  • Skin*