Device to mechanically interrogate tissue and skin across research environments

描述(由申请人提供)：在研究环境中机械询问组织和皮肤的装置几个世纪以来，组织对机械变形的反应的相对变化一直被用于诊断和分类疾病，并经常作为评估疾病阶段或进展的替代品。病理情况，如动脉、静脉、糖尿病、淋巴管和胶原血管疾病，表现为皮肤和软组织的宏观和微观结构变化。已经设计了许多装置来测量和描述活体皮肤的力学性质，一些装置在某些研究环境中取得了成功。然而，仍然需要一种与基于实验室和基于临床的研究兼容的设备。目前的设备还没有被证明对这两种类型的研究环境都有用。在这个项目中，我们将开发一种低成本、便携的技术--组织和皮肤机械询问设备(MITS)，以在各种医疗研究环境中快速准确地量化组织和皮肤的机械性能。由于皮肤和组织研究跨越了广泛的临床条件，在这个项目中，我们必须集中在几个例子上，以便开发多功能和广泛应用的MITS。具体地说，我们将1)为多种研究应用和环境设计MITS硬件和软件，2)使用组织模体对MITS性能进行建模和优化，3)使用迭代设计方法优化MITS用于动物(伤口)和人类(压疮和肢体水肿)研究。MITS设备的新奇之处在于它的外形尺寸小，询问区域小，高带宽，并且它可以利用可变的激励模式。虽然这个项目的重点是开发一种通用的研究仪器，但MITS的简单和小巧的外形因素可以形成临床诊断设备的开发基础。由于设计目标包括在各种临床研究环境中的实用性，因此可以设想以后的开发工作将重点放在临床应用上。拥有一种基于研究仪器相同技术原理的临床工具的潜力将简化将研究结果转化为临床应用的过程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Device to mechanically interrogate tissue and skin across research environments Relative changes in the tissue's response to mechanical deformation have been used for centuries to diagnose and classify diseases and often serve as surrogates for assessment of disease stage or progression. Pathological conditions such as arterial, venous, diabetic, lymphatic and collagen vascular disease are manifested in macroscopic and microscopic structural changes in the skin and soft tissues. Many devices have been designed to measure and describe the mechanical properties of skin in vivo and some devices have attained success in certain research environments. However, a remaining need exists for a device that is compatible with both lab-based and clinically-based research. Current device have not been proven useful for both types of research environments. In this project, we will develop a low-cost, portable technology, the mechanical interrogation of tissue and skin device (MITS), to quickly and accurately quantify the mechanical properties of the tissue and skin within a variety of healthcare research settings. Because skin and tissue research spans a wide range of clinical conditions, in this project we must focus on a few examples in order to develop MITS for versatile and wide ranging applications. Specifically, we will 1) Engineer the MITS hardware and software for multiple research applications and environments, 2) Model and optimize MITS performance using tissue phantoms, 3) Optimize MITS for use in animal (wound) and human (pressure ulcer and edematous limb) research utilizing an iterative design approach. The novelty of the MITS device is its small form factor, small area of interrogation, high bandwidth, and its readiness to utilize variable excitation patterns. While this project is focused on developing a versatile research instrument, the simplicity and small form factor of the MITS can form the basis for the development of a clinical diagnostic device. Since a design objective includes utility in a variety of clinical research environments, one can envision later development work to focus on clinical applications. The potential of having a clinical tool based upon the same technical principles of a research instrument would streamline the translation of research findings into clinical applications.