Device to mechanically interrogate tissue and skin across research environments

用于在研究环境中机械询问组织和皮肤的装置 几个世纪以来，组织对机械变形反应的相对变化一直被用来诊断 并对疾病进行分类，经常作为疾病分期或进展评估的替代物。 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。许多设备都有 被设计用来测量和描述活体皮肤的机械性能，一些设备已经 在某些研究环境中取得成功。然而，仍然需要一种 兼容基于实验室和基于临床的研究。目前的设备还没有被证明对 这两种类型的研究环境。 在这个项目中，我们将开发一种低成本、便携的技术，组织的机械询问和 皮肤装置(MITS)，用于快速准确地量化组织和皮肤的机械性能 各种医疗保健研究环境。因为皮肤和组织研究跨越了广泛的临床领域 在这个项目中，为了开发通用性和广泛性的MITS，我们必须集中在几个例子上 范围应用程序。具体地说，我们将1)为多项研究设计MITS硬件和软件 应用程序和环境，2)使用组织模体对MITS性能进行建模和优化，3)优化 用于动物(伤口)和人类(压疮和肢体水肿)研究的MITS使用迭代 设计方法。MITS装置的新奇之处在于它的外形尺寸小，讯问面积小， 带宽，以及使用可变激励模式的准备情况。虽然这个项目专注于开发 作为一种多功能的研究工具，MITS的简单和小巧的外形因素可以构成 一种临床诊断仪器的研制。由于设计目标包括各种临床应用 在研究环境中，人们可以设想以后的开发工作将重点放在临床应用上。这个 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是 简化研究成果转化为临床应用的流程。

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.