Emerging Scholars

Numerous studies have mechanically tested tissue, in human, animal settings, and simulation-based analysis. Testing tissue is of importance to many fields: reconstructive surgery can use material properties to aid in creation of tissue substitutes and biomechanical engineers can use properties to simulate injury in human body models, to name a few. Injury of tissue can occur when the cells are exposed to high levels of shear and compression forces. However, much of this assessment must be a priori due to the dangerous conditions revolving injury.  A current gap in work exists for an inter-modal testing methodology of tissue between compression and shear modes. Gerhard Sommer et. Al. created multi-axial testing methodology for adipose tissue, with a tensile test fixture and tri-axial shear methodology. These two approaches were applied to tissue and results were observed under histology. Animal tissues, specifically porcine adipose tissue has been used in numerous studies; making it a recognized alternative to human adipose tissue, which is difficult to use due to the protocoling guidelines surrounding it. Iatridis et. Al. created a tension test harness for adipose tissue in male rats. More testing for material properties exist, beyond principle motions like tension and compression. Comley and Fleck performed “trouser-tear” styled testing in order to see the cellular effect of tearing adipose tissue, done in the porcine adipose setting. Budday performed inter-modal testing in different regions of brain tissue.  The commonality of these papers is that they do not detail on the development and operation of their testing architecture.  This paper seeks to focus discussion around a novel formulation of a testing methodology for soft materials, such as tissue or gel-like substances. A major concept that extends this approach coupling the literature is that the testing is performed under both compression and shear modes, interchangeably. Additionally, we seek to show versatility for a wide number of implementations, such as for testing where obese occupants are exposed to a variety of unconventional, extreme conditions in motor vehicle crashes.