Graft orientation influences meshing ratio.

Objectives: The technique of meshed skin grafting is known since 1960s. It was shown that there is a difference between the declared and real expansion ratio of the skin meshed graft. We hypothesize that the orientation of the Langer's lines in a split thickness skin graft is a key parameter in the resulting expansion ratio.

A finite element model of the face including an orthotropic skin model under in vivo tension.

Computer models of the human face have the potential to be used as powerful tools in surgery simulation and animation development applications. While existing models accurately represent various anatomical features of the face, the representation of the skin and soft tissues is very simplified. A computer model of the face is proposed in which the skin is represented by an orthotropic hyperelastic constitutive model.

Simulating the three-dimensional deformation of in vivo facial skin.

Characterising the mechanical properties of human facial skin is a challenging but important endeavour with applications in biomedicine, surgery simulation, forensics, and animation. Many existing computer models of the face are not based on in vivo facial skin deformation data but rather on experiments using in vitro facial skin or other soft tissues. The facial skin of five volunteers was subjected to a rich set of deformations using a micro-robotic device.

Modeling the mechanical response of in vivo human skin under a rich set of deformations.

Determining the mechanical properties of an individual's skin is important in the fields of pathology, biomedical device design, and plastic surgery. To address this need, we present a finite element model that simulates the skin of the anterior forearm and posterior upper arm under a rich set of three-dimensional deformations. We investigated the suitability of the Ogden and Tong and Fung strain energy functions along with a quasi-linear viscoelastic law.

Measurement of the force-displacement response of in vivo human skin under a rich set of deformations.

The non-linear, anisotropic, and viscoelastic properties of human skin vary according to location on the body, age, and individual. The measurement of skin's mechanical properties is important in several fields including medicine, cosmetics, and forensics. In this study, a novel force-sensitive micro-robot applied a rich set of three-dimensional deformations to the skin surface of different areas of the arms of 20 volunteers.

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

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.

Mechanical characterisation of in vivo human skin using a 3D force-sensitive micro-robot and finite element analysis.

The complex mechanical properties of skin have been the subject of much study in recent years. Several experimental methods developed to measure the mechanical properties of skin in vivo, such as suction or torsion, are unable to measure skin's anisotropic characteristics. An experiment characterising the mechanical properties of in vivo human skin using a novel force-sensitive micro-robot is presented.

Finite element models of wound closure.

Aim: The achievement of a well-healed wound depends on many factors including its size and location on the body and the properties of the skin. The aim of this study is to develop computational wound closure models and compare the results of using different excision shapes.

Methods: Finite element models were developed that simulated the incision, excision and closure of skin.

Simulating the wrinkling and aging of skin with a multi-layer finite element model.

One of the outward signs of the aging process of human skin is the increased appearance of wrinkles on its surface. Clinical studies show that the increased frequency of wrinkles with age may be attributed to changes in the composition of the various layers of skin, leading to a change in mechanical properties. A parameter study was performed on a previously proposed multi-layer finite element model of skin.

Finite element modelling of forearm skin wrinkling.

Background/purpose: Human skin is a complex multilayered material. Although there are many numerical models of skin in existence, which accurately simulate several of its complex mechanical characteristics, there are very few models that simulate wrinkling - a phenomenon common to all human skin. The purpose of this study was to develop a multilayer model of skin, which could simulate wrinkling more realistically than the existing models in the literature.

A three-layer model of skin and its application in simulating wrinkling.

Human skin is a complex multi-layer material. Many existing numerical skin models accurately simulate several of its complex mechanical characteristics. However, few models simulate wrinkling - a phenomenon common to all human skin.

A simplified model of scar contraction.

The healing of wounds is a complex process and the contraction of the resulting scar can have a negative impact on the neighbouring skin. A finite element model of skin simulating the contraction of a scar and deformation of the surrounding skin is presented. The skin is represented by an orthotropic-viscoelastic constitutive law, which is validated against experimental data in the literature.