The dynamic mechanical response characteristics of spinal cord tissue: a preliminary report.

In the absence of an adequate description of the response of spinal cord to dynamic insult, work is in hand to determine the dynamic characteristics of canine spinal cord tissue. In-vitro experimentation is described. A vibration technique using a low amplitude (0.5 mm), variable frequency (1--40 Hz) forcing frequency is used to describe the resonant property of the tissue in a supporting environment. The canine spinal cord is demonstrated to respond as a non-linear, soft, viscoelastic element suceptible in the frequency range 14--22 Hz.