Integration of polarized spatial frequency domain imaging (pSFDI) with a biaxial mechanical testing system for quantification of load-dependent collagen architecture in soft collagenous tissues

S Jett, L Hudson, R Baumwart, B Bohnstedt, A Mir, H Burkhart, G Holzapfel, Y Wu, CH Lee

Abstract

The scientific abstract is available at the above link to the article. In laymans terms, we built an imaging system to understand how tissue microstructures - the proteins that give tissues like skin and ligaments their strength - change when tissues are stretched. This microstructural response to loading/stretching is a powerful biological adaption, but can make it somewhat difficult to model tissue behavior. To better understand the changes these protein fibers undergo when loaded, we built a diffuse optical system based on polarized light scattering in tissue, then used the system to examine tissues under mechanical loads.