NON-INVASIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE TISSUE IN-VIVO

Abstract

Validation of constitutive models of living human skeletal muscle tissue requires non-invasive analysis methods. This abstract presents an advanced framework for the validation of such models. MRI based indentation experiments are proposed during which dynamic indentation force, 3D dynamic tissue deformation, tissue geometry and fibre architecture are recorded. Following inverse Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the experimental boundary conditions the parameters of an appropriate constitutive law can be optimised. The framework presented allows for the first time for the non-invasive evaluation of detailed non-linear, anisotropic and viscoelastic material laws.