Studying the Mechanical Behavior of Tissue in the Generation of Pressure Sores using Simulation and a Guinea Pig Experimental Model

Pressure sores refer to lesions that are produced while a constant pressure causes necrotic tissue to grow. The need for a better comprehension of the process has led researchers to artificial generation of pressure sores. Modeling the mechanical behavior of tissue will provide a better understanding of this process as well as a more suitable selection of system parameters. In this research, the mechanical behavior of tissue was modeled using the finite element method. A system with pressure sensors and a suitable feedback mechanism was used to generate pressure sores. The elastic parameters of tissue were obtained using uniaxial tensile strength tests. The thicknesses of skin layers were calculated by taking microscopic images of skin samples and using Motic Images 2000 version 1.2 software. The results of the finite element modeling illustrate the strain and stress profiles in tissue layers. The maximum values of deviatory strain occurred under the border of the disc in the muscle layer. Deviatory and shear stresses reached their maximum values under the center of the disc in the skin layers. Disscusion and The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement. Therefore, the introduced model may be used for better comprehension of tissue behavior. Better results may be obtained by finding a more accurate method for calculating tissue parameters.