A synthetic membrane for testing needle penetration.
Needle performance is primarily judged by its penetration through tissue.  For detailed studies of needle performance, tissue is too heterogeneous and unstable and difficult to obtain.  A homogeneous, stable, and readily available polyurethane substrate has been evaluated as a suitable alternative to biological tissue for evaluation of needle penetration.  The needle penetration profiles through the synthetic substrate correlated very well with those through natural tissue.  In addition, the synthetic substrate was sensitive enough to easily detect a 20% increase in the force necessary to penetrate natural tissue.  This polyurethane substrate offers a valid alternative to biological tissue for the testing of needle penetration performance.
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville.
L J
LJ
Pavlovich
W L
WL
McClung
J G
JG
Thacker
R F
RF
Edlich
G T
GT
Rodeheaver
D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009339:Needles; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine