A low-cost thermoelectrically cooled tissue clamp for in vitro cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing of muscles and tendons.
In vitro cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing of muscles and tendons require a reliable linking device between tissues and the actuator that can transmit high loads without slippage or tissue damage. This article describes a simple custom-made thermoelectrically cooled freeze clamp. The effectiveness of the clamp to transmit loads without tissue slippage was evaluated on 10 canine quadriceps femoris myo-tendinous junctions in both load-to-failure and cyclic loading settings. Dynamic cyclic loading during an extensive period of time was successfully achieved. Loads up to 4.84 kN were applied in quasi-static conditions without evidence of clamp slippage or failure.
Kiss
Marc-Olivier
MO
Imaging and Orthopedic Research Laboratory (LIO), Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Hagemeister
Nicola
N
Levasseur
Annie
A
Fernandes
Julio
J
Lussier
Bertrand
B
Petit
Yvan
Y
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing