title: A low-cost thermoelectrically cooled tissue clamp for in vitro cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing of muscles and tendons.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Imaging and Orthopedic Research Laboratory (LIO), Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Marc-Olivier
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hagemeister
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lussier
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Petit
mesh_terms: 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