title: Experimental investigation of the biomechanics of urethral tissues and structures.
abstract: What is the central question of this study? Prostheses for treatment of urinary incontinence elicit complications associated with an inadequate mechanical action. This investigation aimed to define a procedure addressed to urethral mechanical characterization. Experimental tests are the basis for constitutive formulation, with a view to numerical modelling for investigation of the interaction between the tissues and a prosthesis. What is the main finding and its importance? Horse urethra, selected for its histomorphometric similarity to human urethra, was characterized by integrated histological analysis and mechanical tests on the biological tissue and structure, leading to constitutive formulation. A non-linear, anisotropic and time-dependent response was found, representing a valid basis for development of a numerical model to interpret the functional behaviour of the urethra. Urinary dysfunction can lead to incontinence, with an impact on the quality of life. Severe dysfunction can be overcome surgically by the use of an artificial urinary sphincter. Nonetheless, several complications may result from inappropriate functioning of the prosthesis, in many instances resulting from an unsuitable mechanical action of the device on the urethral tissues. Computational models allow investigation of the mechanical interaction between biological tissues and biomedical devices, representing a potential support for surgical practice and prosthesis design. The development of such computational tools requires experimental data on the mechanics of biological tissues and structures, which are rarely reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to provide a procedure for the mechanical characterization of urethral tissues and structures. The experimental protocol included the morphometric and histological analysis of urethral tissues, the mechanical characterization of the response of tissues to tensile and stress-relaxation tests and evaluation of the behaviour of urethral structures by inflation tests. Results from the preliminary experiments were processed, adopting specific model formulations, and also providing the definition of parameters that characterize the elastic and viscous behaviour of the tissues. Different experimental protocols, leading to a comprehensive set of experimental data, allow for a reciprocal assessment of reliability of the investigation approach.
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Arturo Nicola
authors: AN
authors: Natali
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Emanuele Luigi
authors: EL
authors: Carniel
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Frigo
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Piero Giovanni
authors: PG
authors: Pavan
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Todros
authors: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.|Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Pachera
authors: Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Chiara Giulia
authors: CG
authors: Fontanella
authors: Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Rubini
authors: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Cavicchioli
authors: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Yochai
authors: Y
authors: Avital
authors: Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.|Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Giulia Maria
authors: GM
authors: De Benedictis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*