title: A New Skin Tensiometer Device: Computational Analyses To Understand Biodynamic Excisional Skin Tension Lines.
abstract: One of the problems in planning cutaneous surgery is that human skin is anisotropic, or directionally dependent. Indeed, skin tension varies between individuals and at different body sites. Many a surgeon has tried to design different devices to measure skin tension to help plan excisional surgery, or to understand wound healing. However, many of the devices have been beset with problems due to many confounding variables - differences in technical ability, material (sutures) used and variability between different users. We describe the development of a new skin tensiometer that overcomes many historical technical issues. A new skin tension measuring device is presented here. It was designed to be less user-dependent, more reliable and usable on different bodily sites. The design and computational optimizations are discussed. Our skin tensiometer has helped understand the differences between incisional and excisional skin lines. Langer, who pioneered the concept of skin tension lines, created incisional lines that differ from lines caused by forces that need to be overcome when large wounds are closed surgically (excisional tension). The use of this innovative device has led to understanding of skin biomechanics and best excisional skin tension (BEST) lines.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Skin Cancer, School of medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.|Faculty of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.|Auckland University of Technology (AUT) 55 Wellesley St E, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.|Skin Surgery Clinic, 271 A Blockhouse Bay Rd, Auckland 0600 New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sharad P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 55 Wellesley St E, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matulich
authors.affiliation: Industrial Design &Innovation, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) 55 Wellesley St E, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charlton
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology