A method for obtaining repeatable measurements of the tensile properties of skin at low strain

Abstract

Initial attempts at measuring the low strain tensile properties of skin led to results which were not repeatable. It appeared that strains induced in the sample due to the handling needed to mount it in a simple clamp led to the low precision of the test. A new method which minimized the manipulation needed to mount a sample in a testing machine was then developed. Using this method the skin was aligned with a set of grips in a saline bath. When aligned, the saline was removed and the sample clamped in the grips without the need for additional handling. This approach produced a marked improvement in the repeatability of the tensile properties of skin at low strains.