Project title

Breast Biomechanics

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Pedro Martins

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

palsm@fe.up.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

Design and Experimental Validation Unit

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Other R&D units involved in the project

Project keyword(s)

Biomechanics; breast implants; breast tissues

Short abstract and comments

Collaborative project: North delegation of the National Institute of Legal Medicine, I.P., and the Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Hospital Center of Vila Nova de Gaia. Study and determination of the biomechanical properties of the human breast tissues by: - Uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests, as well as compression tests, will be run; - In-vitro testing of the internal breast tissues: glandular, fat and Cooper suspensory ligaments (cadaveric or surgery-provided tissues). The results of the tests (displacement forces) are processed to determine the biomechanical parameters used in modelling the breast tissue. The constitutive laws used are based on hyperelastic and / or viscoelastic models. The mechanical properties of in-vivo skin will be determined by skin suction devices.

Potential uses/indications

To improve surgery techniques for plastic and oncoplastic breast reconstruction. Design optimization of breast implant.