A cryogenic clamping technique that facilitates ultimate tensile strength determinations in tendons and ligaments.
Abstract: To describe the use of a cryogenic clamp of novel design for tensile strength testing of tendinous and ligamentous tissues with inherently high tensile strength. Methods: Inexpensive, easily machined steel clamps were manufactured to facilitate rapid insertion into a standard wedge-screw grip apparatus installed on a testing system with a control system attached. The deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of six horses was trimmed to a uniform dumbbell shape and secured in clamps using partial submersion in liquid nitrogen for approximately 45 seconds and immediately tested. Approximate time between removal from liquid nitrogen and failure of tendon was four minutes. Results: Failure was achieved in all tendons tested in a region approximating a midpoint between the clamps. Ultimate failure loads of up to 6745 N were achieved without slippage of the tissue from the grips. The ultimate tensile strength of the normal equine DDFT determined in this study was 111.82 ± 11.53 N/mm2, and the stress versus grip-to-grip elongation plots for our equine DDFT were representative of a standard non-linear elastic curve obtained in similar studies. Conclusions: We present a low cost device for quantifying physical properties of specimens with high connective tissue concentrations and inherent high tensile strength. Results of this study indicate that this device provides a practical alternative to other more costly methods of adequately securing larger tendons and ligaments for tensile strength testing.
Publication Date: 2011-07-21 PubMed ID: 21792472DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-10-09-0128Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research studies a new cryogenic clamping method to measure the ultimate tensile strength in tendons and ligaments. This technique proves to be both cost-effective and practical for securing larger tendons and ligaments during tensile strength testing.
Methods
- The research started with manufacturing inexpensive, straightforwardly machined steel clamps to facilitate rapid insertion into a standard wedge-screw grip apparatus installed on a testing system with a control system attached.
- The deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) of six horses was trimmed to a standardized dumbbell shape and secured in clamps using partial submersion in liquid nitrogen. This process took approximately 45 seconds, after which the tendons were immediately tested.
- The total time between tendon removal from liquid nitrogen and failure of tendon was roughly four minutes.
Results
- All tested tendons failed in a region approximating a midpoint between the clamps.
- Failure loads reached up to 6745N without tissue slippage from the grips. The ultimate tensile strength of the normal Horse’s DDFT was found to be 111.82 ± 11.53 N/mm2.
- The stress versus grip-to-grip elongation plot for equine DDFT was consistent with a standard non-linear elastic curve obtained in similar studies, thereby validating the results.
Conclusions
- The research shows that the new cryogenic clamping method provides a cost-efficient alternative for tensile strength testing of specimens with high connective tissue concentrations and inherent high tensile strength.
- Unlike other methods, this experiment achieved failure loads up to 6745N without tissue slippage from the grips, verifying the strength and efficiency of the new clamps.
- It establishes the fact that the new method can be beneficial for larger tendons and ligaments testing, thereby opening new possibilities in tendon and ligament research and applications.
Cite This Article
APA
Bowser JE, Elder SH, Rashmir-Raven AM, Swiderski CE.
(2011).
A cryogenic clamping technique that facilitates ultimate tensile strength determinations in tendons and ligaments.
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol, 24(5), 370-373.
https://doi.org/10.3415/VCOT-10-09-0128 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Freezing
- Ligaments / physiology
- Specimen Handling / instrumentation
- Tendons / physiology
- Tensile Strength / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Scholze M, Safavi S, Li KC, Ondruschka B, Werner M, Zwirner J, Hammer N. Standardized tensile testing of soft tissue using a 3D printed clamping system. HardwareX 2020 Oct;8:e00159.
- Janes LE, Mioton LM, Fracol ME, Ko JH. An In Vivo Comparison: Novel Mesh Suture Versus Traditional Suture-Based Repair in a Rabbit Tendon Model. J Hand Surg Glob Online 2022 Jan;4(1):32-39.
- Rueda-Carrillo G, Rosiles-Martínez R, Hernández-García AI, Vargas-Bello-Pérez E, Trigo-Tavera FJ. Preliminary Study on the Connection Between the Mineral Profile of Horse Hooves and Tensile Strength Based on Body Weight, Sex, Age, Sampling Location, and Riding Disciplines. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:763935.
- Wagner FC, Reese S, Gerlach K, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW. Cyclic tensile tests of Shetland pony superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) with an optimized cryo-clamp combined with biplanar high-speed fluoroscopy. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jun 25;17(1):223.
- Ma Y, Tang W, Gong DZ, Li XY, Zhang JH, Sun JH, Wang B, Zhang Y, Chen YX, Zhang ZH, Zheng N, Okoye CS, Chi YY, Wu CW, Yu SB, Sui HJ. The morphology, biomechanics, and physiological function of the suboccipital myodural connections. Sci Rep 2021 Apr 13;11(1):8064.
- Scholze M, Singh A, Lozano PF, Ondruschka B, Ramezani M, Werner M, Hammer N. Utilization of 3D printing technology to facilitate and standardize soft tissue testing. Sci Rep 2018 Jul 27;8(1):11340.
- Reina Rodriguez FS, Buckley CT, Milgram J, Kirby BM. Biomechanical properties of feline ventral abdominal wall and celiotomy closure techniques. Vet Surg 2018 Feb;47(2):193-203.
- Peloquin JM, Santare MH, Elliott DM. Advances in Quantification of Meniscus Tensile Mechanics Including Nonlinearity, Yield, and Failure. J Biomech Eng 2016 Feb;138(2):021002.
- López-Nájera D, Rubio-Zaragoza M, Sopena-Juncosa JJ, Alentorn-Geli E, Cugat-Bertomeu R, Fernández-Sarmiento JA, Domínguez-Pérez JM, García-Balletbó M, Primo-Capella VJ, Carrillo-Poveda JM. Effects of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) on biomechanical properties of Achilles tendon repair. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2016 Dec;24(12):3997-4004.
- Otarodifard K, Wong J, Preston CF, Tibone JE, Lee TQ. Relative fixation strength of rabbit subscapularis repair is comparable to human supraspinatus repair at time 0. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2014 Aug;472(8):2440-7.
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