Experimental investigation of the structural behavior of equine urethra.
Abstract: An integrated experimental and computational investigation was developed aiming to provide a methodology for characterizing the structural response of the urethral duct. The investigation provides information that are suitable for the actual comprehension of lower urinary tract mechanical functionality and the optimal design of prosthetic devices. Methods: Experimental activity entailed the execution of inflation tests performed on segments of horse penile urethras from both proximal and distal regions. Inflation tests were developed imposing different volumes. Each test was performed according to a two-step procedure. The tubular segment was inflated almost instantaneously during the first step, while volume was held constant for about 300s to allow the development of relaxation processes during the second step. Tests performed on the same specimen were interspersed by 600s of rest to allow the recovery of the specimen mechanical condition. Results from experimental activities were statistically analyzed and processed by means of a specific mechanical model. Such computational model was developed with the purpose of interpreting the general pressure-volume-time response of biologic tubular structures. The model includes parameters that interpret the elastic and viscous behavior of hollow structures, directly correlated with the results from the experimental activities. Results: Post-processing of experimental data provided information about the non-linear elastic and time-dependent behavior of the urethral duct. In detail, statistically representative pressure-volume and pressure relaxation curves were identified, and summarized by structural parameters. Considering elastic properties, initial stiffness ranged between 0.677 ± 0.026kPa and 0.262 ± 0.006kPa moving from proximal to distal region of penile urethra. Viscous parameters showed typical values of soft biological tissues, as τ=0.153±0.018s, τ=17.458 ± 1.644s and τ=0.201 ± 0.085, τ= 8.514 ± 1.379s for proximal and distal regions respectively. Conclusions: A general procedure for the mechanical characterization of the urethral duct has been provided. The proposed methodology allows identifying mechanical parameters that properly express the mechanical behavior of the biological tube. The approach is especially suitable for evaluating the influence of degenerative phenomena on the lower urinary tract mechanical functionality. The information are mandatory for the optimal design of potential surgical procedures and devices.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-01-20 PubMed ID: 28241967DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2017.01.012Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research provides an experimental method for examining the structural behavior of the urethral duct using horse models, with the aim of understanding lower urinary tract functionality and assisting in the optimal design of prosthetic devices.
Overview of Research Methods
- The study used an integrated experimental and computational approach to understand the structural response of the urethral duct.
- The experimental component consisted of inflation tests on segments of horse penile urethras from both proximal and distal regions, where different volumes were imposed.
- In each inflation test, two steps were followed: initially the tubular segment was almost instantaneously inflated, later the volume was kept constant for about 300s to allow the development of relaxation processes.
- Each test was followed by a period of rest, 600s, to allow for the recovery of the specimen’s mechanical condition.
- These tests were statistically analyzed and interpreted with a computational model.
- The model was created to understand the general pressure-volume-time response of biologic tubular structures, interpreting the elastic and viscous behavior of hollow structures.
Results of the Study
- The data from these activities helped understand the non-linear elastic and time-dependent behavior of the urethral duct.
- Statistically representative pressure-volume and pressure relaxation curves were identified, and summarized by structural parameters.
- Measured elastic properties including initial stiffness ranged between 0.677 ± 0.026kPa and 0.262 ± 0.006kPa moving from proximal to distal region of penile urethra.
- The results for viscous parameters were typical of soft biological tissues, with values of τ=0.153±0.018s, τ=17.458 ± 1.644s and τ=0.201 ± 0.085, τ= 8.514 ± 1.379s for proximal and distal regions respectively.
Conclusions
- The proposed method allows for the mechanical characterization of the urethral duct and aids in identifying related mechanical parameters.
- The method can be particularly helpful in evaluating the influence of degenerative phenomena on the lower urinary tract’s mechanical functionality.
- This would be crucial information for the optimal design of potential surgical procedures and devices.
Cite This Article
APA
Natali AN, Carniel EL, Frigo A, Fontanella CG, Rubini A, Avital Y, De Benedictis GM.
(2017).
Experimental investigation of the structural behavior of equine urethra.
Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 141, 35-41.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2017.01.012 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, I-35131 Padova Italy; Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, I-35131 Padova Italy; Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: emanueleluigi.carniel@unipd.it.
- Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
- Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
- Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
- Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy.
- Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy; Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Horses
- Male
- Urethra / anatomy & histology
- Urethra / physiopathology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Fontanella CG, Carniel EL. Biomechanics of Hollow Organs: Experimental Testing and Computational Modeling. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023 Jan 29;10(2).
- Mackiewicz AG, Klekiel T, Kurowiak J, Piasecki T, Bedzinski R. Determination of Stent Load Conditions in New Zealand White Rabbit Urethra. J Funct Biomater 2020 Sep 25;11(4).
- De Menech Q, Osorio Salazar A, Bourgogne Q, Civet Y, Baldit A, Perriard Y. Mechanical characterization and constitutive law of porcine urethral tissues: a hyperelastic fiber model based on a physical approach. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2025 Jun;24(3):1031-1042.
- Mazzucco G, Pirini P, Fontanella CG, Berardo A, Mascolini MV, Toniolo I, Marziale L, Mazzocchi T, Lucarini G, Spiezia N, Carniel EL. In silico tools for mechanical analysis of extra- and intra-luminal artificial urinary sphincters. BJUI Compass 2025 Jan;6(1):e473.
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