E-Thesis 322 views 367 downloads
Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema / MARK DITCHFIELD
Swansea University Author: MARK DITCHFIELD
Abstract
Current methods of lymphoedema diagnosis suffer from unstandardised practices and are reliant upon subjective touch and feel tests and crude volumetric measures, providing no insight into the mechanical properties of the skin tissues and the extent of oedema on a local scale. This leads to scenarios...
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Swansea University, Wales, UK
2024
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Master of Research |
| Degree name: | MSc by Research |
| Supervisor: | Van Loon, R., and Arora, H. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68319 |
| Abstract: |
Current methods of lymphoedema diagnosis suffer from unstandardised practices and are reliant upon subjective touch and feel tests and crude volumetric measures, providing no insight into the mechanical properties of the skin tissues and the extent of oedema on a local scale. This leads to scenarios where some patients are nonsensically graded higher than others purely based on skin condition alone and not considering both factors, skin integrity and volume of oedema present. It seems apparent that a grading system directly linked to output measurements of two devices, the Cutometer and MoistureMeterD could streamline the process and avoid scenarios described prior. Before this can be established, both devices must be explored, first undertsanding the benchmark results from a healthy volunteer dataset.This thesis performs a volunteer study on a group of healthy volunteers with the Cutometer and MoistureMeterD using multiple probes of each device. The output parameters of both devices were then explored in a statistical study. Additionaly, a hydrogel bilayer sample has been formulated. The sample is shown to represent the mechanical response of skin when comparing displacement-time curves from the measurements from the Cutometer. Both volunteer and hydrogel results were input into a pre-existing curve fitting code based on a 2-element Kelvin-Voight spring-damper model. The code generates values of 8 parameters, 4 stiffness parameters and 4 viscosity parameters, allowing for further mechanical property comparisons to be made.The study found that there are no statistically significant differences between the four measurement locations used in the study, with all output TDC values of the MoistureMeterD, all output Cutometer parameters with the 8mm probe and all output parameters of the 2mm probe except from R9 and R10 (F = 3.090, p = 0.032 (R9), F = 3.568, p = 0.018 (R10)). The study also identifies which of the Cutometer output parameters show strong positive and negative correlations to skin hydration, as measured with the MoistureMeterD. The results obtained from the curve fitting code show that the sample presents representative values of Young’s modulus and dynamic viscosity to those collected on real skin in the volunteer study.In conclusion, this study closely investigates the two devices and their respective outputs, influences on these results such as age, gender anatomical testing site and probe size were all explored. Both devices are shown to have capability to provide deeper insight into skin mechanics than the currently used methods for lymphoedema diagnosis and assessment. Research needs to be continued, performing studies on lymphoedematous limbs with both devices to allow for comparisons between healthy and affected limbs. |
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| Item Description: |
A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. |
| Keywords: |
Lymphoedema, Mechanical skin properties, Cutometer, MoistureMeterD, Hydrogels, mechanical skin mimics, mechanical skin models. |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |