No Cover Image

E-Thesis 323 views 373 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

  • 2023_Ditchfield_M.final.68319.pdf

    PDF | E-Thesis – open access

    Copyright: The Author, Mark Ditchfield, 2023

    Download (5.65MB)

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...

Full description

Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2024
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
first_indexed 2024-11-25T14:21:51Z
last_indexed 2025-01-16T20:49:29Z
id cronfa68319
recordtype RisThesis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-01-16T14:09:18.0726719</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>68319</id><entry>2024-11-21</entry><title>Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>9a4f751e20418cab2226e6574bd9ea3d</sid><firstname>MARK</firstname><surname>DITCHFIELD</surname><name>MARK DITCHFIELD</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2024-11-21</date><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&#x2019;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.</abstract><type>E-Thesis</type><journal/><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher/><placeOfPublication>Swansea University, Wales, UK</placeOfPublication><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic/><keywords>Lymphoedema, Mechanical skin properties, Cutometer, MoistureMeterD, Hydrogels, mechanical skin mimics, mechanical skin models.</keywords><publishedDay>22</publishedDay><publishedMonth>10</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2024</publishedYear><publishedDate>2024-10-22</publishedDate><doi/><url/><notes>A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information.</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><supervisor>Van Loon, R., and Arora, H.</supervisor><degreelevel>Master of Research</degreelevel><degreename>MSc by Research</degreename><apcterm/><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-01-16T14:09:18.0726719</lastEdited><Created>2024-11-21T15:16:27.4767832</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Biomedical Engineering</level></path><authors><author><firstname>MARK</firstname><surname>DITCHFIELD</surname><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>68319__32944__3f3623bfd0054e0abdd3de8c00e5ab21.pdf</filename><originalFilename>2023_Ditchfield_M.final.68319.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2024-11-21T15:24:26.9762794</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>5924323</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>E-Thesis &#x2013; open access</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>Copyright: The Author, Mark Ditchfield, 2023</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-01-16T14:09:18.0726719 v2 68319 2024-11-21 Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema 9a4f751e20418cab2226e6574bd9ea3d MARK DITCHFIELD MARK DITCHFIELD true false 2024-11-21 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. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Lymphoedema, Mechanical skin properties, Cutometer, MoistureMeterD, Hydrogels, mechanical skin mimics, mechanical skin models. 22 10 2024 2024-10-22 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Van Loon, R., and Arora, H. Master of Research MSc by Research 2025-01-16T14:09:18.0726719 2024-11-21T15:16:27.4767832 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Biomedical Engineering MARK DITCHFIELD 1 68319__32944__3f3623bfd0054e0abdd3de8c00e5ab21.pdf 2023_Ditchfield_M.final.68319.pdf 2024-11-21T15:24:26.9762794 Output 5924323 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Mark Ditchfield, 2023 true eng
title Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
spellingShingle Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
MARK DITCHFIELD
title_short Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
title_full Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
title_fullStr Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
title_sort Mechanical Assessment of the Skin Through a Multiple Probe Framework to Improve the Assessment and Management of Lymphoedema
author_id_str_mv 9a4f751e20418cab2226e6574bd9ea3d
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9a4f751e20418cab2226e6574bd9ea3d_***_MARK DITCHFIELD
author MARK DITCHFIELD
author2 MARK DITCHFIELD
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Biomedical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Biomedical Engineering
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description 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.
published_date 2024-10-22T05:23:58Z
_version_ 1851369391077195776
score 11.089572

Similar Items