Modeling the Visco-Elastic Response of Bovine Liver Tissue

Abstract

Liver tissue plays a role in many physiological systems and is characterized as a soft tissue. Changes in the perceived stiffness of the liver by palpation may indicate Cirrhosis or other liver ailments. New ultrasound techniques that use an applied force such as sonoelastography may aid physicians in diagnosis by providing a quantitative comparison of the mechanical properties for the tissue [1]. At this time, these mechanical characteristics remain to be fully defined. In this study, a four-parameter model composed of springs and dashpots has been used to describe the response of liver under unconfined creep compression tests.