Introduction/Purpose Although current vessel-training models cast from human vasculature are anatomically accurate, the materials used (i.e. silicones and glass) do not accurately simulate the vascular compliance (modulus) and wall friction effects (lubricity) seen in human vasculature. Deriving mechanical properties from samples historically results in destroying the samples being tested. Mechanical testing often delaminated tissue layers, ruptures the endotheliatl layer, or tears tissue completely. Mechanical characterization using dynamic loading (hybrid rheometer (DHR-2, TA Instruments) can provide reliable and repeatable material property data without damaging the tissue. Therefore, the same tissue samples can also undergo histological analysis of microstructures and results can be directly correlated to the mechanical characterization data. This ultimately reduces the samples needed to obtain statistically significant results.

Materials and Methods Non-destructive mechanical testing was performed on 8 mm diameter tissue samples (figure 1A). The following non-destructive tests were completed on the same samples: dynamic compressive modulus, shear modulus, tensile modulus, and poisson’s ratio (figure 1B). Next, these samples were fixed in formalin, embedded, cross-sectioned, stained with H&E, and scanned with a microscope scanner (resolutions from 1x to 40x magnification). The histological images were compared to control tissue samples taken from the same tissue (not mechanically tested, but histologically stained). Properties of cadaveric vessels were compared and validated with histology. All layers of the vasculature were scanned for damage.

Results Gross inspection of the tissues showed no apparent damage, and the control and mechanically tested samples appeared identical. No apparent tissue damage was seen from the histologically prepped tissue slides (figure 1C and D). The endothelial layer remained intact on all tested and control samples. No delamination of tissue layers was observed and no histology artifacts were found on the tissue slides.

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Abstract E-184 Figure 1 A-Hybrid rheometer: B-Rheometer setup for mechanical testing F C-undamaged vessel endothelial layer (40X) D-Histological slide of an undamaged human vessel

Conclusion Dynamic, non-destructive mechanical testing using rheological testing techniques is an effective approach to analyzing delicate and rare tissue samples without causing permanent damage. In the case of human vasculature, there is an opportunity to understand the anatomical and mechanical properties of diseased, normal, or calcified regions of tissue, even from the same sample. Reducing the need for repetitive testing on multiple human and animal tissue samples. Correlating mechanical and histological tissue properties directly can improve the creation of more accurate vessel analogs and in-vitro vessel models, ultimately improving device testing outcomes and reducing the need for biological samples.

Disclosures N. Nau: None.