Identification of Microstructural Mechanical Parameters of Articular Cartilage

Abstract

Articular cartilage has the depth-dependent laminar structure, and the mechanical behavior of articular cartilage is strongly dependent of its microstructure characterized by three-dimensional, depth-dependent anisotropic arrangement of collagen fibre, chondrocyte and so on. In this study, a method identifying the mechanical properties of cartilage is described by using a viscoelastic model of cartilage considering its anisotropic and inhomogeneous microstructure and the time history of reaction force observed in the indentation test. The method is examined with bovine femoral cartilage at the medial and lateral regions. © 2009 International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering.