Stochastic System Identification of Skin Properties: Linear and Wiener Static Nonlinear Methods

Wiener static nonlinear system identification was used to study the linear dynamics and static nonlinearities in the response of skin and underlying tissue under indentation in vivo. A device capable of measuring the dynamic mechanical properties of bulk skin tissue was developed and it incorporates a custom-built Lorentz force actuator that measures the dynamic compliance between the input force (< 12 N) and the output displacement (< 20 mm). A simple linear stochastic system identification technique produced a variance accounted for (VAF) of 75-81% and Wiener static nonlinear techniques increased the VAF by 5%. Localized linear techniques increased the VAF to 85-95% with longer tests. Indentation experiments were conducted on 16 test subjects to determine device sensitivity and repeatability. Using the device, the coefficient of variation of test metrics was found to be as low as 2% for a single test location. The measured tissue stiffness was 300 N/m near the surface and 4.5 kN/m for high compression. The damping ranged from 5 to 23 N s/m. The bulk skin properties were also shown to vary significantly with gender and body mass index. The device and techniques used in this research can be applied to consumer product analysis, medical diagnosis and tissue research.