METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE RESPONSE OF A CONTRACTILE OR EXPANSIBLE BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

摘要

A method for determining the response of a contractile or expansible biological material to a variation of the rigidity of its environment comprising the steps of: a) placing a sample (100) of the biological material between a force measurement device (200, 500) and a rigid support (300, 600); b) choosing an effective rigidity value, keff, of the environment of the sample (100); c) maintaining the contacting area in a constant position by applying a force, F(t), where F(t) = ko.d(t) and where d(t) is the stretching of the elastic probe; - simultaneously translating the rigid support of a distance D(t), where D(t) = d(t).(ko /keff); - determining the response of the biological material sample (100); d) repeating steps b) and c) when choosing an effective rigidity value different from former effective rigidity value when the sample (100) remains in situ.