Method, apparatus and simulated human tissue for evaluating coefficients of friction of materials on human skin
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Koenig, Betsy L. Sadenwasser, Paul J. Koehler
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Abstract
An in vitro testing method for predicting a coefficient of friction exhibited by a material passed over human skin, in vivo. A material operatively connects between a scaffold and a load cell and a synthetic sheet mounts on the scaffold. A porous layer is applied to an exposed surface of the synthetic sheet, forming a simulated human tissue. The material engages the simulated human tissue and moves relative to the scaffold to measure the coefficient of friction between the material and the simulated human tissue with the load cell.
Claims15
An in vitro testing method for predicting a coefficient of friction exhibited by a material passed over human skin, in vivo, said method comprising:
- operatively connecting a material between a scaffold and a load cell;
- mounting a synthetic sheet on the scaffold;
- applying a porous layer to an exposed surface of said synthetic sheet to form a simulated human tissue;
- engaging the material with said simulated human tissue;
- and
- moving the material relative to the scaffold thereby to measure said coefficient of friction between said material and said simulated human tissue with said load cell.
A testing apparatus for evaluating a coefficient of friction developed between a material and a simulated human tissue to approximate the coefficient of friction that would be developed between said material and natural human skin, said testing apparatus comprising:
- a scaffold sized and shaped to simulate a portion of human anatomy;
- a synthetic sheet mounted on said scaffold;
- and
- a load cell operatively connectable between said synthetic sheet and the material for which the coefficient of friction is being evaluated for measuring the coefficient of friction between said synthetic sheet and the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.