Mechanical test methods for biomedical membranes

It is important to estimate the mechanical characteristics and strength of biomedical membrane. For this purpose, previously we have proposyd several mechanical test methods for biomedical membranes. To establish the safety design for biomedical membrane, such as cellophane membrane for hemodialysis, it is important to estimate the viscoelastic characteristics of these materials. On the other hand, artificial biomedical membrane such as tympanic membrane, are subjected to noncontact internal air pressure under the membranous state. To estimate mechanical characteristics of such membrane, it is necessary to develop a well-simulated test under the gaseous pressure and the other mechanical test under the membranous state. In this paper, several test methods for these purposes were shown. Furthermore, results obtained by these methods were shown and related to clinical problems. These proposed test methods are quite different from the axial tensile test. But they are also important to estimate the mechanical property of biomedical membrane. Each result obtained by these test methods has its own significance. By selection of the most suitable test method for each purpose and revealing these mutual relations, safety design of artificial organs can be performed from the viewpoint of the strength.