Viscoelastic Properties of Edematous Skin

A continuously recording apparatus is devised to measure the deformation of skin surface on tibial margin against test weight. The deformation observed by this apparatus is best approximated by 4 element viscoelastic model in rheology. One of the moduli, η1, is thought to represent capillary filtrability. It is calculated that capillary filtration in non-edematous patients is about 0.007ml./100Gm. tissue/mm.Hg/min. In edematous patients there are seen profound alterations in these moduli, and increased capillary filtrability and easy susceptibility to deformation are expressed numerically. After dissipation of edema these alterations usually return to normal range. We wish our method to be called tissue rheometry.