HYOMEX - A MINIATURE UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE FOR IN-VIVO BIOMECHANICAL STUDIES

A miniaturized universal testing machine, HYOMEX, designed for biomech anically testing spinal structures of an anaesthetized research animal , such as a pig, is presented. A variety of mechanical applications su ch cr static and dynamic tests, creep and relaxation tests, and fatigu e tests with frequencies up to 20 Hz are possible. The system permits force control as well as displacement control. Continuous surveillance is made possible through interfacing the system to a computer. An app lication is presented where the viscoelastic behaviour in a porcine lu mbar spine was measured.