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# Viscoelastic properties of the bladder and design of a surgical instrument for the removal of bladder tumours

Barnes, Spencer Charles (2016)
Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham.

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## Abstract

There are various problems with the treatments for bladder cancer. The studies in this thesis aimed to decrease these problems or conduct research that would aid future work and development in the area.

The mechanical properties of normal and malignant bladder tissue were quantified using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). A uniaxial testing machine applied sinusoidally varying strains to specimens and the response stresses were measured; from this the elastic and viscous components of the soft tissues were calculated. $$Porcine$$ bladder tissue was used as a model for normal bladder and exhibited a higher modulus than tumourous bladder tissue. Potentially these viscoelastic properties have many utilities, which include but are not limited to: diagnosis of bladder tumours, computational modelling of the bladder, comparison to current replacement materials, manufacture of more appropriate bladder replacement materials and manufacture of synthetic tumours for surgical trainers.

One problem with the procedure for removing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is tumour re-implantation. An add-on instrument was designed, manufactured and tested to attempt to stop the travel of tumourous cells which could then re-implant. A prototype of the device was manufactured using the shape memory metal nickel titanium in conjunction with latex. The device would open into a cone shape once inside the bladder to physically prevent the movement of tumour cells away from the tumour site. The prototype was successfully tested in replica surgical conditions with blue dyes. With development, it is hoped that this design can assist in reducing the high recurrence rate of NMIBC.

Type of Work: Ph.D. thesis. Shepherd, Duncan E. T. and Espino, Daniel Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences School of Mechanical Engineering RD SurgeryT Technology (General) University of Birmingham 6641
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