Measurement of thermophysical parameters of artificial skin

Computer methods for process research and methods for processing the measurement results of the parameters of these processes are widely used in biology and medicine. Therefore, the problem of automation of biophysical measurements and computer processing of the results of such experiments is relevant. In the treatment of wounds and burns with a large surface area of tissue damage, medicine has to resort to artificial skin. A procedure for studying thermal processes in artificial skin and measuring its thermophysical parameters was developed. The measurement process was described. The thermophysical parameters of the artificial skin samples used in medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns were determined. The samples of the artificial skin used were made in Ukraine. Each sample was made from six layers of skin. To control the temperature distribution in the sample between the skin adjacent layers and on the surface of the sample, thermocouples were placed. The surface of the sample was heated with an incandescent lamp. The thermocouple signals were sent to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), amplified, and digitally transmitted to a computer. Processing was carried out using the ADC software and the MATHCAD program. A mathematical model was obtained. For this purpose, a differential equation describing thermal processes in the sample was solved. The found temperature distribution function and its changes over time are in a good agreement with experimental data. The analysis of the function allows finding the thermal conductivity coefficient of artificial skin, its volume heat capacity, thermal diffusivity coefficient, and heat exchange coefficient with the external environment. The proposed method of measuring and processing experimental data makes it possible to detect main thermophysical parameters of artificial skin. Based on these results, a theoretical model was obtained that well describes the course of thermal processes in artificial skin, which makes it possible to predict the course of these processes. Such method is based on heating the skin with optical radiation. The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of artificial skin are significantly less than such parameters of human skin, which should be considered when using it.