The assessment of the applicability of shear wave elastography in modelling of the mechanical parameters of the liver

Purpose: The development of haptic technology in laparoscopic simulations indicates a demand of constant upgrade of tactile feedback, which is currently considered to be unsatisfactory. Presumably, one of its causes may be insufficiently examined and described mechanical parameters of soft tissues in vivo, including liver tissue. The aim of the following work was the attempt at assessing the applicability of data from shear wave elastography in organ modelling by correlating the mechanical parameters of the liver obtained by this noninvasive method, with the mechanical parameters obtained by indentation. Methods: Each one out of 12 porcine livers, was subjected to elastography and subsequently to the indentation test. The mean Young's modulus for each liver lobe was obtained using elastography, while in indentation Young's moduli in three different strain ranges and maximum load were calculated. Results: Differences between mechanical parameters of lobes were not found but the parameters were calculated for different methods and strain ranges. Conclusions: The limitations of both methods prevent the unambiguous assessment of the applicability of elastography in liver modelling for laparoscopic simulations, at the presented stage of research. Nevertheless, the presented study provides a valuable introduction to the development of a methodology for testing the mechanical parameters of liver tissue.