Annals of biomedical engineering
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We have developed a unique uniaxial stretching device to study axonal injury and neural cell death resulting from brain tissue deformations common in traumatic head injuries. Using displacement control rather than force control, this device is capable of achieving strains >70% and strain rates up to 90 s(-1), well above those currently used for studying axonal injury. ⋯ The entire device can fit into a biological safety cabinet to maintain sterility, and the specimens are convenient for cell culture. This device can be used to investigate a wide range of biomechanical issues involved in diffuse axonal injury.