Development of a Device for Maintaining the Temperature of the Tendons During the Period of Recovery

The development of a device for maintaining the temperature of tendons during recovery on a tensile test device is an area of research that has gained attention in biomechanics. Preconditioning is a critical phase in which tendons are subjected to cyclic loading to simulate in vivo conditions. However, this process can alter the mechanical properties of the tendon and impact test results. Maintaining the temperature of tendons during the recovery phase can help reduce the effects of preconditioning and improve the accuracy of test results. The device developed for this purpose is composed of a heating element, temperature sensors, a water pump and a controller unit. It can maintain the temperature of tendons at \(33\,^\circ {\text{C}}\) , which is the average temperature in the human knee. The use of this device has shown promising results in reducing the variability of tensile test results, simulating the real conditions in the human body and improving the reproducibility of tests.