Skin Deformation Research Articles

Biomimetic Skins Enable Strain‐Perception‐Strengthening Soft Morphing

AbstractBiological soft tissues are typically characterized of strain mechanical stiffening for injury prevention, yet the capability to achieve active awareness via perception strengthening still remains a challenge. However, creatures have projected their 2D or 3D deformation in a safe way via perception regulation. In this work, strain‐perception‐strengthening (SPS) enabled soft skins that allow the dynamic transformation from tactile to pain‐sensing are proposed. The synthetic skin featured with elastic, conductive, and adaptive properties is composed of elastomeric thin‐film and assembled graphene nanosheets with an interlocked structural interface. In the SPS‐enabled sensory system, the strain‐perception‐threshold value can be regulated from ≈7.2% to ≈95.3%. The integrated skin‐like system can effectively imitate the normal tactile and pain feeling of soft tissues (e.g., unidirectional stretching of muscle tendon and irregular stretching deformation of hand skin). Furthermore, inspired by the pufferfish, a bionic pufferfish with synthetic skin is designed, enabling it to sensitively capture the external mechanical stimuli such as tiny airflow and finger touch, and further inflate itself to a 3D deformation determined by the SPS effect. The concept of soft skins with SPS effect demonstrates potential fields in safe human‐machine interaction, smart prosthetics and soft robotics.

Tectonic shortening and strain magnitudes across the Chapada Diamantina Fold and Thrust Belt: New insights into the tectonic evolution of the Paramirim Aulacogen

In this study, strain magnitudes and tectonic shortening across the Chapada Diamantina fold-and-thrust belt are calculated by finite strain analysis, cross-section restoration and kinematic forward models. A total of 9 complete 3D strain analyses on oriented samples were conducted by the Inertia Tensor method and best fit ellipsoids were computed, resulting in strain ratios (X/Z) varying from 1.190 to 2.504. Predominant oblate shaped ellipsoids related to down-dipping stretching directions are associated with regional transport direction from SW to NE, with reverse faults, upright axial-plane fold and sub-horizontal axis. The restoration of the cross-section yielded a shortening of 19.37%, understood as the minimum tectonic shortening. The adopted model assumes the inversion of former extensional faults (steep thrusts), where the structural architecture of the area is mainly controlled by the inherited rift basin architecture, with basement involvement in a combination of thick and thin skin deformation. Similarly, the assessment of kinematic forward models resulted in a minimum shortening of 18.5%. Comparably, finite strain data integration techniques yielded a total of 21.65% of regional tectonic shortening, representing the horizontal component of ductile flattening strain across the section due to penetrative strain. Therefore, we present, by three different and independent approaches, an estimate range of tectonic shortening between 18%–22% at the western Chapada Diamantina region, but the total amount of shortening across the Paramirim aulacogen might have been greater. These results suggest that the western and eastern parts of the São Francisco craton could not be considered as rigidly linked during the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Brasiliano orogeny, with the Paramirim aulacogen exerting an import role.

The synergistic effect of mechanical vibration for skin puncturing using polymeric microneedles

The transdermal delivery effect of polymeric microneedles can be significantly improved with the aids of synergetic vibration. The finite element simulation software ANSYS was used to explore the skin puncturing results of microneedles under different vibration frequencies. The dynamic mechanical properties of polymeric microneedles and human skin were also investigated. Meanwhile, puncturing experiments were also performed under different vibration frequencies on abdomen of female mice using polymeric microneedles with different lengths. The results showed that the peak value of maximum equivalent stress and the plastic deformation of skin were the smallest at the vibrative frequency of 200 Hz. The maximum equivalent stresses presented 20%–50% decreases during the second puncturing cycle. Moreover, the puncturing result of longer microneedles (550 μm) is much better than that of shorter ones (350 μm) under the same vibration frequency. The average bottom diameter and penetration depth of the microchannel obtained under the conditions of 200 Hz vibration and 550 μm height microneedles were 671.03 and 367.55 μm, respectively. These results provided an experimental basis to verify the effectiveness of mechanical vibration for skin puncturing.

A Polymorphing Wing Capable of Span Extension and Variable Pitch

This paper presents the development of a novel polymorphing wing capable of Active Span morphing And Passive Pitching (ASAPP) for small UAVs. The span of an ASAPP wing can be actively extended by up to 25% to enhance aerodynamic efficiency, whilst its pitch near the wingtip can be passively adjusted to alleviate gust loads. To integrate these two morphing mechanisms into one single wing design, each side of the wing is split into two segments (e.g., inboard and outboard segments). The inboard segment is used for span extension whilst the outboard segment is used for passive pitch. The inboard segment consists of a main spar that can translate in the spanwise direction. Flexible skin is used to cover the inboard segment and maintain its aerodynamic shape. The skin transfers the aerodynamic loads to the main spar through a number of ribs that can slide on the main spar through linear plain bearings. A linear actuator located within the fuselage is used for span morphing. The inboard and outboard segments are connected by an overlapping spar surrounded by a torsional spring. The overlapping spar is located ahead of the aerodynamic center of the outboard segment to facilitate passive pitch. The aero-structural design, analysis, and sizing of the ASAPP wing are detailed here. The study shows that the ASAPP wing can be superior to the baseline wing (without morphing) in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, especially when the deformation of the flexible skin is minimal. Moreover, the passive pitching near the wingtip can reduce the root loads significantly, minimizing the weight penalty usually associated with morphing.

Neuromuscular response to the stimulation of plantar cutaneous during walking at different speeds.

BackgroundA lot of authors have been studied the consequence of postural control strategies through investigating the effects of foot-surface contact. In this context an important variable of textured surfaces or insoles could be related to material stiffness. We apply a particular textured insoles to evaluate neuromuscular response of plantar stimulation during walking. Research question: Could textured insoles alter the human locomotion during walking at different speeds? Methods: Ten adults (age: 27 ± 5 years) completed three trials on the multifunction treadmill at 0.42 ms-1, 0.89 ms-1, and 1.5 ms-1 walking speed. Temporal-spatial parameters, gait line, and kinetic parameters were analyzed. The Co-Contraction Index (CCI) and electromyography (EMG) of the right leg muscles were assessed during four phases of gait: first half stance (FHS), half stance (HS), second half stance (SHS), swing phase (SP). Textured insole and soft control insole were worn while walking. Results: Plantar stimulation improved cadence, stride time, stride length and gait line parameters with increasing speed. First force peaks and maximum force forefoot were always significant. The maximum force midfoot was significant at 0.42 and 0.89 ms-1. The maximum force heel only was significant in lower velocity. The maximum pressure showed different significant values except for the heel. Significant differences in the CCI were always found in the FHS and SHS for the plantar muscles, and in the FHS and HS for the knee muscles. The differences in gait analysis in biomechanical and in electromyographic parameters were more significant in the higher speed tested. Significance: The perception of shape and texture through its linear response to skin deformation over a wide range of deformations could be the reason why the significant differences increase in the higher speed. In conclusion, sensory interventions fallowing appropriate insoles can influence significantly gait. Walking strategy positively adjusts locomotion with high efficiency.

Deformation Matching: Force Computation Based on Deformation Optimization.

The tactile information to be presented to a user during interaction with a virtual object is calculated by simulating the contact between the object model and user model. In the simulation, a distributed force is applied to the contact area on the skin tissue of users' hands and results in deformation of the skin tissue. The skin deformation caused by the distributed force is the target contact state that should be presented by the device. However, most multipoint haptic displays do not have sufficient degrees of freedom (DoF) to represent the target contact state. This paper presents the concept and formulation of "deformation matching," whereby the output force is calculated to minimize the error between the target skin deformation and skin deformation that can be realized by the limited DoF device's output force. For comparison, the conventional concept of "force matching" was also formulated. The difference in human perception between these two concepts in the expression of friction was investigated through experiments using a pin-array tactile display capable of stimulating 128 points. It was demonstrated that the perception of the friction coefficient was more sensitive and the perception of the friction direction was more accurate in deformation matching than in force matching.

Microfabrication of polymer microneedle arrays using two-photon polymerization.

Three dimensional (3D) printing technology has pushed state-of-the-art manufacturing towards more advanced processing methods through its ability to produce complex computer-designed 3D structures in a wide range of materials. Two-photon polymerization applied to the fabrication of ultraprecise 3D microstructures is one of the various innovative approaches to cutting-edge 3D printing. The integration of an ultrashort pulsed laser source and an appropriate photoresist has made it an attractive candidate for advanced photonics and biomedical applications. This paper presents the development of 3D solid microneedle arrays as a novel transdermal drug delivery system via two-photon polymerization in a single manufacturing step. Through a series of experiments, the best fabrication parameters are identified. Finite element simulations are then performed to investigate the interaction between a single microneedle and human skin. The results of this study highlight the influence of fabrication parameters such as laser power, scanning speed, hatch distance and layer height on the structural resolution and fabrication time of microneedles, as well as human skin deformation caused through application of force to a single polymer microneedle.

Multi-deformable piezoelectric energy nano-generator with high conversion efficiency for subtle body movements

Wearable devices for remote medical systems require a reliable power supply to enable full operation during long-term processes. Piezoelectric generators are promising energy sources that use human body movements to generate energy. The wearable device should be able to easily deform with tiny skin deformations to achieve continual energy generation from standard body movements. However, conventional piezoelectric devices cannot deform sufficiently in response to small movements, resulting in an extremely low energy-conversion efficiency when mounted on the human skin. In this study, we report on an ultrathin piezoelectric energy nano-generator (U-PENG) based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene). Owing to their thin structure (4 µm), the proposed U-PENGs conformally adhere to soft human skin and generate energy from subtle movements, such as eye blinking and breathing. These novel devices provide energy conversion efficiency of ~18.85%, which is ~971% higher than thicker samples with identical structures. Owing to their ultrathin structure, high efficiency, and excellent skin attachability, U-PENGs can be integrated with biodevices for use as power sources.

The efficacy and safety study of the combined use of platelet-rich plasma and fractional radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of post-acne scars

Introduction. So far, a large number of skin scars treating methods have been proposed and tested. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is currently being considered as one of the most promising approaches to skin scar treatment.Aim. Clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of complex treatment of post-acne scars using PRP.Materials and methods. An open, randomized, prospective study was conducted in parallel groups. The study included 78 patients with post-acne scars, then randomized into 2 groups. Group 1: 36 patients receiving platelet-rich plasma (PRP); group 2: 42 patients receiving complex treatment with PRP and fractional radiofrequency ablation (PRP + FRF). PRP procedures using the micro-papular technique in group 1 were carried out 5 times with an interval of 2 weeks. The combination of PRP + FRF in group 2 was performed according to the following: the first procedure – FRF, two weeks later – PRP using the micro-papular technique. Then after 2 weeks FRF was performed again, and so on. The total number of procedures of both techniques was 10.Results and discussion. As a result of the treatment, in all patients with post-acne, the clinical indicators of the severity of skin scarring changes decreased significantly, while the most noticeable dynamics were common for patients in group 2. The scars assessment using the Vancouver scale showed that 6 and 12 months after treatment, the severity of objective components and the severity of subjective sensations decreased in most patients. The severity of their own attitude to persistent defects also decreased. Analysis of the frequency of adverse reactions during treatment and in the early period showed that there were no significant intergroup differences in individual adverse reactions. The overall frequency of adverse events in the long-term period also did not significantly differ.Conclusion. The results of the study indicate that the use of PRP in the complex treatment of scarring is a clinically effective and safe method of treatment and allows you to expand the range of therapeutic approaches for scarring skin deformities.

Reconstructing Dynamic 3D Models with Small Data by Integrating Position-Based Dynamics and PDE-Based Modelling

Simulation with position-based dynamics is very popular due to its high efficiency. However, it has the weaknesses of lacking details when too few vertices are involved in simulation and inefficiency when too many vertices are used for simulation. To tackle this problem, in this paper, we propose a new method of reconstructing dynamic 3D models with small data. The core elements of the proposed approach are a curve-represented geometric model and a physics-based mathematical model defined by dynamic partial differential equations. We first use the simulation method of position-based dynamics to generate a group of keyframe poses, which are used to create the deformation animation of a 3D model. Then, wireframe curves are extracted from skin deformation shapes of the 3D model at different keyframe poses. A physics-based mathematical model defined by dynamic partial differential equations is proposed. Its closed-form solution is obtained to represent the extracted curves, which are used to reconstruct the deformation models at different keyframe poses. Experimental examples and comparisons made in this paper indicate that the proposed method of reconstructing dynamic 3D models can greatly reduce data size while keeping good details.

Breathable, Self-Adhesive Dry Electrodes for Stable Electrophysiological Signal Monitoring During Exercise.

On-skin electrodes with high air permeability, low thickness, low elastic modulus, and high adhesion are essential for biomedical signal recordings, which provide data for sports management and biomedical applications. However, nanothickness electrodes interacting with the skin by van der Waals force can be interfered with by sweating, and elastomers with high adhesion prepared by modification are not satisfactory in terms of air permeability. Here, a dry electrode with high stretchability (598%), low elastic modulus (5 MPa), high air permeability (726 g m-2 d-1), and high adhesion (6.33 kPa) was fabricated by semi-embedding Ag nanowires into nonyl and glycerol-modified polyvinyl alcohol. Furthermore, a small amount of 40 wt % ethanol was sprayed on the skin to facilitate microdissolution of the substrate and form immediate conformability with skin texture. The dry electrodes can record high-quality electrocardiogram and electromyogram signals through a robust contact with the skin under skin deformation, with a water stream, or after running for 1 h. The film can also be served as the substrate for self-adhesive strain sensors to monitor motion with higher quality than nonadhesive polydimethylsilane-based sensors.

Robust Tattoo Electrode Prepared by Paper-Assisted Water Transfer Printing for Wearable Health Monitoring

Long-term and stable monitoring of bioelectrical signals represented by electrocardiogram (ECG) has a great application value for wearable electronics. The ECG monitoring require low-cost, flexible and robust electrical system that can work throughout daily activities. In this article, we propose a paper-assisted strategy to fabricate a tattoo ECG electrode based on the low-cost water transfer printing technology. Similar to the tattoo attached on the skin, the fabricated electrode allows complying with the skin deformation comfortably and accommodating the local strains. The ECG signals collected by the tattoo electrode have a high signal to noise ratio, robustness, mechanical stability and strong immunity to motion artifact even under the severe deformation of skin. The tattoo electrode enables convenient and long-period ECG monitoring during various activities, including exercising, sweating, rubbing, and flushing. As a proof-of-concept, a soft wireless ECG system is developed by integrating with the tattoo electrode, commercialized IC chips, and a low-energy Bluetooth module to achieve the functions of signal acquisition, data processing and communication. The measured results show that the proposed strategy has a promising application for wearable health monitoring system.

Effects of Kinesio taping on skin deformation during knee flexion and extension: a preliminary study

BackgroundKinesio Taping (KT) is proved useful to many musculoskeletal disorders. But the mechanism remains unclear. The kinesio tape works by sticking to the skin surface. So exploring the interaction between the tape and the skin and analyzing its biomechanical influence may be an effective way to explore the mechanism of the tape.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the effect of Kinesio taping and taping methods on skin deformation during knee joint flexion and extension motion and further explore its possible functional mechanisms.MethodsTen healthy and pain-free subjects (4 males, 6 females) were recruited in this study. The skin observation area on the anterior side of the right thigh of the subjects was divided into 11 segments by 12 reflective marker points for distance measurement, from the distal knee to the proximal knee, the length of the interval was L1 to L11, and the total length was L0. Subjects were treated with no KT (NT), resting positive taping (RPT), resting negative taping (RNT), stretching positive taping (SPT), and stretching negative taping (SNT). A Qualisys infrared high-speed three-dimensional spatial coordinate capture system was used to observe changes in the length of the observed skin surface on the right anterior thigh during right knee flexion and extension in the sitting position.ResultsDuring right knee flexion and extension in the seated position in 10 subjects, all skin segment deformations produced significant differences between intervention groups (P < 0.05), except for L1 during flexion (P = 0.07). During right knee flexion and extension, total length, L0, and spacing lengths, L1, L6, and L11, were longer in the NT group than in all other groups. L0 and L1 were both longer in the stretched position than in the rest position; L11 also showed this trend.ConclusionsThe usage of the KT had an effect on the biomechanical changes of the skin, resulting in changes in skin deformation. I-tape, natural tension taping can shorten the skin distance between the two ends of the tape. Limb position during taping may influence the KT’s effects. However, the change in taping direction showed no significant effects on skin deformation during exercise. KT may apply a pre-stress in the biomechanics of the skin.

Aeroelastic characteristics of inflatable reentry vehicle in transonic and supersonic regions

As an emerging space return technology, the inflatable reentry vehicle provides a new technical solution for deep space exploration, recovery of target spacecraft, and freight transport of space products. Aimed at the serious structural failure of inflatable reentry vehicle induced by the aeroelastic effect in transonic and supersonic flows, a fluid-solid coupling approach considering the effect of the inflation gas is established. The proposed model comprehensively considers the nonlinear factors of flexible inflatable film and the feedback of structural deformation on flow field. Based on this model, the static and dynamic aeroelastic problems under transonic and supersonic conditions are carefully studied. The obtained results reveal that the depressed deformations of flexible skin hinder the flow near surface and aggravate the degree of stagnation and heat dissipation, causing the surface temperature and pressure field significantly growing compared to the case of undeformed situation. Under action of the dynamic aeroelasticity, the violent low-frequency vibration induced by the turbulent wake occurs on the vehicle, which is more serious at the transonic stage condition (about Ma 0.8) or asymmetric incoming flow. The performed research indicates that the effects of the static and dynamic aeroelasticity should be fully taken into account in the design process of inflatable reentry vehicles, giving insightful guidance for engineering practice.

Dual-functional ultrathin wearable 3D particle-in-cavity SF-AAO-Au SERS sensors for effective sweat glucose and lab-on-glove pesticide detection

A novel approach is developed to fabricate an ultra-thin layered flexible wearable Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrate named silk fibroin-anodic aluminum oxide-Au nanoparticles (SF-AAO-Au), which consists of biocompatible SF film as flexible support, ultrathin cavity AAO as template, and plasmonic Au NPs. The SF-AAO-Au sensor exhibits excellent SERS mechanical flexibility, homogeneity and sensitivity for its effective enhancement ability and highly ordered 3D periodic porous particle-in-cavity (PIC) arrays structure. The humidity-driven interface structure of biocompatible SF film provides good skin adhesion under various fitness tests and excellent mechanical flexibility as a wearable SERS sensor on natural skin (deformation within 5%). The flexible SF-AAO-Au can be developed as quantitative sweat glucose sensor in the concentration range of 10−7 to 10−3 M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.68×10−7 M and qualitative human sweat glucose detection ability. This SF-AAO-Au substrate can be further designed as lab-on-glove SERS sensing platform for ultrasensitive (LOD ~5.7 ppt) quantitative on-site detection of agricultural residues in a wide range. The effective dual-functional SERS wearable sensor realized for the first time paves a new way to develop smart wearable and non-destructive devices in environmental safety, forensic identification and point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnosis of physiological disease.

Associations between skin structural and functional changes after loading in healthy aged females at sacral and heel skin: A secondary data analysis

Aim of the studyMechanical loading causes skin occlusion and deformation, which influences structural and functional skin properties. Aims of the study were to measure structural and functional skin parameters after loading at the sacral and heel skin and to describe possible associations. Material and methodsA secondary data analysis based on a clinical trial with n = 15 aged women was conducted. Changes of transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, epidermal hydration, erythema, temperature, structural stiffness, elastic recovery, elastic function, and mean roughness after 120 min loading were described and compared. Spearman's rho (rs) was used to estimate possible associations. ResultsLoading caused an increase of transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum and epidermal hydration, erythema and temperature at sacral and heel skin. There was a decrease of median roughness at the heel skin surface (-8.5 (IQR -10.5 to 5.5) μm). Strongest positive associations were observed between changes of elastic function and elastic recovery (rs = 0.9 at heel and sacral skin) and between changes of epidermal and stratum corneum hydration at both skin areas (rs = 0.7 at sacral skin and rs = 0.5 at the heel). ConclusionTwo hours loading on a standard foam mattress leads to skin occlusion at the skin surface and mechanical deformation. Skin occlusion seems primarily to increase temperature, stratum corneum and epidermal hydration that may affect mechanical skin properties. Mechanical deformation seems to be responsible for the erythematous response of the dermal skin layer.

Stretchable Neuromorphic Transistor That Combines Multisensing and Information Processing for Epidermal Gesture Recognition.

We fabricated a nanowire-channel intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic transistor (NISNT) that perceives both tactile and visual information and emulates neuromorphic processing capabilities. The device demonstrated excellent stretching endurance of 1000 stretch cycles while retaining stable electrical properties. The device was then applied as a multisensitive afferent nerve that processes information in parallel. Compatible with skin deformation, the devices are attached to fingers to serve as conformal strain sensors and neuromorphic information-processing units for gesture recognition. The excitatory postsynaptic current in each device represents shape changes and is then analyzed using softmax activation processing of the neural network to recognize gestures. A multistage neural network that uses NISNT was used to further confirm the gestures. This work demonstrated an idea toward multisensory artificial nerves and neuromorphic systems.

ANISMA: A Prototyping Toolkit to Explore Haptic Skin Deformation Applications Using Shape-Memory Alloys

We present ANISMA, a software and hardware toolkit to prototype on-skin haptic devices that generate skin deformation stimuli like pressure, stretch, and motion using shape-memory alloys (SMAs). Our toolkit embeds expert knowledge that makes SMA spring actuators more accessible to human–computer interaction (HCI) researchers. Using our software tool, users can design different actuator layouts, program their spatio-temporal actuation and preview the resulting deformation behavior to verify a design at an early stage. Our toolkit allows exporting the actuator layout and 3D printing it directly on skin adhesive. To test different actuation sequences on the skin, a user can connect the SMA actuators to our customized driver board and reprogram them using our visual programming interface. We report a technical analysis, verify the perceptibility of essential ANISMA skin deformation devices with 8 participants, and evaluate ANISMA regarding its usability and supported creativity with 12 HCI researchers in a creative design task.

Cutaneous Sensitivity Across Regions of the Foot Sole and Dorsum are Influenced by Foot Posture.

Understanding the processing of tactile information is crucial for the development of biofeedback interventions that target cutaneous mechanoreceptors. Mechanics of the skin have been shown to influence cutaneous tactile sensitivity. It has been established that foot skin mechanics are altered due to foot posture, but whether these changes affect cutaneous sensitivity are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect of posture-mediated skin deformation about the ankle joint on perceptual measures of foot skin sensitivity. Participants (N = 20) underwent perceptual skin sensitivity testing on either the foot sole (N = 10) or dorsum (N = 10) with the foot positioned in maximal dorsiflexion/toe extension, maximal plantarflexion/toe flexion, and a neutral foot posture. Perceptual tests included touch sensitivity, stretch sensitivity, and spatial acuity. Regional differences in touch sensitivity were found across the foot sole (p < 0.001) and dorsum (p < 0.001). Touch sensitivity also significantly increased in postures where the skin was compressed (p = 0.001). Regional differences in spatial acuity were found on the foot sole (p = 0.002) but not dorsum (p = 0.666). Spatial acuity was not significantly altered by posture across the foot sole and dorsum, other than an increase in sensitivity at the medial arch in the dorsiflexion posture (p = 0.006). Posture*site interactions were found for stretch sensitivity on the foot sole and dorsum in both the transverse and longitudinal directions (p < 0.005). Stretch sensitivity increased in postures where the skin was pre-stretched on both the foot sole and dorsum. Changes in sensitivity across locations and postures were believed to occur due to concurrent changes in skin mechanics, such as skin hardness and thickness, which follows our previous findings. Future cutaneous biofeedback interventions should be applied with an awareness of these changes in skin sensitivity, to maximize their effectiveness for foot sole and dorsum input.

Using Digital Image Correlation to Quantify Skin Deformation With Von Frey Monofilaments.

Thin von Frey monofilaments are a clinical tool used worldwide to assess touch deficits. One's ability to perceive touch with low-force monofilaments (0.008 - 0.07 g) establishes an absolute threshold and thereby the extent of impairment. While individual monofilaments bend at defined forces, there are no empirical measurements of the skin surface's response. In this work, we measure skin surface deformation at light-touch perceptual limits, by adopting an imaging approach using 3D digital image correlation (DIC). Generating point cloud data from three cameras surveilling the index finger pad, we reassemble and stitch together multiple 3D surfaces. Then, in response to each monofilament's indentation over time, we quantify strain across the skin surface, radial deformation emanating from the contact point, penetration depth into the surface, and area between 2D cross-sections. The results show that the monofilaments create distinct states of skin deformation, which align closely with just noticeable percepts at absolute detection and discrimination thresholds, even amidst variance between individuals and trials. In particular, the resolution of the DIC imaging approach captures sufficient differences in skin deformation at threshold, offering promise in understanding the skin's role in perception.