Étude pilote : caractérisation biomécanique des tissus d’endométriose

This pilot study characterizes the biomechanical properties of deep endometriosis nodules, aiming to understand their hyperelastic behavior and inform diagnosis and treatment. Thirty-one biopsies were collected from 14 patients undergoing surgical resection at Hôpital Tenon. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on freshly preserved samples to determine mechanical responses and constitutive parameters. Several hyperelastic models (Mooney-Rivlin, Ogden, and linear-elastic) were evaluated, showing that a 3-parameter Mooney-Rivlin model provided the best fit (R² = 0.99). The average elastic modulus was 48.97 ± 19.50 kPa, indicating a relatively high stiffness compared to surrounding pelvic tissue. The study demonstrates that endometriosis nodules exhibit complex non-linear elasticity, consistent with collagen fiber remodeling and the Mullins effect under cyclic loading.