Figure 1: Illustration of how the mechanic testing was performed. (a) The specimen was fi xed to the sensor of an MTS machine by a fi xation frame; the suture was stitched through the supraspinatus muscle-tendon and connected to the actuator; and a computer (not shown) controlled the electro-mechanical power source to drive the actuator to provide uniaxial tensile force loading on the suture, and recorded the load and displacement through the testing time period. (b) A representative close-up picture is showing the tendon and suture. (c) An illustration of how the cut-through in the tendon was recorded