Distraction　osteogenesis　(DO)　is　a　mechanobiological　process　of　producing　new　bone　and　overlying　soft　tissues　through　the　gradual　and　controlled　distraction　of　surgically　separated　bone　segments.　The　process　of　bone　regeneration　during　DO　is　largely　affected　by　distraction　parameters.　In　the　present　study,　a　distraction　strategy　with　varying　distraction　rates　(i.e.,　＂rate-varying　distraction　＂)　is　proposed,　with　the　aim　of　shortening　the　distraction　time　and　improving　the　efficiency　of　DO.　We　hypothesized　that　faster　and　better　healing　can　be　achieved　with　rate-varying　distractions,　as　compared　with　constant-rate　distractions.　A　computational　model　incorporating　the　viscoelastic　behaviors　of　the　callus　tissues　and　the　mechano-regulatory　tissue　differentiation　laws　was　developed　and　validated　to　predict　the　bone　regeneration　process　during　DO.　The　effect　of　rate-varying　distraction　on　the　healing　outcomes　(bony　bridging　time　and　bone　formation)　was　examined.　Compared　to　the　constant　low-rate　distraction,　a　low-to-high　rate-varying　distraction　provided　a　favorable　mechanical　environment　for　angiogenesis　and　bone　tissue　differentiation,　throughout　the　distraction　and　consolidation　phase,　leading　to　an　improved　healing　outcome　with　a　shortened　healing　time.　These　results　suggest　that　a　rate-varying　clinical　strategy　could　reduce　the　overall　treatment　time　of　DO　and　decrease　the　risk　of　complications　related　to　the　external　fixator.