Apparatus for measuring the mechanical characteristics of a material such as living skin

摘要

An apparatus for measuring mechanical characteristics of a material capable of transmitting vibration, particularly skin of a living subject. An impulse from a generator such as a small hammer causes a disturbance to propagate a wave along the material. A receiver includes a source of radiation and two photocells spaced apart and isolated from each other. The photocells receive the radiation after reflection from spaced locations on the surface of the material. The travel time of the propagated wave between the two reflection points is measured to determine the speed of wave propagation in the material.