System and method for evaluating tissue

A method for determining the depth of abnormal tissue comprising the steps of:

• applying shear forces to at least one location on said tissue using at least three sensors each comprising a piezoelectric material of a different width;
• detecting at least one shear displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said shear force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net shear force exerted on said location for each said sensor from a combination of the applied shear force and the countering shear force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing shear moduli of said tissue at said at least one location from the net shear forces and corresponding shear displacements;
• applying a compressive force to said locations on said tissue using each of said three sensors;
• detecting a compressive displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said compressive force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net compressive force exerted on said at least one location for each said sensor from a combination of the applied compressive force and a countering compressive force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing a corresponding compressive displacement for each said sensor;
• deducing elastic moduli of said tissue at said locations from the net compressive forces;
• and
• calculating a depth of said abnormal tissue at said location.

A method for determining a depth and height of bottom-supported abnormal tissue comprising the steps of:

• applying shear forces to at least one location on said tissue using at least three sensors each comprising a piezoelectric material of a different width;
• detecting at least one shear displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said shear force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net shear force exerted on said location for each said sensor from a combination of the applied shear force and the countering shear force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing shear moduli of said tissue at said at least one location from the net shear forces and corresponding shear displacements;
• applying a compressive force to said locations on said tissue using each of said three sensors;
• detecting a compressive displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said compressive force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net compressive force exerted on said at least one location for each said sensor from a combination of the applied compressive force and a countering compressive force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing a corresponding compressive displacement for each said sensor;
• deducing elastic moduli of said tissue at said locations from the net compressive forces;
• and
• calculating the depth and height of said bottom-supported abnormal tissue at said location.

A method for determining a depth and height of suspended abnormal tissue comprising the steps of:

• applying shear forces to at least one location on said tissue using at least four sensors each comprising a piezoelectric material of a different width;
• detecting at least one shear displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said shear force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net shear force exerted on said location for each said sensor from 1 combination of the applied shear force and the countering shear force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing shear moduli of said tissue at said at least one location from the net shear forces and corresponding shear displacements;
• applying a compressive force to said locations on said tissue using each of said three sensors;
• detecting a compressive displacement for each said sensor resulting from application of said compressive force on said tissue using said sensor;
• determining a net compressive force exerted on said at least one location for each said sensor from a combination of the applied compressive force and a countering compressive force resulting from tissue deformation;
• deducing a corresponding compressive displacement for each said sensor;
• deducing elastic moduli of said tissue at said locations from the net compressive forces;
• and
• calculating the depth and height of said suspended abnormal tissue at said location.