Device and method for real-time measurement of parameters of mechanical stress state and biomechanical properties of soft biological tissue

A device for simultaneous measurement of the parameters characterising the mechanical stress, elasticity, dynamic stiffness, creep and mechanical stress relaxation time of soft biological tissue, comprising:

• a body, a processor and controller for managing the measuring process and calculating the parameters, a testing end having a movement axis and being movable along its movement axis, a drive of the testing end comprising a movable frame and a solenoid, one end of the testing end being fixed to the movable frame, position sensors for the movable frame, and an accelerometer arranged to sense movement of the testing end,
• wherein the drive of the testing end is operable in a translational motion having the same direction as the movement axis of the testing end, the movable frame being supported by elastic plate elements so the drive of the testing end is operable with negligible mechanical friction,
• and the device also comprises light or sound signals arranged to indicate, in response to data from the position sensors, when the elastic plate elements are stress free, when an impulse of current may be transmitted to the solenoid to exert an external impact on the biological tissue;
• and
• wherein the controller is arranged such that in use an impulse of current is transmitted to the solenoid to exert the external impact on the biological tissue, after which the biological tissue along with the testing end, the movable frame and the accelerometer undergoes a series of damped oscillations, from which the processor is arranged to calculate the parameters characterising the biological tissue.