Aspiration device for determining mechanical properties of soft tissues and methods therefor

Abstract

An aspiration device () for measuring the viscoelastic deformability of biological tissues and synthetic materials comprises a probe head (), a probe channel (), a pressure unit (), a pressure sensor () and a control unit (). The first probe channel () is connecting the pressure unit () providing a vacuum with the probe head and includes the pressure sensor () detecting the pressure in the first probe channel (). The first probe channel () has a distal end () leading with its lower open end () through the top wall () into the cavity () of the probe head. The cavity () comprises either an opening () in the side or top wall () or a second probe channel connected with a valve. A measurement cycle comprises applying under pressure in the first probe channel (), measuring the under pressure with the pressure sensor (), detecting a change of under pressure increase over time (), increasing the under pressure to a predetermined maximum under pressure (), decreasing the under pressure beyond this point in time and detecting a change of under pressure decrease over time ().