Patent ID: 7955278
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. An aspiration method for assessing viscoelastic properties of soft tissue, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a test cavity in a sealed contact with said tissue, said test cavity includes an opening connected to an aspiration system, said opening located on a path of expected deformation of said tissue, b) activating said aspiration system to evacuate air through said opening from said cavity at a first rate of aspiration to draw said tissue into said cavity, c) conducting pressure measurements in said aspiration system and said test cavity as a function of time as said tissue is being drawn into said cavity, continue to draw said tissue into said cavity to cause closure of said opening by said tissue and separation of said test cavity from said aspiration system, d) detecting a first slope of said pressure measurements in said test cavity, e) detecting a first inflection point in said pressure measurements, said first inflection point defining a first pressure level and a first time point at which said pressure measurements deviate from said first slope indicating closure of said opening by said tissue and cessation of said tissue being drawn into said test cavity, said first inflection point is detected using a method selected from a group consisting of: f) determining elasticity of said tissue using said first slope of said pressure measurements and said first pressure level at said first inflection point.