A system for determining structural characteristics of an object, comprising: a device for subjecting the object to an energy application process; and a computer coupled to said device and adapted to determine the structural characteristics of said object; wherein the device comprises: a housing with an open end and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside the housing for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing; a sleeve protruding from the open end of the housing, said sleeve comprising a free end adapted for contacting said object; a tab extending from a portion of said sleeve substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and having an object contacting surface substantially perpendicular to the object contacting portion of the free end of the sleeve; and a drive mechanism supported inside the housing and adapted for moving the energy application tool between a retracted and an extended position, said drive mechanism further comprising a measuring and/or sensing device for measuring and/or sensing the displacement of the energy application tool or response of the object to the energy applied with the energy application tool; and wherein the computer is adapted for determining structural characteristics of the object based on said measurements. a device for subjecting the object to an energy application process; and a computer coupled to said device and adapted to determine the structural characteristics of said object; wherein the device comprises: a housing with an open end and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside the housing for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing; a sleeve protruding from the open end of the housing, said sleeve comprising a free end adapted for contacting said object; a tab extending from a portion of said sleeve substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and having an object contacting surface substantially perpendicular to the object contacting portion of the free end of the sleeve; and a drive mechanism supported inside the housing and adapted for moving the energy application tool between a retracted and an extended position, said drive mechanism further comprising a measuring and/or sensing device for measuring and/or sensing the displacement of the energy application tool or response of the object to the energy applied with the energy application tool; and wherein the computer is adapted for determining structural characteristics of the object based on said measurements. a housing with an open end and a longitudinal axis; an energy application tool mounted inside the housing for axial movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing; a sleeve protruding from the open end of the housing, said sleeve comprising a free end adapted for contacting said object; a tab extending from a portion of said sleeve substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and having an object contacting surface substantially perpendicular to the object contacting portion of the free end of the sleeve; and a drive mechanism supported inside the housing and adapted for moving the energy application tool between a retracted and an extended position, said drive mechanism further comprising a measuring and/or sensing device for measuring and/or sensing the displacement of the energy application tool or response of the object to the energy applied with the energy application tool; and wherein the computer is adapted for determining structural characteristics of the object based on said measurements. <EOS>