Patent ID: 8663111

Claim:
An instrument for measuring an elasticity of a human or animal organ located behind the skin and ribs of the human or animal, said instrument comprising: a casing, an actuator in said casing which generates a low-frequency elastic wave, a transducer including a transducer distal end which said transducer distal end extends longitudinally from said casing and which transmits the low-frequency elastic wave generated by said actuator into the skin of the human or animal towards the organ, said transducer also being designed to measure the elasticity of the organ using the low-frequency elastic waves entering the skin, and a means for centering the distal end of the transducer laterally between the two adjacent ribs, said centering means having a centering distal end located laterally adjacent the transducer distal end, whereby during use said centering distal end and said transducer distal end are both located in contact with the skin and pressed between the adjacent ribs whereby said transducer distal end is properly centered for transmitting the low-frequency elastic wave and for effecting the elasticity measurement of the organ, including at least two locating posts provided on either side of the distal end of the transducer, each said locating post having a respective said centering distal end, and having at least one of the locating posts including an imagery transducer, with the at least one locating post being composed of a wall that is transparent to ultrasound, forming a cavity in which the imagery transducer is housed.