PROBE FOR MEASURING VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF A MEDIUM OF INTEREST

Abstract

The present invention relates to a probe for measuring the viscoelastic properties of a human or animal medium of interest, such as a liver, said measurement consisting of: - generating at least one low-frequency elastic wave in the medium of interest, - simultaneously with the generation of the low-frequency wave: o emitting high-frequency ultrasonic waves, and o receiving acoustic echoes due to the reflections of the ultrasonic waves in the medium of interest, the probe comprising: - a housing (31), - a transducer array (33) for emitting high-frequency ultrasonic waves and receiving acoustic echoes, characterised in that the probe (3) further comprises at least one inertial vibration exciter (34) including: - a fixed part (341) mechanically integral with the transducer array (33), - a mobile part (342) capable of moving relative to the fixed part to produce vibrations in order to generate the low-frequency elastic wave.

Inventors

Applicants

IPC Classification

G01N 29/ 04 A I G01N 29/ 34 A I