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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Stiffness Measurement of Soft Silicone Substrates for Mechanobiology Studies Using a Widefield Fluorescence Microscope
Published on: July 3, 2018
A Wearable Ultrasound Sensing System for Soft Tissue Stiffness Detection: A Feasibility Study
Guangshuai Bao1, Tongyi Xu1, Xiaoyu Li1
1Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
Abstract:
Manual palpation serves as a conventional clinical method for assessing soft tissue stiffness; however, its results are susceptible to subjective factors and exhibit limited reliability. To achieve objective evaluation of pathological tissue stiffness, this study utilizes ultrasonic transducers to measure the time-of-flight (ToF) difference in ultrasound signals in silicone samples and ex vivo animal tissues under specific pressure gradients. A correlation model between the ToF difference and tissue stiffness was established, thereby enabling the detection of tissue stiffness. Based on this methodology, a wearable sensing system incorporating ultrasonic transducers was developed. The system applies fixed gradient pressure to human tissues via a pneumatic control unit and detects the corresponding ToF difference, allowing real-time monitoring of stiffness variations in the biceps brachii and thigh during relaxation and contraction, in the forearm during gripping and release actions, as well as in simulated lesions. This study provides a quantitative technological framework for wearable tissue stiffness monitoring, and its objective measurement characteristics offer support for clinical diagnostic decision-making.
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Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...

