Abstract
A novel probe for local elasticity measurement of soft biological tissues was developed. In this probe, specimen surface was aspirated through a hole at the probe end to obtain its aspiration pressure-specimen deformation relationship. Young's modulus of the specimen was calculated by comparing the curve with the similar relationship obtained from a finite element analysis. The specimen deformation was measured with a laser displacement meter, which enabled us to make the aspiration hole smaller and to reduce the number of components of the measurement system. We measured Young's modulus of a human finger skin with the probe to find that the modulus decreased with the hydration of the skin. The probe was able to detect subtle change in the epidermis induced with the hydration. It would become a powerful tool for the noninvasive measurement of the skin elasticity.
