AN OPTICAL PALPATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING A MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF A SAMPLE MATERIAL

摘要

The present disclosure provides an optical palpation device for evaluating a mechanical property of a sample material. The device comprises a body having a sensing portion and a sensing layer positioned at the sensing portion of the body and having a sensing surface positioned for direct or indirect contact with a surface area of the sample material. The sensing layer is deformable and has a predetermined deformation-dependent optical property. The device further comprises a light detector positioned to detect light transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer. The optical palpation device is arranged such that, when the sensing surface of the sensing layer is in direct or indirect contact with the surface area of the sample material and a pressure is applied through both the sensing layer and at least a portion of the surface area of the sample material, because of the predetermined deformation or pressure-dependent optical property of the sensing layer the mechanical property of the sample material is measurable by detecting the light that transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer.