Estimation of skin elasticity by measuring surface wave velocity under impulse stimulus using compact optical sensors

Tissue elastography characterizes tissue mechanical properties, which can provide important information for diagnosis. While popular methods track shear wave propagation inside tissue, this paper proposes a method to estimate elasticity by measuring group velocity of the surface Raleigh wave. This method features noncontact, noninvasive and low-cost and have a great potential for clinic applications. By measuring the impulse response of a tissue simulating phantom at multiple points along the direction of surface wave propagation, the group velocity is estimated to be 12.61 m/s, therefore Young's modulus is 526 kPa. This result is consistent with the results obtained by Continuous Wave (CW) excitation.