To provide a method whereby viscoelasticity of an object can be measured nondestructively and in non-contact fashion in a short time. By this method, elastic waves and light are radiated to an object and the viscoelasticity of an object is measured nondestructively and in non-contact fashion using a shadow change based on a change in the direction of a line normal to the surface of the object. Specifically, the present invention has an elastic wave transmission step for pressurizing or exciting the object by elastic waves and causing a minute displacement of the object surface shape, a photoirradiation step for radiating light to the minutely displaced object surface, an image acquisition step for acquiring a shadow change based on a change in the direction of a line normal to the object surface, and a viscoelasticity estimation step for processing an image of the acquired shadow change and calculating a viscoelasticity.

A rheometer has rotary rheometer and a linear DM(T)A analysis unit. A measuring shaft of the rotary rheometer carries a measuring part that faces a measuring part carried on an adjusting rod of the linear analysis unit. The sample under test is placed in a measuring gap between the measuring parts. The DM(T)A analysis unit has a linear motor, in particular magnetically operated, with a stator and a slider, and a magnetically-operated gravitational compensation unit, by way of which it is possible to compensate for the weight force of the adjusting rod, the measuring part on the adjusting rod, the slider, and any optional the components fastened to the slider.

A system for applying and measuring tensions of a plurality of bio-object constructs includes a base; and a flexible body disposed on the base, wherein the flexible body defines a plurality of construct holes for accommodating the plurality of bio-object constructs, such that when the flexible body is bent, the bending of the flexible body causes tensions to be applied to the plurality of bio-object constructs, thereby causing displacements of the plurality of bio-object constructs.

A device for nondestructive viscoelastic characterization of materials, comprising: a tubular shell, having inside a through-recess provided with at least a first and a second shrinkage; a first rod, provided with a base of ferromagnetic material (8), sliding inside said shell between a first position, in which said ferrule does not project to the lower base of said shell, and a second position, in which said ferrule projects to said lower base; a first spring configured to push said ferrule outwards; a displacement sensor configured to read the displacement of said first rod; a button, sliding between a stroke greater than the one of said first rod, and integral to a second rod provided with a magnet and coaxial to said first rod; a second spring.

A synchronous controller is connected to each of boards by one communication wire, and one communication path is formed between the synchronous controller and each of the boards. A multiple synchronization signal S in which a plurality of synchronization signals are multiplexed is transmitted from the synchronous controller to each of the boards. Signal extraction units as extraction means for recognizing synchronization signals included in the multiple synchronization signal S and extracting the individual synchronization signals are provided in the boards, respectively. The individual synchronization signals are extracted from the multiple synchronization signal S input to the boards by the signal extraction units, respectively.

Hand-held optical thromboelastographic sensor and method of using the same for simultaneous assessment of multiple parameters of blood coagulation at a point-of-care. The sensor includes an optical system registering laser speckle intensities associated with portions of a blood sample delivered through a fluid switch to analysis chambers of a cartridge of the sensor, and data-processing circuitry programmed to derive the multiple parameters from speckle intensity. The circuitry may be part of a mobile device configured to operate without communication with a central server and/or data storage.

A system for applying and measuring tensions of a plurality of bio-object constructs includes a base; and a flexible body disposed on the base, wherein the flexible body defines a plurality of construct holes for accommodating the plurality of bio-object constructs, such that when the flexible body is bent, the bending of the flexible body causes tensions to be applied to the plurality of bio-object constructs, thereby causing displacements of the plurality of bio-object constructs.

A dynamic mechanical analysis system provides an actuator that imparts expansion and contraction forces (e.g. shear force) to a viscoelastic material at high frequencies. Such high frequency analysis allows for the direct and accurate measurement of the characteristics of the material at high expansion/contraction frequencies directly, without the use of additional predictive analysis techniques, such as time-temperature superposition. The system also utilizes a clamping system, whereby two different sections of the viscoelastic material are held in place between by a pair of fixed clamps and a force member that is moved by the actuator. As such, the system is able to subject the viscoelastic material sample to simulated road conditions to identify various performance properties associated with the material sample.

A test method for characterizing the mechanical properties including the surface adhesion energy on the basis of the experimentally derived P-A relationship,

where P means the indentation load under the penetration depth h of an indenter pressed onto a test specimen with surface adhesion, and

A means the contact area of indentation at the contact radius a under the applied load of P.

This test method enables the implementation for quantitatively as well as simultaneously characterizing the adhesion energy as well as the various mechanical properties (elastic/elastoplastic/viscoelastic properties) of soft materials.

A device for measuring a tension of a bio-object construct as it is being stretched that includes a microscope, a holding member for accommodating the bio-object, and a probe. The microscope includes a condenser, an objective and a stage positioned therebetween. The stage is movable along a horizontal plane. The holding member is fixable on the stage. The probe has a first end attached to the condenser, and a second end placed in the holding member. The stage operably moves such that the bio-object construct moves toward the second end of the probe and contacts with the second end of the probe, thereby causing a displacement of the second end of the probe and a displacement of the bio-object construct, which are used to measure the tension of the bio-object construct.