The scanning tomographic acoustic microscope (STAM) is an instrument that utilizes the principles of diffraction tomography and acoustical holography to produce unambiguous subsurface images of structurally complex objects. One of the several techniques to obtain projection data is to rotate the transducer and another, to rotate the specimen. In either case a small unknown movement out of regis...

Acoustic neuromas (AN) are schwann cell-derived tumors that commonly arise from the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve also known as vestibular schwannoma(VS) causes unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and unsteadiness. In many cases, the tumor size may remain unchanged for many years following diagnosis, which is typically made by MRI. In the majority of cases the tumor is s...

Polymerization and depolymerization of cytoskeletal elements maintaining cytoplasmic stiffness are key factors in the control of cell crawling. Rheometry is a significant tool in determining the mechanical properties of the single elements in vitro. Viscoelasticity of gels formed by these polymers strongly depends on both the length and the associations of the filaments (e.g. entanglements, ann...

Industrial applications often require failure analysis methods working non-destructively, enabling either a rapid quality control or fault isolation and defect localization prior to detailed defect investigation requiring target preparation. Scanning acoustic microscopy in the frequency range above 100 MHz provides high axial and lateral resolution, a moderate penetration depth and the required...