DE3702179A1 - Ultrasound-conducting pad and method of measuring pressure-sensitive surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ultrasound-conducting pad, having a viscous, pressure-absorbing, elastically compression-deformable material which has a filter which is in ultrasound-conducting contact with the ultrasound-conducting material and is arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the direction of irradiation, and also relates to a method of measuring pressure-sensitive surfaces by means of ultrasonography, in particular reflection ultrasonography, in which a viscous, elastic, compression-deformable material with a filter is brought into contact with the surface to be ultrasonograpically measured and ultrasonography is carried out in the usual way by placing an ultrasound measuring head on viscous material with a filter, the measuring head being in constant contact with the surface of the ultrasound-conducting pad during the measuring operation. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an ultrasound guide pillow a viscous, pressure absorbing, elastic pressure ver mouldable material according to patent application P 35 26 874.3 and a method for measuring pressure sensitive surfaces Chen using ultrasound sonography according to P 35 26 874.3.

Ultrasound is increasingly used for Non-destructive material testing used in medicine area where they are generally used for diagnosis ultrasound diagnosis with Ultra sound waves operated in the MHz range.

Ultrasound ultrasound is used for up to one of the material to be examined and the radiation intensity energy-dependent depth of a certain surface richly studied. In the following, under "Surface description range "the area to be measured, including the" measurement layer depth ", understood.

A material is called "elastic" here understood that after a load again roughly or completely returns to its original form, so that when pressure is exerted on the material initially the material evades in such a way that on the Essentially no pressure above the material will wear, but instead a deformation / Kompri Material cushion is done.

Particularly when using sonography on soft, compressible surfaces, for example in the medical field when measuring skin or the like - but also when measuring other soft surface areas - it is often desirable not to put any pressure on the surface to be examined during the measuring process Exercise surface. This is particularly important in medicine if, for example, burns that have a pressure-sensitive and extremely pressure-deformable surface due to edema are to be examined using ultrasound for their properties (destruction of the skin to what depth). It is particularly important that no strong pressure is exerted on the surface of the skin, since this pressure could cause pain to the patient and furthermore a pressure deformation of the surface falsifies the diagnosis result, namely the layer structure of the skin organ.

In other areas of application, too, it is desirable soft or inelastically deformable surfaces without significant deformation or damage to the surface to be able to measure.

Ultrasonic measurements are usually carried out using so-called Ultrasonic measuring heads performed in close contact stand with the surface of the material to be examined, using "contact liquid", for example oils, applying pressure to the surface to be measured Achievement of a contact conducting the ultrasound.

Due to the resulting deformation in deformable Surfaces became more sensitive to pain when examined Areas in the medical field pain in the patient triggered and at the same time by the compression of the investigated area by the measuring head pressure the actual falsified results achieved. DE-OS 35 26 874 is an ultrasound for the first time pillow has become known, without significant pressure  coupling due to almost inelastic deformation of the test head without exerting excessive pressure and thus defor tion of the surface area to be measured.

Although satisfied for the first time with this new guide pillow representative measurements of soft surface areas, especially the edematically altered skin areas of Pati ducks were available for medical use the resolution of the recordings could still be improved. It is therefore an object of the invention, which from the German Patent application P 35 26 874 known Ultrasound Leitkis sen or to improve the measurement process so that better resolution, especially in the reflection measurement method solution is achieved.

Surprisingly, the task at one generic pillow with an ultrasound conductive, viscous material can be solved by having a in contact with the material, essentially perpendicular has arranged filter to the direction of irradiation.

It is advantageous if the filter is a grid / network / Mesh with a mesh size in the range of the wavelength the ultrasound radiation is.

With reflection sonography in the MHz range, the grating points a mesh size of about 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm and below.

It has proven to be advantageous to use an ultrasound-absorbing material, such as textile fabric or plastic nets, as the filter material. Gauze strips or the like can also be introduced, which protrude freely outside the ultrasound guide pillow and can be used to securely fix the guide pillow to the substrate, the guide pillow according to the invention also remaining on the substrate as a bandage / cover , for example in the case of burns can.

The filter material in the guide cushion material be embedded, for example by pouring into a polymer Guard pillow material or by placing between Guide pillow material layers also in situ on the surface to be measured. It can also be placed on the ultrasonic guide pad material or be placed before the measurement.

A preferred embodiment of the variant with on-hook The filter is to design the filter as a transducer cover.

The inventive method for measuring pressure sensitive surfaces by means of ultrasound sonography characterized in that a viscous, elastic, compressible material as well as a filter Ultrasonic guide pillow in contact with the by means of Ultra sound sonography is brought to the area to be measured, the ultrasonic measuring head with that against the measuring surface Overlying ultrasound guide pillow surface when measuring is brought into contact and in the usual way an Ultra sound sonography is carried out, during the Measuring process the measuring head in constant contact with the Surface of the ultrasound guide pillow stands.

With this novel arrangement, one could considerably improved resolution in the medical reflection sono graphics in the MHz range.

The mesh width of the filter is advantageously  acting mesh / mesh / fabric when using Ultra sound in the MHz range at about 1 mm and below.

It is particularly advantageous if this Grid / mesh / fabric made of an ultrasound absorbing Material such as textile fabric or the like. this enables light, for example, a slight mobility of the guide pillow / git arrangement.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention The filter material is the outer guide cushion with filter effect embedded in the pillow, for example cast in.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the Erfin filter material is separated from the ultrasonic Guide pillow according to requirements according to wavelengths, Tear resistance, deformability, reusability at expensive material or adaptability to different Guide pillow sizes provided and the invention Combination guide pillow / filter / measuring head is only used during the Measurement made. Possibly. can the filter material also in Form of a measuring head cover are provided, which then is coupled through the pillow material.

It has been shown that good results are achieved if the filter is placed near the measuring head is, either directly on the measuring head or in a small amount Distance, embedded in the pillow, under it.

The inventive method for measuring pressure sensitive cher surfaces is characterized in that a viscous, elastic, compressible material as well as the filter has an ultrasonic guide pad in contact with the area to be measured using the sonograph  brought, the ultrasonic measuring head with the measuring surface opposite ultrasound guide pillow surface is brought into contact and in the usual way an Ultra Sonic sonography is carried out, during the Measuring process of the measuring head in constant contact with the Surface of the ultrasound guide pillow stands.

Otherwise, the guide pillows according to the invention can be for all applications, as in parent application P 35 26 874 described, use, for the better Understanding is fully referred to.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventions Ultrasonic guide pillow according to the invention can be the viscous Material is a liquid-absorbing, swellable mate be rial, that before each measurement with Liquid is swellable. This material can be in trok kener form are stored so that the transport and the Storage of the ultrasound guide pillow in a dry state is possible with a small footprint. With one particularly preferred embodiment in which a in hydrophilic Liquids, e.g. in water or - especially for medi zinic applications - in physiological saline swellable material is used, it is advantageous if the swelling in water or the hydrous physio logical saline only immediately before the measurement is carried out because of water-containing materials mostly very good as a breeding ground for bacteria and others Microorganisms are suitable.

Especially in medical / biological application water-containing pillows particularly preferred, the appearance microorganisms are particularly harmful, so that by creating one in storage condition (dry)  little material suitable as a bacterial medium Advantage of less germ infestation of measured materials watch is.

In a further preferred embodiment, an in Oils and similar hydrophobic liquids swellable Material used together with a filter material will.

In the materials used to manufacture the fiction ultrasonic guide pillow can be used are often polymers, for example cross-linked. Both natural polymers, for example coal, are suitable hydrates, as well as synthetic.

In a further preferred embodiment, the Ultrasound guide pillow immediately before the measurement Applying a viscous gel in a layer thickness, which allows ultrasonic contact, and one to defor mations of the surface to be examined Pressure transmission from the ultrasonic measuring head to the surface largely excludes, be produced.

It can be in a medical application of the Erfin be particularly cheap if the ultrasound guide in addition to the ultrasound conductive material pharma ceutically active substances, drugs, which through the ultrasound treatment better through the skin can diffuse surface.

In a medical application of the invention Ultrasound guide pillow is preferred to body tissue ver use inert material.  

In a preferred embodiment, the fiction appropriate ultrasound guide pillow full in a liquid be continuously removable so that the detachment of the ultrasound Guide pillow by simply rinsing the material from the Can be done underground.

Furthermore, it may be preferred to use the ultrasound guide cushion form such that it is after the measurement on the measuring surface dries and in this state either on this remains (e.g. this can be the case for medicinal products Ultrasound guide pillows apply), or in the dried Condition forms a peelable film.

Another advantage of the filter material introduced in the guide pillow is that these guide pillows show better internal cohesion and are therefore easier to handle - that is, they can be transported or removed, than guide pillows, which only contain the viscous ultrasound-conducting material, e.g. B. have a gel.

In the following the invention will now accompany on the basis of the drawing are explained in more detail. It shows:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the use of the ultrasonic guide pillow according to the invention with the filter between the ultrasonic measuring head and to measure the surface. and

Fig. 2 shows a further highly schematic representation of the use of the ultrasound guide pillow according to the invention with a filter inserted in the guide pillow with a very large height difference underground.

As shown in FIG. 1, when measuring surfaces by means of ultrasound sonography, a known ultrasound measuring head 1 moves essentially at a constant distance from the surface of the material to be measured 3 . The ultrasonic conductive contact between the measuring head 1 and the surface 3 of the area to be measured is produced by the ultrasonic Leitkissen 2, which, as shown in Fig. 1, can be easily compressed by the ultrasonic probe 1 and deformed, and the filter 4 permeates . It is particularly advantageous if the material forming the ultrasound guide pillow is somewhat elastic, so that a constant good contact between the ultrasound measuring head 1 and the ultrasound guide pillow 2 for optimal transmission of the ultrasound between the ultrasound measuring head 1 and the surface of the material to be measured is achieved through the filter 4 .

In Fig. 2 it is shown how by means of an ultrasonic guide pad 2 according to the invention, which was applied to a very uneven surface 3 ', and which can consist of a highly viscous gel for example between the uneven surface and an ultrasonic measuring head 1 through a filter 4 an optimal contact is achieved without the material to be examined 3 being deformed.

An exemplary embodiment is now described below, which the medical applicability of the fiction demonstrated ultrasound guide pillow.

Example:

When diagnosing burns to determine the  Depth, i.e. the degree of combustion as well as their superficial expansion, allows assessment and Follow-up of the damaged skin organ statements in terms of its pathophysiological and biological Healing processes and targeted therapeutic measures.

The measurements were carried out with a known 10 MHz Ultrasound head performed.

a 10 mm thick was applied to the skin organ to be examined Layer of a gel-like water-containing material, which Carbopol 940, niparol, glycerin, N-nipagin, triethanolamine and has water, in a thickness of about 1 cm brings. Then a sheet of a net-like sterile textile material, as is commercially available under the Description "ADAPTIC" from the company JOHNSON & JOHNSON, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA, is available placed on the gel pad that the gel the net-like Well penetrated material. The transducer was over that Gel pillow led. By using the invention the pressure on the thick cushion with filter was neglected casual and it could resolve much better Thickness measurements on human skin are obtained which is a more differentiated statement about the skin organ enable.

Due to the ultrasound guide pillow according to the invention or the measuring method according to the invention is an improved one Diagnosis or measurement of the depth of burns using Ultrasound sonography possible.

It is apparent to any person skilled in the art that this is according to the invention moderate pillow especially for the examination otherwise soft or very pressure-sensitive upper  surfaces or even very uneven surfaces.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the drawing and from the claims to which Completion of the idea of the invention in full is referenced.

Claims (10)

1. Ultrasound guide pillow with a viscous, Druckab sorbing, elastically deformable material according to patent application P 35 26 874.3, characterized in that it is arranged with the ultrasound-conducting material ( 2 ) in an ultrasound-conducting connection, essentially perpendicular to the direction of radiation Has filter ( 4 ). 2. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) is a grating / mesh / fabric with a mesh size in the range of the wavelength of the ultrasonic radiation. 3. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) when used in reflection sonography in the MHz range has a mesh size of about 2 mm, preferably less than about 1 mm. 4. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to claim 2, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) has an ultra sound-absorbing material, such as textile fabric. 5. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) in the ultrasonic conductive material ( 2 ) is embedded. 6. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) in the ultrasonic conductive material ( 2 ) is cast. 7. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter ( 14 ) is placed on the ultrasonic conductive material ( 2 ). 8. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) separately from the ultrasonic conductive material ( 2 ) is designed as a train of the ultrasonic measuring head ( 1 ). 9. Ultrasonic guide pillow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter ( 4 ) is arranged in the vicinity of the ultrasonic measuring head ( 1 ). 10. Method for measuring pressure sensitive surfaces by means of ultrasound sonography, characterized net that a viscous, elastic, compressible Material with a filter in contact with the medium Ultrasound sonography brought to the area to be measured is and in the usual way by placing an Ultra sound measuring head on viscous material and filter one Ultrasound ultrasound is performed while the measuring process the measuring head in constant contact with the Surface of the ultrasound guide pillow stands.