Ultrasonic Diagnosis Apparatus Research Articles

Acupuncture combined with medication improves endocrine hormone levels and ovarian reserve function in poor ovarian response patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture plus medication in the treatment of poor ovarian response (POR) patients and to explore its mechanisms in assisting pregnancy. A total of 100 volunteer POR women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) were recruited in the present study. On the 1st cycle of IVF-ET, these POR women received microstimulation of ovulation program (oral administration of Clomiphene, muscular injection of Menotrophin, Chorionic Gonadotrophin triggering, etc.). Before receiving the 2nd period of IVF-ET, these patients were equally and randomly divided into control, medication (Climen, composed of estradiol valerate and cyproterone acetate), acupuncture and acupuncture+medication (combined treatment) groups according to the random number table. Patients of the medication group were asked to orally take Climen (1 tablet/d for 21 days) beginning from the 3rd day of the menstruation, which was repeated for 3 menstrual cycles. Patients of the acupuncture group received manual acupuncture stimulation of Guanyuan (CV4), and bilateral Taixi (KI3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) of and Tai-chong (LR3) from day 8 to 15 of menstruation (follicular phase), once daily for 3 menstrual cycles. On the 2nd day of menstruation of the 1st and 2nd IVF-ET cycle, the ovarian reserve function was detected, including measurement of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) contents by using radioimmunoassay, and serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level by using ELISA, and the antral follicles count (AFC) of the ovaries by using a color Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. At the end of ovulation induction, the assisted pregnancy indexes and outcomes were detected, including administration of dosage and days of gonadotropin (Gn), the diameter of dominant oocyte, level of E2 on the trigger day, the numbers of ultrasound-guided-retrieved oocyte and the cultivated high-quality embryo (grade 1 and 2). After the treatment, the contents of serum FSH, LH and E2 in the medication, acupuncture and combined treatment groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the content of serum AMH and ovary AFC in the medication, acupuncture and combined treatment groups were obviously increased (P<0.05) in comparison with their own pre-treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of FSH, LH and E2 contents were notably decreased, and the AMH content and AFC significantly increased in the medication, acupuncture and combined treatment groups (P<0.05). Comparison among the three treatment groups showed that the levels of FSH, LH and E2 were notably lower in the combined treatment group than in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the AFC was markedly more in the combined treatment group than in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), and LH content was also significantly lower in the combined treatment group than in the medication group (P<0.05). Regarding the pregnancy-assistant indexes and outcomes, the dosage of Gn in the combined treatment group and the number of Gn administration days in the acupuncture and combined treatment groups were significantly fewer (P<0.05), serum E2 levels on the trigger day in the medication, acupuncture and combined treatment groups, and the high-quality embryo number in the combined treatment group were considerably higher in comparison with their own levels of the 1st IVF-ET cycle in each group (P<0.05). Comparison among the three groups showed that the dosage and number of administration days of Gn in the combined treatment group were fewer than those in the medication group(P<0.05), and the dosage of Gn in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), E2 content of the combined treatment group was markedly higher than that of the medication and acupuncture groups (P<0.05). The high-quality embryo number in the combined treatment group was obviously larger than that of the medication group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the 2nd and 1st IVF-ET cycles in the number of the obtained oocyte, between the acupuncture and medication groups in the E2 content at the trigger day, and the numbers of Gn administration days and the high-quality embryo (P>0.05). Acupuncture combined with medication improves the level of endocrinal hormones and ovarian reservation function in POR women undergoing IVF-ET, benefiting the ovary environment of pregnancy.

Risk factors for carotid artery distensibility in middle-aged and elderly hemodialysis patients.

Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness are taken as useful surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. In China, the number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis has increased year by year, with the increase of dialysis-related cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to examine carotid stiffness in elderly hemodialysis patients by the ultrasound techniques in order to find out the possible risk factors. From January 2006 to February 2010, a total of 87 patients (41 males and 46 females) treated with routine hemodialysis at the 97th Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled in this study. The distensibility coefficient (DC) of the carotid artery was detected by Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus (Philips HBI5000, frequency 12 MHz) for evaluation of arterial stiffness. Serum albumin, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were examined with standard methods. The liner correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to find correlations between them. In this study, the systolic blood pressure was 153.33±25.98 mmHg, DBP 84.22± 10.39 mmHg, TC 4.39±1.05 mmol/L, TG 1.36±0.72 mmol/L, LDL 2.47±0.77 mmol/L, Cr 889.82± 207.38 Mmol/L, Glu 5.36±1.87 mmol/L, Ca I 2.00±2.19±0.21 mmol/L, and DC 13.39±5.32×10(-3)/kPa. DC was associated with age (r=-0.459, P<0.001), SBP (r=-0.527, P<0.001), and serum calcium (r=-0.273, P=0.011). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SBP, age, increased serum calcium level, and diabetes were independent risk factors for decreasing DC. Systolic blood pressure, age, increased serum calcium level and diabetes in elderly hemodialysis patients are independent risk factors for increased carotid arterial stiffness.

Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

A Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus is characterized by: transmitting ultrasonic beams between diagnosis sites including a motion fluid in the object's body; receiving its ultrasonic echoes; generating a display image of a Doppler spectrum consisting of the spectrum every moment of a Doppler signal in an ultrasonic Doppler effect due to a motion of a motion fluid based on the ultrasonic echoes; selecting a Doppler spectrum targeted for measurement from this generated display image; automatically recognizing the heart beat range in the selected Doppler spectrum; and measuring an index value for Doppler diagnosis every heart beat range thus recognized. With this characteristics, this apparatus simplifies manual operation during measurement using the Doppler spectrum, and reduces the operation quantity and diagnosis time required for measurement.

Three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

A three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus has a feature that: transmits ultrasonic beams three-dimensionally to a diagnostic site including a left ventricle of the heart in a subject being examined; receives ultrasonic echo signals thereof; generates three-dimensional data of the diagnostic site based on the received ultrasonic echo signals; determines a cardiac cavity region in generated three-dimensional data; and generates a display image such that information at a myocardial site of the heart is identified by converting a value of the cardiac cavity region in the determined three-dimensional data to a different value. The feature enables the apparatus to provide information on three-dimensional myocardial muscle blood flow useful for clinical diagnosis.

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and image displaying system

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and image displaying system

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and image displaying system

There is provided an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus in which a region containing an organ of an object being examined is diagnosed by means of ultrasonic beams, the organ being in motion, the apparatus comprising: an element for scanning the region by the ultrasonic beams to obtain ultrasonic echo signals having Doppler shift; an element for calculating movement velocities every sampling volume on the basis of the ultrasonic echo signals; and an element for displaying in color the movement velocities.

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and image displaying system

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and image displaying system

Ultrasonic lithotresis apparatus

A large number of piezoelectric elements are arranged in a mosaic pattern on a spherical surface so that ultrasonic waves generated by the elements converge on a single point. The arrangement of the elements constitutes a transducer. With the transducer applied to a subject through a liquid bag filled with water, ultrasonic shock waves from each piezoelectric element are concentrated on a lithotresis object, or a calculus so as to break it. The ultrasonic shock waves are generated by applying driving impulses (voltage) to each piezoelectric element. In order to locate the calculus, the transducer is coupled to an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus having a mechanical scanning type ultrasonic probe. The piezoelectric elements have resonance frequencies set such that the piezoelectric element positioned at the center of the transducer has the lowest resonance frequency and the resonance frequency of each piezoelectric element is increased in accordance with its distance from the center. Thus, the frequency range of vibration of the transducer is broadened so that the ultrasonic shock waves become low in negative sound pressure and narrow in pulse width at the point of convergence.

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for displaying speed or correlation between speed and speed dispersion by color change

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Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for measurement of speed of moving medium in a living body

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4850366 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for displaying speed or correlation between speed and dispersion by color change

4850366 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for displaying speed or correlation between speed and dispersion by color change

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

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Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus capable of probe exchange

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Ultrasonic transducer array used in ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

In an ultrasonic transducer array used in an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus, the pitch of transducer elements of peripheral subarrays is made smaller than that of a central subarray. The central transducer elements are adapted for acquiring a tomogram of an object to be examined, and the peripheral transducer elements are adapted for acquiring flow rate information of the object, sound velocity information of tissue of the object or tomographic information using an electronic sector scan.

Ultrasonic tomographic with alternate image scaling

An ultrasonic tomographic diagnosis apparatus suitable for skin disease displays a first ultrasonic tomographic image (12) of an object of a fairly broad area, wherein sizes in depthwise direction (X in FIG. 1) displayed in an enlarged scale in relation to sizes in a direction (Y in FIG. 1) on the skin surface, and further a second ultrasonic tomographic image (13) of an object wherein sizes in depthwise direction and sizes in the direction on the skin surface are displayed in substantially proportional to actual size relations, for a selected part marked by a marker (14) on the first tomographic image (12). While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is realized that modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for tissue characterization

A diagnosis apparatus for discriminating a property of the tissue to be observed from the reflected ultrasonic wave uses the nature of the fine structure of the tissue, and more practically uses the interval of small reflecting bodies dispersely distributed in the tissue as the parameters. The intervals flucatuate. Therefore, an average value and/or a degree of fluctuation is calculated and is displayed. For obtaining the average interval, a method of using the cepstrum of the received signal or a method of using the self-correlation of the received signal can be used.

Convex array ultrasonic probe

An ultrasonic probe used for ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. A plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements are provided in a convexity at the tip of a probe so as to constitute a convex array ultrasonic probe. The curvature radius of the convexity is set at not greater than 12 mm and the pitch of adjacent transducer elements is set at not greater than 1/30 of the curvature radius and a ratio Δ/Y is set at not greater than 1/35, where Y represents the beam focal distance and Δ represents the lateral resolution of the probe.

Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for displaying the distribution of speed movement of an internal part of a living body

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4655228 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for tissue characterization

4655228 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus for tissue characterization

4519250 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus using reduced numbers of photo transmission lines

4519250 Ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus using reduced numbers of photo transmission lines