Ultrasound Gel Research Articles

Can ultrasonography be used to detect root perforation? An invitro study.

This study assessed the usability of ultrasonography in detecting root canal perforations. The buccal side of incisor root were perforated. The actual lengths up to the perforation site were measured by visualisation of the tip of a file. Specimens were embedded in gypsum, and it was scraped to simulate bone resorption. Resorption cavities were filled with ultrasound gel. Measurements were taken by advancing a file through the canal until the tip became visible in the ultrasound image. 3D scans were obtained using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the distance between the coronal point of the resorption cavity and the reference point was measured. The actual distance of the resorption cavity from the reference point varied 6-10.6 mm. The same distances were measured via ultrasound as 5.7-10.9 mm, while measured using CBCT 6-10.5 mm. No significant differences were found. Ultrasonography shows promise for detecting root perforations, however further research is needed.

Comparison of chemical, biological, physical and electrical properties between commercial ultrasound gel and Aloe vera gel

Ultrasound is an imaging diagnostic method that uses mechanical waves and requires acoustic coupling gel for the efficient transmission of ultrasonic waves. This study investigated Aloe vera gel as an alternative to the commercial gel used in ultrasound exams. The chemical, biological, electrical, and physical aspects of both gels were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), cytotoxicity assays, and conductivity tests. The Aloe vera gel contained carbon, oxygen, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, while the commercial gel contained only carbon and oxygen. Aloe vera was found to be safe for biological tissues, with performance equivalent to or superior to the commercial gel in ultrasound exams. This can be attributed to its lower electrical resistance and higher quantity of free ions, which reduced impedance between the transducer and the skin, facilitating the propagation of ultrasonic waves. Thus, Aloe vera gel emerges as a promising and viable alternative for ultrasound, offering biocompatibility, technical performance, and safety.

Ultrasound transducer disinfection for percutaneous procedures: A review of the evidence supporting guideline recommendations

AbstractIntroduction/PurposeThere are varying international recommendations regarding the minimum level of disinfection required for ultrasound transducers used in percutaneous procedures. While some guidelines recommend high‐level disinfection (HLD), others question the additional benefit this delivers over low‐level disinfection (LLD).MethodsThis narrative review identifies current guidelines and evaluates the evidence used to support disinfection recommendations for ultrasound transducers used in percutaneous procedures. Thirteen guidelines were identified using a search encompassing PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Google from 1st January 2013 to 31st January 2024.ResultsNo guidelines were supported by high‐quality evidence, instead, guidelines relied upon: expert opinion through the application of national standards and infection control principles; consideration of recommendations from other published guidelines; and the incidence of infection from retrospective studies. Guidelines were uniformly supportive of using ultrasound transducer covers and sterile ultrasound gel during ultrasound‐guided percutaneous procedures. However, the minimum recommended disinfection level was varied with seven guidelines recommending HLD, four LLD and two not specifying a level. Spaulding's classification was commonly used to support disinfection recommendations, however, the resultant wide variation in classification and subsequent recommendations suggest that its utility in accurately determining the minimum level of disinfection in this specific context is low.ConclusionWithout high‐level evidence, using a risk‐based assessment will likely remain fundamental to future guideline recommendations in determining the minimum disinfection level for an ultrasound transducer used in percutaneous procedures. This risk assessment must include the highest level of evidence available in addition to acknowledging the contribution of all steps taken to prevent infection during ultrasound‐guided percutaneous procedures.

Assessing the applicability of tunicate skin-extracted cellulose as a base material for ultrasound gel

Assessing the applicability of tunicate skin-extracted cellulose as a base material for ultrasound gel

Ultrasound‐induced circularly polarized luminescence based on homochiral aggregation of clothespin‐shaped Pt(II) complexes

AbstractUltrasound‐induced circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) was achieved using planar chiral, binuclear clothespin‐shaped trans‐bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes. Solutions of the clothespin‐shaped platinum(II) complexes anti‐1a–c in cyclohexane immediately transformed into stable gels upon brief ultrasound irradiation. The ultrasound gels exhibited intense phosphorescent emissions at room temperature, whereas none of the solution exhibited significant emissions under UV light illumination. Interestingly, gels prepared from optically pure complexes exhibited CPL activity at room temperature with an anisotropy factor of |glum| = 1.5–2.6 × 10−3. The emissive gels were readily converted to the original non‐emissive solution upon heating and cooling to room temperature and could be gelled again by ultrasound irradiation. In addition, chromogenic control from green to red emission can be achieved simply by introducing MeO groups at different positions on the aromatic rings.

HIFU with Oral Collagen Vs HIFU Alone in Vaginal Rejuvenation

Introduction: Many treatment options were tried to reach satisfactory results for patients with loose vagina in order to improve their sexual life and urinary symptoms. Methods: 54 patients with loose vagina and impaired sexual function participated in this study. Ultrasound gel was applied to a HIFU cartridge before inserting into the patient’s vagina and radiating the circumference with HIFU radiation. A group of patients was treated with HIFU alone (group I), and another group was treated with HIFU and systemic marine collagen (group II). We evaluated the patient’s vaginal pressure before and after treatment with degree of patient’s satisfaction regarding their sexual function and urinary symptoms

Synchronous gesture recognition and muscle force estimation based on piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer

Early prosthetic control research mainly focused on motion intention recognition, but in recent years, study on control force has emerged. The simultaneous integration of motion intention recognition and control force estimation has significant practical value. This paper proposes an ultrasound control scheme using wearable device that enables synchronous intention recognition and accurate control force estimation. Eleven gestures abstracted from daily life are selected, with a force range of 0–100 % maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The wearable device employed for muscle morphology monitoring consists of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) and polymer encapsulation. It is small, lightweight, and eliminates the need for ultrasound gel, enhancing its practicality. Ultrasound echogenicity of two forearm muscles and corresponding output forces are simultaneously collected. We propose peak and location (PKL) feature and combine it with mean and standard deviation (MSD) feature to improve the accuracy of pattern recognition and force estimation. Experimental results show that during dynamic muscle contraction forces, the classification accuracy achieves 95.84 ± 1.48 %, while the synchronous estimation of forces yields a R2 correlation coefficient of 0.919 and a normalized root-mean-square deviation of 0.127. This scheme demonstrates the feasibility of PMUT-based ultrasound control for supporting synchronous gesture recognition and force estimation, and is expected to contribute to the practicality of prosthesis control.

3M™ Defib-Pads as a Reusable Alternative to Commercial Ultrasound Gel in Resource-Limited Settings.

With point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use in austere environments comes the challenge of having an ever-available coupling medium for image generation. Commercial gel has numerous drawbacks that can limit its utility in these settings, and no studies have evaluated the potential for a reusable coupling medium. This study aimed to determine whether 3M™ Defib-Pads could be utilized as a reusable alternative to commercial gel for image generation in resource-limited settings. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey of Canadian physicians with POCUS interest was conducted to evaluate the interpretability of various POCUS images in a blinded fashion. Three anatomic regions (cardiac, abdominal, and nerve) were utilized, and image generation from the commercial gel and 7 Defib-Pad conditions were evaluated. These included pads that were 1) newly opened, 2) dirtied then rinsed, 3) air dried, 4) rinsed after being air dried, 5) frozen then thawed, 6) used in double thickness, and 7) used with a probe cover. Compared to commercial gel, 3M™ Defib-Pads performed similarly, with adequate image interpretability of up to 100% in some conditions. The exception was pads that had prolonged air exposure, which produced images that were never interpretable. However, subsequent rinsing of these pads with water resulted in restored image generation. 3M™ Defib-Pads were found to produce interpretable POCUS images under multiple environmental stressors and with different modalities of use, suggesting that 3M™ Defib-Pads can perform as a reusable gel alternative in resource-limited settings.

Sonographic biometry of apparently normal parotid gland among adults in Asaba, South-South Nigeria

Background: Detecting subtle changes in the parotid gland size can be difficult when there are no established reference values in a specific area. This can affect patient management and delay early detection of diseases. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the size of the parotid gland of adult Nigerian people.Methods: This cross-sectional study included apparently healthy adults. The parotid glands were scanned in various sections using a 7.5 MHz probe after applying ultrasound gel. Each dimension was measured twice, and the mean value was calculat-ed. The 95% reference rages (mean ± 1.96 standard deviation) were described for various dimensions of the parotid glands.Results: Four hundred healthy adults participated in the survey. Their mean (standard deviation) age was 38.6 (14.6) years. The mean (95% reference range) of both parotid lengths was 4.7 (4.1 – 5.3) cm. The right and left parotid transverse sizes were 3.8 (3.4 – 4.2) and 3.7 (2.9 – 4.5) respectively. The right and left parotid depths lateral to the mandible were 0.8 (0.4 – 1.2) and 0.9 (0.3 – 1.5), parotid depths dorsal to the mandible were 2.3 (1.7 – 2.9) and 2.2 (1.8 – 2.6), and parotid volume were 20.3 (13.3 – 27.1) and 19.8 (14.3 – 25.3) cm3. No significant difference was seen between the right and left parotid glands in men and women.Conclusion: This study delineates the mean and reference range values of parotid glands among healthy adults of Nigeria which can be used for clinical decision making.

Use of ultrasound gel to mitigate risks of skin burns from non-actively cooled mic rowave applicators

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of using ultrasound gel to mitigate the risks of skin burn at the insertion site during microwave ablation (MWA) using non-actively cooled applicators. Ex vivo experiments in porcine tissue were conducted using two identical MWA systems. Five MWA scenarios were tested at different applicator insertion depths with an ultrasound gel layer applied at the applicator insertion sites: 8 cm insertion depth with and without 4 cm thick gel, 10 cm insertion depth with and without 2 cm thick gel, and 12 cm insertion depth without gel (reference). In all experiments, temperature elevations at the applicator insertion site on the tissue surface were recorded using thermal sensors in all experiments during 10-min MWA. The application of ultrasound gel and increasing applicator insertion depths resulted in measurable reductions in temperature elevations at the applicator insertion sites. For an insertion depth of 8 cm, the temperature elevations were 39.9 ± 4.7°C and 23.2±6.5°C without and with gel, respectively (P < 0.001). For an insertion depth of 10 cm, the temperature elevations were 20.8 ± 1.5°C and 14.4 ± 1.5°C without and with gel, respectively (P < 0.001). The maximal temperature elevations corresponding to an 8 cm insertion depth with gel were comparable with those corresponding to a 10 cm insertion depth without gel. Similarly, the maximal temperature elevations (12.2 ± 1.8°C) corresponding to 12 cm insertion depth without gel were comparable to those corresponding to 10 cm insertion depth with gel. Applying ultrasound gel at the applicator insertion site can significantly reduce temperature elevations at the tissue surface during MWA procedures.

Spatiotemporal Distributions of Acoustic Propagation in Skull During Ultrasound Neuromodulation.

There is widespread interest and concern about the evidence and hypothesis that the auditory system is involved in ultrasound neuromodulation. We have addressed this problem by performing acoustic shear wave simulations in mouse skull and behavioral experiments in deaf mice. The simulation results showed that shear waves propagating along the skull did not reach sufficient acoustic pressure in the auditory cortex to modulate neurons. Behavioral experiments were subsequently performed to awaken anesthetized mice with ultrasound targeting the motor cortex or ventral tegmental area (VTA). The experimental results showed that ultrasound stimulation (US) of the target areas significantly increased arousal scores even in deaf mice, whereas the loss of ultrasound gel abolished the effect. Immunofluorescence staining also showed that ultrasound can modulate neurons in the target area, whereas neurons in the auditory cortex required the involvement of the normal auditory system for activation. In summary, the shear waves propagating along the skull cannot reach the auditory cortex and induce neuronal activation. Ultrasound neuromodulation-induced arousal behavior needs direct action on functionally relevant stimulation targets in the absence of auditory system participation.

Effect of isoflurane anaesthetic time on ocular a-scan ultrasonography measures and their relationship to age and OCT measures in the Guinea pig

A-scan ultrasonography enables precise measurement of internal ocular structures. Historically, its use has underpinned fundamental studies of eye development and aberrant eye growth in animal models of myopia; however, the procedure typically requires anaesthesia. Since anaesthesia affects intra-ocular pressure (IOP), we investigated changes in internal ocular structures with isoflurane exposure and compared measurements with those taken in awake animals using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Continuous A-scan ultrasonography was undertaken in tri-coloured guinea pigs aged 21 (n = 5), 90 (n = 5) or 160 (n = 5) days while anaesthetised (up to 36 min) with isoflurane (5% in 1.5L/min O2). Peaks were selected from ultrasound traces corresponding to the boundaries of the cornea, crystalline lens, retina, choroid and sclera. OCT scans (Zeiss Cirrus Photo 800) of the posterior eye layers were taken in 28-day-old animals (n = 19) and compared with ultrasound traces, with choroid and scleral thickness adjusted for the duration of anaesthesia based on the changes modelled in 21-day-old animals. Ultrasound traces recorded sequentially in left and right eyes in 14-day-old animals (n = 30) were compared, with each adjusted for anaesthesia duration. The thickness of the cornea was measured in enucleated eyes (n = 5) using OCT following the application of ultrasound gel (up to 20 min). Retinal thickness was the only ultrasound internal measure unaffected by anaesthesia. All other internal distances rapidly changed and were well fitted by exponential functions (either rise-to-max or decay). After 10 and 20 min of anaesthesia, the thickness of the cornea, crystalline lens and sclera increased by 17.1% and 23.3%, 0.4% and 0.6%, and 5.2% and 6.5% respectively, whilst the anterior chamber, vitreous chamber and choroid decreased by 4.4% and 6.1%, 0.7% and 1.1%, and 10.7% and 11.8% respectively. In enucleated eyes, prolonged contact of the cornea with ultrasound gel resulted in an increase in thickness of 9.3% after 10 min, accounting for approximately half of the expansion observed in live animals. At the back of the eye, ultrasound measurements of the thickness of the retina, choroid and sclera were highly correlated with those from posterior segment OCT images (R2 = 0.92, p = 1.2 × 10−13, R2 = 0.55, p = 4.0 × 10−4, R2 = 0.72, p = 5.0 × 10−6 respectively). Furthermore, ultrasound measures for all ocular components were highly correlated in left and right eyes measured sequentially, when each was adjusted for anaesthetic depth. This study shows that the depth of ocular components can change dramatically with anaesthesia. Researchers should therefore be wary of these concomitant effects and should employ adjustments to better render ‘true’ values.

Comparing Peer-Taught Student Tutors to Faculty-Taught Student Tutors in Educating Medical Students on Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.

In recent years, medical education has witnessed a shift in the integration of ultrasound into the preclinical years of medical school. Given the exponential increase in accessibility to ultrasound technology, students now have the opportunity to create peer learning groups in which ultrasound concepts can be taught from peer to peer, empowering students to work together to integrate ultrasound concepts early in their preclinical education. This project investigates the efficacy of peer-taught student tutors (PTSTs) in imparting the fundamentals of basic ultrasound techniques to first-year medical students in the setting of identifying and labeling upper extremity musculoskeletal (MSK) anatomy. Methods: First-year medical students were instructed to identify volar forearm structures with an ultrasound probe. Students and instructors were given access to an ultrasound probe, ultrasound gel, an iPad, and a standardized patient. Students were taught either by an ultrasound instructor (UI) or PTST. After a hands-on demonstration by a UI or PTST, participating students were told to take screenshots and label their images as accurately as possible, identifying the aforementioned volar structures on a standardized patient without any feedback. The labeled screenshot images of volar structures were graded based on the ability to clearly visualize the intended structures. Results: The results of this study comparethe efficacy of PTSTs as educators of basic sonographic identification techniques with that of UI faculty members. A chi-square analysis was performed between the images obtained by the UI and PTST students, and there was no statistically significant difference in identification accuracy between the groups (p = 0.7538, 0.1977, 0.1812, 0.301). When using the Mann-Whitney U rank test, there remained no statistically significant difference between the accuracy of the students taught by STs compared to students taught by UIs (p = 0.7744, 0.09538, 0.07547, 0.1846). Another finding showed that students belonging to both teaching groups were generally not able to infer the pathology of volar wrist structures when given pathology identification questions regarding upper extremity ultrasound. Using chi-square with Yates correction, there is nosufficient evidence to justify an association between the ability to answer pathology-based ultrasound questions and instructor type (p = p = 0.6299, 0.8725). This study supports the interpretation that the capability of first-year medical students to learn novice MSKsonographic identification is independent of whether the educator is a PTST or UI. This interpretation reveals a promising avenue toward the integration of the fundamentals of ultrasound identification early in medical education with little to no concern for the exhaustion of institutional resources. Along with the other well-documented benefits of the utilization of STs in medical school, a peer tutoring system centered on ultrasound skills designed in the way this study describes can be an effective, resource-sparing system that enhances medical students' sonographic capabilities early in their preclinical years.

Innovative Training Approach for Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Utilizing Fresh Frozen Cadavers and Colored Ultrasound Gel.

Innovative Training Approach for Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Utilizing Fresh Frozen Cadavers and Colored Ultrasound Gel.

Sensing and Controlling Strategy for Upper Extremity Prosthetics Based on Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is currently the primary method for user control of prosthetic manipulation. Its inherent limitations of low signal-to-noise ratio, limited specificity and susceptibility to noise, however, hinder successful implementation. Ultrasound provides a possible alternative, but current systems with medical probes are expense, bulky and non-wearable. This work proposes an innovative prosthetic control strategy based on a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) hardware system. Two PMUT-based probes were developed, comprising a 23×26 PMUT array and encapsulated in Ecoflex material. These compact and wearable probes represent a significant improvement over traditional ultrasound probes as they weigh only 1.8 grams and eliminate the need for ultrasound gel. A preliminary test of the probes was performed in non-disabled subjects performing 12 different hand gestures. The two probes were placed perpendicular to the flexor digitorum superficialis and brachioradialis muscles, respectively, to transmit/receive pulse-echo signals reflecting muscle activities. Hand gesture was correctly predicted 96% of the time with only these two probes. The adoption of the PMUT-based strategy greatly reduced the required number of channels, amount of processing circuit and subsequent analysis. The probes show promise for making prosthesis control more practical and economical.

A Crossover Trial Evaluating Coconut Oil as an Alternative to Commercial Ultrasound Gel in Obstetrical Ultrasounds.

Our objective was to evaluate the quality of obstetrical ultrasound images obtained with coconut oil compared with commercial ultrasound gel and to assess patient acceptability. This was a randomized two-period crossover study in which 40 pregnant patients had standard biometry images obtained with both coconut oil and commercial ultrasound gel during their growth or anatomy ultrasound. All images were then rated by two blinded maternal-fetal medicine physicians on quality, resolution, and detail using a 0 to 100 scale. Contrasts obtained from linear mixed models were used to estimate the differences in image parameters between the agents. Participant experience was evaluated with an acceptability survey which included five items measured on a five-point Likert scale. Image quality, as rated by physicians, was found to be equivalent between commercial ultrasound gel and coconut oil. Additionally, there was not a statistically significant difference in image resolution or detail between the two coupling agents. The overall patient experience was significantly lower for commercial ultrasound gel when compared with coconut oil (mean difference = - 5.48, 95% confidence interval = [-6.89, -4.06]). Ultrasound images collected with coconut oil as the coupling agent are equivalent in quality to those collected using commercial ultrasound gel. Patients also preferred the use of coconut oil during their ultrasound, making its use a possible way to improve the patient ultrasound experience. Coconut oil has the potential as an alternative coupling agent that could significantly increase access to ultrasound use in resource-limited settings. · Coconut oil produces quality images during obstetrical ultrasounds.. · Patients prefer the use of coconut oil to standard ultrasound gel during obstetrical ultrasounds.. · Coconut oil is a coupling agent that could increase ultrasound use in resource-limited settings..

Ultrasound Gel as a Source of Burkholderia cepacia Sepsis Outbreak in Preterm Neonates

Background: In the middle of 2018, we noticed an outbreak of sepsis due to Burkholderia cepacia complex among inborn babies, and this continued till December 2020. These babies were not responding to conventional antibiotic therapy. Aim: To study the clinical profile of neonates with Burkholderia septicemia, to determine its antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and to identify the source of infection. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the inborn nursery of the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram for a period of 30 months, from June 2018 to December 2020. All babies whose blood culture was positive for Burkholderia were identified from the records. Microbiological surveillance was done for source identification. Results: Out of the total 2264 neonates admitted during the study period, 84 (3.7%) had Burkholderia cepacia sepsis. The mean gestational age was 31(2) weeks. The most common clinical presentation was feed intolerance (64%) and 12% had a liver abscess. The highest antimicrobial sensitivity was observed for ceftazidime and cotrimoxazole (100%) followed by cefoperazone-sulbactam (98%) and meropenem (94%). The outbreak was controlled by the withdrawal of contaminated muti-use USG gel and the implementation of the practice of single-use sterile USG gel. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal manifestations are predominantly a manifestation in Burkholderia cepacia sepsis and a strong suspicion of liver abscess should be kept in mind. cotrimoxazole and ceftazidime are the best choice of antibiotics. Unsterile ultrasound gel use in the labor room and NICU can be a source of infection

Challenges and mitigation strategies associated with Burkholderia cepacia complex contamination in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium with more than 20 opportunistic pathogenic species, most commonly found in soil and water. Due to their rapid mutation rates, these organisms are adaptable and possess high genomic plasticity. BCC can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with cystic fibrosis, chronic granulomatous disease, and neonates. BCC contamination is a significant concern in pharmaceutical manufacturing, frequently causing non-sterile product recalls. BCC has been found in purified water, cosmetics, household items, and even ultrasound gel used in veterinary practices. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and cleaning solutions have been implicated in numerous outbreaks worldwide, highlighting the risks associated with intrinsic manufacturing site contamination. Regulatory compliance, product safety, and human health protection depend on testing for BCC in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Identification challenges exist, with BCC often misidentified as other bacteria like non-lactose fermenting Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas spp., particularly in developing countries where reporting BCC in pharmaceuticals remains limited. This review comprehensively aims to address the organisms causing BCC contamination, genetic diversity, identification challenges, regulatory requirements, and mitigation strategies. Recommendations are proposed to aid pharmaceutical chemists in managing BCC-associated risks and implementing prevention strategies within manufacturing processes.

Building Affordable, Durable, Medium-fidelity Ballistic Gel Phantoms for Ultrasound-guided Nerve Block Training.

Ultrasound phantoms - alternatives to live human tissue - give learners the opportunity to practice ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia without introducing undue risk to patients. Gelatin-based phantoms provide educators with durable and reusable task trainers; however, commercially available gel-based phantoms are expensive. Here, we investigate the production of durable, low-cost, ballistic gel-based ultrasound phantoms for median, femoral, suprainguinal fascia iliaca plane, and serratus anterior plane nerve blocks, as well as a methodology for producing a phantom for any ultrasound-guided nerve block procedure. Computer-aided design (CAD) software was utilized to design four phantoms replicating the anatomy of median, femoral, suprainguinal fascia iliaca plane, and serratus anterior plane nerve blocks, including relevant landmarks and tissue planes. Plastic models of the desired tissue planes were 3D printed and used to create silicone molds. Ballistic gel was melted and mixed with flour and dye to create a liquid, echogenic ballistic gel, which was poured into the silicone molds. Vessels were simulated by creating negative space in the ballistic gel using metal rods. Nerves were simulated using yarn submerged in ultrasound gel. Simulated bones were designed using CAD and 3D printed. Ballistic gel is a versatile, durable medium that can be used to simulate a variety of tissues and can be melted and molded into any shape. Under ultrasound, these phantoms provide realistic tissue planes that represent the borders between different layers of skin, muscle, and fascia. The echogenicity of the muscle tissue layers, nerves, vessels, and bones is realistic, and bones have significant posterior shadowing as would be observed in a human subject. These phantoms cost $200 each for the first phantom and $60 for each subsequent phantom. These phantoms require some technical skill to design, but they can be built for just 4% of the cost of their commercial counterparts.

Go nuts! Coconut oil as a patient-preferred alternative to commercial ultrasound gel

Go nuts! Coconut oil as a patient-preferred alternative to commercial ultrasound gel