JPS61146234A - Catalytic substance for ultrasonic diagnosis - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a novel couplant used in medical diagnosis using ultrasound. More specifically, it relates to a couplant for ultrasound diagnosis that is made of a gel-like substance of an aqueous glycerin solution containing cellulose ether, has excellent ultrasound transparency, does not cause discomfort to the subject, and is easy to handle. be.

[Conventional technology and problems]

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment brings a probe into contact with the body surface of the subject,
This probe continues to emit ultrasonic waves into the body, receives reflected waves from internal organs, etc., and converts the magnitude of the reflected waves into electrical signals that are projected onto a cathode ray tube. It is often used as a device to observe the state of

However, when the probe is brought into direct contact with the body surface of the subject, a gap tends to be created between the body surface and the probe during use, and a layer of air tends to be formed. Such a layer of air makes detection by an ultrasound diagnostic device impossible. Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of a gap between the body surface and the probe,
The probe is brought into contact with the body surface via a couplant.

As this couplant, water, oil, glycerin, polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution, etc. are usually used.

Since these couplants used for medical diagnosis are applied directly to the body surface, they must not cause discomfort to the subject. Furthermore, it must not have poor ultrasound transparency or create a gap between the probe and the body surface.

However, oil has poor ultrasonic transparency, and furthermore, it sticks to the body surface of the subject, making it time-consuming to completely remove it after diagnosis, and causing discomfort to the subject. Water similarly has poor ultrasound transparency, and the fat in the skin repels it, making it impossible to form a uniform layer on the body surface.

In addition, polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution forms a tough film that pulls the body hair when removed, causing discomfort to the subject, and furthermore, its ultrasonic permeability is not always fully satisfactory. isn't it.

Among these couplants, beglycerin has the best ultrasound permeability and is ideal as the main component of couplants, but it is sticky on the subject's body surface, takes time to remove after diagnosis, and is This causes discomfort to the subject, and since glycerin does not have a very high viscosity, it forms only a thin layer when applied to the subject's body surface, and the probe is placed at an angle to the body surface. It has the disadvantage that when used in the field, it creates voids that can be detected by ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

[Means for solving problems]

As a result of repeated studies to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present inventor found that using a gel-like substance of an aqueous glycerin solution containing a cellulose ether compound as a couplant for ultrasonic diagnosis eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and allows ultrasonic The present inventors have discovered the new fact that it is possible to provide a couplant that has excellent permeability, is easy to handle without causing discomfort to the subject, and does not form voids, and has now completed the present invention.

ψ− [Structure and Effects of the Invention] The couplant of the present invention has excellent ultrasonic permeability, tail damage,
The amount of attenuation of transmitted waves is small, there is no interference from noise, and diagnosis is possible under a wide range of conditions. In addition, since the couplant of the present invention has a saran gel-like appearance, it is less sticky and sticky than when using glycerin alone, and it is extremely easy to remove after diagnosis. It does not cause discomfort to the examiner, and when used, when the contact is used diagonally with respect to the body surface, it fits well between the body surface and the probe, and there is no gap between the body surface and the probe. without creating any voids.

The couplant of the present invention is obtained by dissolving a predetermined amount of a cellulose ether compound in an aqueous glycerin solution (the weight ratio of glycerin and water is in the range of 10:90 to 90:10).

The couplant of the present invention obtained in this way is in gel form and can be formed into a sheet-like product. When using this couplant for ultrasonic diagnosis, it is desirable to use it in sheet form. In this case, the thickness of the couplant can be set arbitrarily, but a thickness of 0.3 to 3 m may result in bruising, and if it is smaller than this range, the probe may be used diagonally to the body surface. In this case, voids may be formed, which is not preferable.

When a sheet-like couplant having the above-mentioned preferred thickness is placed on the subject's body surface and diagnosed by an ultrasonic diagnostic device, the tip of the probe can be immersed in the sheet-like couplant, Even if the probe is used diagonally with respect to the body surface, no voids are created and the diagnostic detection performance is not degraded.

Therefore, when the couplant of the present invention is used in sheet form, accurate diagnosis is possible even on curved body surfaces.

Further, the couplant of the present invention does not cause any harm to the human body and can be safely used for medical purposes.

Cellulose knee used in the present invention.

The chill compound may be one that mainly plays the role of a gelling agent, such as carboxymethylcellulose, carpoquinemethylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroquine ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroquinepropylcellulose, cellulose sulfate, etc. One type or a mixture of two or more types may be used. Moreover, borax, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, etc. may be mixed with the cellulose ether compound as a gelling aid.

When a cellulose ether compound having a dissociable group such as carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxin methyl, hydroquine ethyl cellulose, or cellulose sulfate is used as the cellulose ether compound, a polyvalent metal salt can be used as the gelling aid.

In this case, polyvalent metal salts include aluminum salts such as aluminum acetate, iron salts such as ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, and ferric sulfate, and ferrous metal salts such as cupric chloride and cupric sulfate. Examples include one or a mixture of two or more of copper salts and other inorganic or organic magnesium salts, barium salts, calcium salts, and the like.

When using these polyvalent metal salts as gelling aids, the amount added is based on the total amount of negative charges generated in the cellulose ether compound when all the dissociative groups of the cellulose ether compound used have dissociated groups are dissociated. The total amount of positive charges derived from the added polyvalent metal salt is preferably in the range of 5 to 95%.

The couplant of the present invention consists of a gel of an aqueous glycerin solution containing a cellulose ether compound. In the couplant of the present invention, the cellulose ether compound is contained in a range of 0.1 to
It is desirable to have a content of 10% (same as less than % by weight); if it is larger than this range, it will become too hard and will not follow the 7-integrity table and will easily form voids, and if it is smaller than this range, it will not solidify well and become sticky. .

Further, if necessary, surfactants, preservatives, thickeners, etc. may be appropriately mixed with the couplant of the present invention.

Next, the couplant of the present invention will be specifically explained using examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples.

〔Example〕

Example 1 After adding 4 parts of carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt to 50 parts (by weight, same hereinafter) of glycerin and stirring thoroughly, 50 parts of a 1% aqueous calcium chloride solution was added thereto. This aqueous solution was heated to 80° C., poured into a Petri dish, and left to cool to obtain a sheet-like product with a thickness of t5c+x.

This material has a smooth gel-like appearance and has an acoustic impedance of 2. It had an OOX of 10'ky/ff11 seconds and was useful as a couplant for ultrasound diagnosis.

Example 2 Hydroxyethylcetate in 50 parts of glycerin.

After adding 2 parts each of lulose and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt and stirring thoroughly, 50 parts of a 05% potassium alum aqueous solution was added thereto. Thereafter, a sheet-like product having a thickness of L5ffl was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Similar to Example 1, this product had a smooth gel-like appearance, had an acoustic impedance of 2.0OxlO'#/-second, and was useful as a couplant for ultrasound diagnosis.

Test example (patch test) Five men and two women were selected as subjects, and the couplant obtained in Example 1 was applied with a bandage to the inside of the upper arm of the left arm of each subject, and a patch test was conducted using a closed method. went. Immediately after removing the couplant by removing the bandage after 30 minutes and 24
Observed after hours.

As a result, no abnormalities were found in any of them.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A couplant for ultrasound diagnosis comprising a gel-like substance of an aqueous glycerin solution containing a cellulose ether compound. 2) The ultrasonic diagnostic contact according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose ether compound is one or more selected from carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, cellulose sulfate, and carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose. medium.