Artann Laboratories

Overview

Research Team

Partnerships

Bone UltraSonic Scanner

Breast Models

Tissue Elastometer

Bone Ultrasonometry

Colonoscopy Force Monitor

Mechanical Imaging
Prostate
Breast
Vagina
Muscle

Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging

Temperature Profile Spectroscopy

Droplet MicroChromatography

Body Hydration Monitor

Time Reversal Acoustics

Vaginal Tactile Imager

General view of the Vaginal Tactile Imager

Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) is a 3-D tissue elasticity imaging device. VTI utilizes tactile and motion tracking sensors incorporated into a probe that is used by a clinician to examine the vagina. The recorded tactile patterns obtained by gently pressing the probe against the vaginal wall are used to create a 3-D tactile image of the vaginal circumference visualizing the elasticity of surrounding muscle and support structures. The anterior and posterior compartments are visualized in 3 orthogonal cross-sections of created 3-D tactile image. The device provides quantitative assessment of changes in tissue elasticity and anatomy. VTI is capable to assess the results of surgical treatment of prolapse by visualizing the elasticity pattern of the vaginal wall around implanted mesh.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major health concern affecting more than 50% of women. It is the leading reason for hysterectomy in postmenopausal women and accounts for 15-18% of procedures in all age-groups. The lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for prolapse or urinary incontinence is approximately 11%. About one third of sexually active women with pelvic organ prolapse report that their condition interferes with sexual function. Women with progressing pelvic organ prolapse score poorer on both generic and condition specific quality-of-life scales. Often the patients with prolapse conditions do not ask for medical help due to delicate issues of the problem.

Currently there are no efficient, standardized, non-invasive techniques for assessing development of POP and monitoring its treatment. VTI fills this gap providing a possibility to detect and quantitatively characterize the changes in physiological and anatomical manifestations of pelvic floor tissue transformation.

Publications and Patents

Sarvazyan A, Egorov V, and Sarvazyan N. Tactile Sensing and Tactile Imaging in Detection of Cancer, book chapter In: Biosensors and Molecular Technologies for Cancer Diagnostics, edited by Keith E. Harold, CRC Press, May 29, 2012, ISBN 9781439841655.
Egorov V, van Raalte H, Lucente V. Quantifying vaginal tissue elasticity under normal and prolapse conditions by tactile imaging. International Urogynecology Journal 2012; 23(4):459-66.
Tactile Imaging for Quantifying Vaginal Elasticity in Prolapse. Nature Reviews Urology 2012; 9(2): 60.
Egorov V, Sarvazyan AP. Methods for characterizing vaginal tissue elasticity. USA Patent No. 8,052,622; Nov 8, 2011.
Egorov V, van Raalte H, Sarvazyan A. Vaginal Tactile Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 2010; 57(7):1736-44.



		Overview Research Team Partnerships Bone UltraSonic Scanner Breast Models Tissue Elastometer Bone Ultrasonometry Colonoscopy Force Monitor Mechanical Imaging Prostate Breast Vagina Muscle Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging Temperature Profile Spectroscopy Droplet MicroChromatography Body Hydration Monitor Time Reversal Acoustics		Vaginal Tactile Imager General view of the Vaginal Tactile Imager Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) is a 3-D tissue elasticity imaging device. VTI utilizes tactile and motion tracking sensors incorporated into a probe that is used by a clinician to examine the vagina. The recorded tactile patterns obtained by gently pressing the probe against the vaginal wall are used to create a 3-D tactile image of the vaginal circumference visualizing the elasticity of surrounding muscle and support structures. The anterior and posterior compartments are visualized in 3 orthogonal cross-sections of created 3-D tactile image. The device provides quantitative assessment of changes in tissue elasticity and anatomy. VTI is capable to assess the results of surgical treatment of prolapse by visualizing the elasticity pattern of the vaginal wall around implanted mesh. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major health concern affecting more than 50% of women. It is the leading reason for hysterectomy in postmenopausal women and accounts for 15-18% of procedures in all age-groups. The lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for prolapse or urinary incontinence is approximately 11%. About one third of sexually active women with pelvic organ prolapse report that their condition interferes with sexual function. Women with progressing pelvic organ prolapse score poorer on both generic and condition specific quality-of-life scales. Often the patients with prolapse conditions do not ask for medical help due to delicate issues of the problem. Currently there are no efficient, standardized, non-invasive techniques for assessing development of POP and monitoring its treatment. VTI fills this gap providing a possibility to detect and quantitatively characterize the changes in physiological and anatomical manifestations of pelvic floor tissue transformation. Publications and Patents Sarvazyan A, Egorov V, and Sarvazyan N. Tactile Sensing and Tactile Imaging in Detection of Cancer, book chapter In: Biosensors and Molecular Technologies for Cancer Diagnostics, edited by Keith E. Harold, CRC Press, May 29, 2012, ISBN 9781439841655. Egorov V, van Raalte H, Lucente V. Quantifying vaginal tissue elasticity under normal and prolapse conditions by tactile imaging. International Urogynecology Journal 2012; 23(4):459-66. Tactile Imaging for Quantifying Vaginal Elasticity in Prolapse. Nature Reviews Urology 2012; 9(2): 60. Egorov V, Sarvazyan AP. Methods for characterizing vaginal tissue elasticity. USA Patent No. 8,052,622; Nov 8, 2011. Egorov V, van Raalte H, Sarvazyan A. Vaginal Tactile Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 2010; 57(7):1736-44.