Development:
After 10 years of broad experience in medical ultrasonography, including an intensive 3 year research and development program, tpm was proud to introduce the F I R S T commercially available A/B digital ultrasound system - our DUB 20 in 1986 designed especifically for dermatology and cosmetic use.
The DUB's finest resolution and superior quality of signal processing and image analysis are unequaled. The DUB provides continuos and rapid high resolution ultrasonography to exacting scientists.
In the beginning we had only 20 MHz systems, today the range goes up to 100 MHz, which gives us a resolution down to 16 µm in the skin. Since 2001 we also offer a real Windows system with all advantages of Windows.
The already large range of functions has been stretched out in the Windows version. With the easy to handle window technology the DUB for Windows is easy to operate.
Since 2004 we offer the DUB as a USB Version, our DUB-USB. Which gives you the possibility to attach a high frequency high resolution ultrasound imaging system to your existing PC. Controlled by our DUB for Windows Software.
In 2007 we added the DUB-USB75 to our product line, which extends the USB systems to a frequency range from 15 MHz to 75 MHz.
In 2008 we developed the option Vacu Elasto Pump for the USB systems for Skin Elasticity Measurements with high frequency ultrasound.
Osteoporosis Risk Extension:
Early diagnosis of osteoporosis risk through measurement of skin-thickness with high frequency ultrasound.
By now, several studies, some of histological nature, showed the close connection between the collagen concentration in the skin and the one in the bones and vessels.
While traditional methods to early diagnose and observe osteoporosis only measures the mineralisation content of the bones, it now primarily seems to be a loss of collagen that is taking place (collagen resembles about 90% of the bone matrix) and that the demineralisation is only a result of this.
Thus it would obviously be better for early diagnosis/risk evaluation of osteoporosis and the degeneration of connective
tissue respectively the process evaluation e.g. under 'hormone replacement therapy' (HRT) with perimenopausal women or cortisone treatment to have a possiblitiy to measure the collagen concentration. Due to the direct correlation of the collagen concentration between bones and skin the non-invasive and reproduceable measurement of the skin-thickness through high frequency ultrasound occurs to be optimal.
In previous studies it was only possible to measure the overall thickness of the skin, due to the bad image quality of the ultrasound system that was used. The DUB on the other hand delivers high resolution pictures that also allow to distinguish the different skin-layers.
The epidermis is a multilayered squamous epithelium, the dermis beneath among others a close netting of collagen and elastic fibres. Using the DUB, it is possible to determine the thickness of precisely this layer, which should improve the informational value of the examination.
Recommended system configuration:
- 1 free OnBoard USB 2.0 High-Speed port
- 1 additional USB port (needed for options)
- MS-Windows XP SP3 or Vista SP2 or Win 7 (German / English, 32 Bit / 64 Bit)
- DVD-RW Drive
- 2,2 GHz CPU
- 2 GB Memory
- 3D-Graphics Accelerator Card with 128 MB
- 10 GB Free Hard Drive Space
Technical Data:
|
|
DUB-USB |
DUB-USB75 |
|
A/D-Converter |
||
|
Sample rate |
100 MHz |
up to 250 MHz |
|
Signal |
8 Bit |
8 Bit |
|
Ultrasound Pulser/Receiver |
||
|
Possible transducers frequencies |
20 MHz to 33 MHz |
15 MHz to 75 MHz |
|
Amplification |
up to 250 % |
up to 250 % |
|
Applicator |
||
|
Scan time |
less than 0.4 sec. |
less than 0.4 sec. |
|
Scan length |
12.8 mm |
12.8 mm |
|
Scan mode |
A and B |
A and B |
|
Frequency |
22 MHz |
50 MHz |
|
Bandwidth |
approx. 12-28 MHz |
approx. 30-60 MHz |
|
Focus |
11 mm |
6 mm |
|
Resolution at center frequency |
72 µm |
31 µm |
|
Software |
|
|
Program language |
English or German |
|
Measure |
area / density / width / depth / length |
|
Color scales |
5 colored / 2 black-white |
|
Scan export |
TIFF, JPG, BMP |
|
Imaging |
B-Mode / RF-Mode / A-Mode |
