Ultrasonic assessment of articular cartilage using contrast medium

我们开发了关节软骨超声评价系统。但该系统可以检测到软骨表面的退变，但不能检测到关节软骨各层的生物力学性能。探讨超声造影剂在关节软骨评价系统中的应用效果。关节软骨反射声像图为A型声像图。以峰峰值作为关节软骨的定量指标。Cartialge样品在对比剂中浸泡10min，然后在生理盐水中浸泡，通过超声评价系统进行分析，加入造影剂的样品的最大峰峰值是不加造影剂的样品的5.3~9.8倍。加入造影剂的样品峰值峰值在2min内达到最大值，并随生理盐水浸泡时间的延长而减小。我们的发现表明，使用造影剂的超声分析可以预测关节软骨的生物力学行为。

We have developed the ultrasonic evaluation system for articular cartilage. However this system could detect degeneration of cartilage surface, but could not detect biomechanical properties of all layers of articular cartilage. We investigated the effectiveness of ultrasonic contrast medium for the evaluation system of articular cartilage. The reflex echogram form articular cartilage was shown as A-mode echogram. The peak-peak value was used as a quantitative index of articualr cartilage. Cartialge sample was immersed into contrast mediul for 10 minutes and after that, the sample was immersed in saline and analyzed by the ultrasonic evaluation system.The maximum peak-peak value of samples with contrast medium was 5.3 to 9.8 times higher than the sample without contrast medium. The peak -peak value of sample with contrast medium show the maximum within 2 minutes and decreased as the duration of saline immersion increased. Our finding indicated that ultrasound analysis using contrast medium can predict the biomechanical behavior of articular cartilage.