title: Cellulose pads (Hydrotin-C): a new solid coupling agent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hydrotin-C is a bacterial cellulose consisting of 90% of physiological solution. The cellulose pad is smooth and elastic and cannot be torn, and is therefore suitable for use on any local skin condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the image quality (IQ) and transducer pressure of Hydrotin-C-Pads as a solid coupling agent compared with standard coupling gel.
  
  
  METHODS
  To date, transthoracic echocardiography has been performed in 51 patients (ongoing study) using standard coupling gel and Hydrotin-C-Pads. The IQ was categorized as follows: 1 = excellent, 2 = good, 3 = poor, 4 = inadequate. All patients were questioned about the transducer pressure, which was categorized as: 0 = less, 1 = equal, 2 = more. The body mass index (BMI) was documented for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IQ was very good with Hydrotin-C-Pads. The IQ was better in 84% of all patients. In patients with a BMI of over 25 and in patients with a BMI of over 30, Hydrotin-C-Pads was also better compared with standard gel. The transducer pressure was lower in 33 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydrotin-C-Pads can be used as a solid ultrasonic coupling agent. Because of the consistent thickness of the coupling zone, the IQ seems to be better for Hydrotin-C-Pads compared with standard coupling gel. The transducer presser is lower, and these pads are easy to apply and are reusable and reduce the burden of clean-up after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. dorothee.bail@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Dorothee H L
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bail
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gruler
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haefner
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ziemer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose