title: Characterizing female pelvic floor conditions by tactile imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tactile imaging (TI) is the high-definition pressure mapping technology which allows recording pressure patterns from vaginal walls under applied load and during pelvic floor muscle contraction. The objective of this study was to identify new tactile imaging and muscle contraction markers to characterize female pelvic floor conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects included 22 women with normal and prolapse conditions. They were examined by a new vaginal tactile imaging probe that images the entire vagina, the pelvic floor support structures, and pelvic floor muscle contractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 11 parameters as potential markers to characterize the female pelvic floor conditions. These parameters correlate with prolapse conditions, patient age, and parity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the tactile imaging markers such as pressure, pressure gradient, and dynamic pressure response during muscle contraction may be used for further quantitative characterization of female pelvic floor conditions.
authors.affiliation: Princeton Urogynecology, 601 Ewing Street, Suite B-19, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Raalte
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Egorov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011312:Pressure; D014110:Touch; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology*