Biological Science Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Tochigi, Japan.
Skin Res Technol. 2011 Aug;17(3):270-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2010.00492.x. Epub 2011 Feb 23.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Skin elasticity has been assessed previously only in the surface layer. We developed a new method that uses tissue strain imaging (TSI) technology, and the aim of this study was to test this new method to assess internal skin elasticity.
Using a pressure device with a 12 MHz ultrasound transducer, constant and linear compressions were applied to the cheek skin of 35 volunteers (aged: 20-60 years). The elasticity of each layer (dermis, subcutaneous and muscle) was measured and analyzed using the TSI application software incorporated into the Toshiba Aplio(™) XV ultrasound system. A skin tissue-equivalent phantom, which is a block of material with the acoustic velocity (1530 m/s) of human skin, was collaboratively developed by OST Inc. This phantom was placed between the skin and the transducer as a reference material.
Skin elasticity was clearly visualized and quantified in each layer of the skin. Age-dependent decreases in elasticity were determined in all layers of the skin. Among the three internal skin layers, the highest elasticity was determined in the subcutaneous layer followed by the muscle layer.
These findings support the validity and sensitivity of the TSI method to assess the elasticity of various layers of skin.
背景/目的：皮肤弹性以前仅在表层进行评估。我们开发了一种新方法，该方法使用组织应变成像（TSI）技术，本研究的目的是测试该新方法以评估内部皮肤弹性。
使用带有 12MHz 超声换能器的压力装置，对 35 名志愿者（年龄：20-60 岁）的脸颊皮肤施加恒定和线性压缩。使用东芝 Aplio（™）XV 超声系统中包含的 TSI 应用软件测量和分析各层（真皮，皮下和肌肉）的弹性。皮肤组织等效体模是与人的皮肤声速（1530m/s）相同的材料块，由 OST 公司合作开发。该体模放置在皮肤和换能器之间作为参考材料。
在皮肤的各个层中均清晰地可视化和量化了皮肤弹性。确定了皮肤各层的弹性随年龄的降低。在三个内部皮肤层中，皮下层的弹性最高，其次是肌肉层。
这些发现支持 TSI 方法评估各种皮肤层弹性的有效性和敏感性。
