Operation Procedure
The whole system is designed to be operated by a single operator in the emergency room while the MED therapy is operating. The real-time TCD system hardware is an attachment to the existing therapy platform, and it will be turned on when the therapy starts. To operate the imaging system, the operator follows the following workflow:
Preparation:
1. Preparation: Place the patient on the bed in a supine position facing the ceiling, and start the MED therapy according MED therapy procedure. Place one of the straps (the strap refers to an elastic band with two hooks at the end) under the patient’s head about 7 cm away from the tip of his/her head.
Installation:
2. Obtain one pedestal. Lock the ball in the socket by screwing in the thumbscrew. Make sure the indent on the ball faces the top of the pedestal.
3. Insert the probe into the hole in the ball, and twist the probe through the pedestal until the pedestal is placed at the center of the probe, with the tip of the probe about 3 cm past the bottom of the pedestal.
4. Apply ultrasound gel around the patient’s temporal window, and attach the tip of the probe to the patient’s estimated temporal window region. Slowly move around to look for the temporal window.
5. After locating the temporal window, use a clean towel or napkin to wipe off extra gel.
6. Hold the probe at the desired location and slowly twist the pedestal until the pedestal is flush against the patient’s head.
7. Slightly tilt the patient’s head so it faces the opposite side of the operator. Then apply 3-5 drops of collodion in each small hole, so collodion can slide down the pedestal-patient interface.
8. While waiting for the collodion to dry (usually takes 5 minutes), attach the strap behind the patient’s head to the pedestal. Obtain another two straps and attach them to the plate so one of the straps is over the patient’s forehead, and the other is under his/her chin.
9. Unlock the ball by unscrewing the thumbscrew. Hold the probe and slowly rotate the probe to change the probe insonation angle until the probe locates the clot location. Tighten the thumbscrew.
10. Repeat steps 2-9 to put the pedestal-probe set on the other side of the patient’s head.
Running:
11. Adjust probe insonation angles if needed to provide better results. Leave the system running continuously until the therapy is done.
12. If extra gel is needed, unscrew the probe from the ball, and apply gel to the tip of the probe. Re-insert the probe into the ball.
Removal:
13. Detach all straps from the pedestals.
14. Apply a small amount of acetone solution near the adhesives, and softly rub the surface. Warning: be careful to avoid getting acetone into the patient’s eyes.
15. After the adhesives are removed, detach the pedestal and probe from the patient.
16. Clean up the patient’s temporal window regions.
Detach the probe from the pedestal. Clean the pedestal with cold water and rinse it with alcohol.
Preparation:
1. Preparation: Place the patient on the bed in a supine position facing the ceiling, and start the MED therapy according MED therapy procedure. Place one of the straps (the strap refers to an elastic band with two hooks at the end) under the patient’s head about 7 cm away from the tip of his/her head.
Installation:
2. Obtain one pedestal. Lock the ball in the socket by screwing in the thumbscrew. Make sure the indent on the ball faces the top of the pedestal.
3. Insert the probe into the hole in the ball, and twist the probe through the pedestal until the pedestal is placed at the center of the probe, with the tip of the probe about 3 cm past the bottom of the pedestal.
4. Apply ultrasound gel around the patient’s temporal window, and attach the tip of the probe to the patient’s estimated temporal window region. Slowly move around to look for the temporal window.
5. After locating the temporal window, use a clean towel or napkin to wipe off extra gel.
6. Hold the probe at the desired location and slowly twist the pedestal until the pedestal is flush against the patient’s head.
7. Slightly tilt the patient’s head so it faces the opposite side of the operator. Then apply 3-5 drops of collodion in each small hole, so collodion can slide down the pedestal-patient interface.
8. While waiting for the collodion to dry (usually takes 5 minutes), attach the strap behind the patient’s head to the pedestal. Obtain another two straps and attach them to the plate so one of the straps is over the patient’s forehead, and the other is under his/her chin.
9. Unlock the ball by unscrewing the thumbscrew. Hold the probe and slowly rotate the probe to change the probe insonation angle until the probe locates the clot location. Tighten the thumbscrew.
10. Repeat steps 2-9 to put the pedestal-probe set on the other side of the patient’s head.
Running:
11. Adjust probe insonation angles if needed to provide better results. Leave the system running continuously until the therapy is done.
12. If extra gel is needed, unscrew the probe from the ball, and apply gel to the tip of the probe. Re-insert the probe into the ball.
Removal:
13. Detach all straps from the pedestals.
14. Apply a small amount of acetone solution near the adhesives, and softly rub the surface. Warning: be careful to avoid getting acetone into the patient’s eyes.
15. After the adhesives are removed, detach the pedestal and probe from the patient.
16. Clean up the patient’s temporal window regions.
Detach the probe from the pedestal. Clean the pedestal with cold water and rinse it with alcohol.