Visualization of Pelvic Floor Reflex and Voluntary Contractions

摘要

Visualization of the geometric deformation and associated displacement patterns of tubular abdominal organs to mechanical stimuli provides a quantitative measure that is useful in modeling their elastic properties. The origin of the stimulus may be the result of direct and voluntary muscle contraction or in response to a triggered reflex activity. Using trans-perineal 2D ultrasound imaging we examined the characteristics of deformation and displacement of these organs in response to voluntary activity, contraction, straining, and fast reflex responses to stimuli such as coughing. The relative time sequence in movement was examined by serially segmenting the outline of these structures and mapping their temporal characteristics.