What is it?
The LymphScanner is a portable measuring device that can detect the water content in tissue,
making it very useful in the detection,
monitoring and treatment of lymphoedema.
The LymphScanner is able to take rapid
readings, helping therapists to quickly gain
information on the regional distribution of Lymphoedema.
How does it work
The LymphScanner generates a high frequency, low power electromagnetic (EM) wave which the tissue is exposed to. The reflected EM wave is registered and the obtained value is a dielectric constant, which is proportional to the water content of the measured tissue. This TDC (tissue dielectric constant) value is converted to water percentage (0 to 99%) and displayed on the screen. The value increases with increased water content and oedema.
Rapid readings
When the measurement probe is moved on the skin from site to site, the LymphScanner displays the PWC on-site and at the same time calculates the ratio between the reference site and the area being scanned.
Features
- Quick, reliable and easy to use
- Portable
- Connects to a pc
- Crisp OLED display
Benefits
- Works on all body areas
- Early detections
- Easily evaluate change in limb volume
© Katinka Rutjens, Varodem
Breast Tissue Dielectric Constant as a Potential Breast Edema Assessment Parameter
Author(s) Mayrovitz H, Somarriba, and WeingradPublication Date 2021-03-24
Many methods can quantitatively assess limb lymphedema, but methods to assess breast edema/lymphedema are quite limited. Thus, there is a need for a convenient and accurate way to quantify and track changes in this condition. Read More
An Approach Toward Assessing Head-and-Neck Lymphedema Using Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios: Method and Normal Reference Values
Author(s) Mayrovitz, Patel, Kavadi, Khan and BartolonePublication Date 2021-02-02
There are multiple methods to quantitatively assess limb lymphedema, but quantitative methods to assess external lymphedema in persons with head-and-neck lymphedema are quite limited. Read More
Effects of Local Forearm Skin Heating on Skin Properties
Author(s) Mayrovitz HNPublication Date 2020-07-06
This study investigated impacts of local skin heating on skin properties and tested whether skin changes depended on heat-induced hyperaemia. It was reasoned that heat-induced vasodilation impacts accompanying interstitial fluid changes. Read More
Assessment of Skin Properties in Chronic Lymphedema: Measurement of Skin Stiffness, Percentage Water Content, and Transepidermal Water Loss
Author(s) Yu Z, Liu N, Wang L, Chen J, Han L, Sun DPublication Date 2020-06-18
Lymphedema (LE) is a chronic progressive protein-rich edema of the soft tissues. Measurement of extracellular fluid of the affected limbs is widely used in detecting LE; however, quantification of the skin alterations and early tissue changes in LE lacks approaches. Read More
Tissue Dielectric Constant Measures in Women With and Without Clinical Trunk Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Surgery: A 78-Week Longitudinal Study
Author(s) Koehler LA; Mayrovitz HN.Publication Date 2020-05-07
Following breast cancer surgery with lymph node removal, women are at risk of developing lymphedema in the upper extremity or trunk. Currently, trunk lymphedema diagnosis relies on a clinical assessment because no quantifiable standard method exists. Read More
Reliability of the MoistureMeterD Compact Device and the Pitting Test to Evaluate Local Tissue Water in Subjects with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.
Author(s) De Vrieze T, Gebruers N, Nevelsteen I, De Groef A,Publication Date 2020-04-01
Local tissue water in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) can be assessed by measurement of the tissue dielectric constant using the MoistureMeterD Compact� (MMDC) device, or by performing the pitting test. Although these assessment methods are commonly used in clinical practice, literature shows a lack of research on their clinimetric properties. Read More
Assessing Breast Lymphoedema Following Breast Cancer Treatment Using Indocyanine Green Lymphography
Author(s) Heydon?White A, Suami H, Boyages J, Koelmeyer L, PPublication Date 2020-03-02
Breast lymphoedema is a largely unrecognised survivorship issue for women following breast cancer treatment. While a few objective methods have previously been applied to assess breast lymphoedema, none are capable of imaging breast lymphatics or identifying lymphatic morphological changes indicative of breast lymphoedema. Read More
Heat Related Changes in Skin Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC)
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Berdichevskiy G, Lorenzo?Valido C, FPublication Date 2019-11-02
The impact of 20 min of whole-body heating (WBH) on the tissue dielectric constant (TDC) of forearm and hand skin was evaluated in 24 young adults. TDC was measured in triplicate at 300 MHz using an open-ended transmission line method in which the effective measurement depth was about 2 mm. Read More
Palpation of Increased Skin and Subcutaneous Thickness, Tissue Dielectric Constant, and Water Displacement Method for Diagnosis of Early Mild Arm Lymphedema.
Author(s) Karlsson K, Nilsson-Wikmar L, Brogardh C, JohanssoPublication Date 2019-10-01
Early diagnosis of mild lymphedema and treatment are important to prevent its progress. The tissue dielectric constant (TDC), measuring local tissue water in the skin and upper subcutis, has neither been related to the water displacement method (WDM) nor been used to diagnose mild arm lymphedema in patients at risk. Read More
Skin Tissue Dielectric Constant in Women With High Body Fat Content
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Forbes J, Vemuri A, Krolick K, RubinPublication Date 2019-09-25
Skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements at a frequency of 300 MHz are used to assess skin properties in many conditions. Impacts of patient obesity on these values are unknown, and its quantitative assessment was the goal of this research. Read More
Assessing Lower Extremity Lymphedema Using Upper and Lower Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios: Method and Normal Reference Values
Author(s) Mayrovitz, HN.Publication Date 2019-08-01
Lower extremity swelling accompanies many conditions, including gynecological surgery and chronic venous dysfunction. Some clinical and quantitative assessment methods exist, but other ways to rapidly assess early lymphedema and track changes are needed. Read More
Minimum Detectable Changes Associated with Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements as Applicable to Assessing Lymphedema Status
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Mikulka A, Woody DPublication Date 2019-06-17
ssue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements are increasingly being used as a tool to help characterize lymphedema features, detect its presence, and assess treatment related changes. Although the underlying physics of this technology has been well described in the literature, there has been little systematic study of in vivo reliability aspects. Read More
Assessing Upper and Lower Extremities Via Tissue Dielectric Constant: Suitability of Single Versus Multiple Measurements Averaged
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Mikulka A, Woody D.Publication Date 2019-06-17
Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements as an index of local tissue water are useful in a range of applications most notably to characterize and assess lymphedema. Once a measuring device is applied to skin and a result is obtained in less than 10 seconds, but multiple sites may be required and use of the standard triplicate measurements may be time prohibitive. Read More
Breast Oedema Following Breast Conserving Surgery and Radiotherapy.
Author(s) Johansson, K, Lahtinen T and Bjork-Eriksson T.Publication Date 2019-04-16
The association between lymphedema of the arm and impaired health-related QoL (HR-QoL) has led to changes in clinical practice. However, data on lymphedema of the breast (ie, breast edema) are lacking. We prospectively evaluated patient-reported prevalence and determinants of breast edema and its effect on patient-reported HR-QoL and breast pain. Read More
Possible Applications of Normative Lower to Upper Limb Ratios Of Tissue Dielectric Constant To Lower Extremity Edema
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Alvarex A, Labra M, Mikulka A, WoodyPublication Date 2019-02-01
Lower extremity edema occurs in many conditions including congestive heart failure, lymphedema, diabetes-related, kidney and liver disease, chronic venous insufficiency with venous hypertension. Clinical edema assessment methods are often subjective and variable. Read More
Factors Affecting Interpreting of Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) in Assessing Breast Cancer Treatment Related Lymphedema (BCRL).
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Arzanova E, Somarriba S, Eisa S.Publication Date 2019-01-01
Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements are increasingly used as quantitative adjunctive tools to detect and assess lymphedema. Various factors affect measured TDC values that may impact clinical interpretations. Read More
Impact of Body Fat and Obesity on Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) as a Method to Assess Breast Cancer Treatment Related Lymphedema (BCRL).
Author(s) Mayrovitz H.Publication Date 2019-01-01
Obesity is linked to the risk of breast cancer and treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL). Thus, knowledge of how obesity, or more specifically total body fat percentage (TBF) and body mass index (BMI), affect measurements that are used to detect or track lymphedema is clinically important. Read More
Reference Values for Assessing Localized Hand Lymphedema Using Inter-Hand Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Arzanova E, Somarriba S, Eisa S.Publication Date 2018-06-01
Early detection and tracking of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema have been helped by quantitative assessment methods and parameters, including bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and tissue dielectric constant (TDC). Read More
Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios as a Method to Characterize Truncal Lymphedema.
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN and Weingrad DN.Publication Date 2018-01-01
Truncal lymphedema is one possible complication of breast cancer treatment. It affects many women and is diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical assessment. Because changes occur late in the process, it is useful to have a quantitative assessment that is applied earlier to detect more subtle changes and quantitively assess treatment progress. Read More
Tissue Dielectric Constant and Circumference Measurement in the Follow-Up of Treatment-Related Changes in Lower-Limb Lymphedema.
Author(s) Tugral, Viren, Bakar.Publication Date 2017-09-22
Lymphedema of lower limbs is a chronic condition that requires life-long management. Therapeutic effect of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) is most often followed by circumference measurements (CM). However, the CM measurements are not specific to interstitial tissue fluid and have problems in sensitivity and objectivity. Read More
Role of Handedness on Forearm Skin Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) in Relation to Detection of Early-Stage Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Fasen M, Spagna P, Wong J.Publication Date 2017-08-10
Skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements help assess local skin water to detect incipient early-stage lymphedema subsequent to breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema. However, presurgery measurements are not always obtained and assessments for evolving lymphedema are only made after surgery. Read More
Breast Oedema Following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction
Author(s) Greenhowe J, Stephen C, McClymont L, Munnoch DA.Publication Date 2017-05-01
Breast oedema causes significant morbidity and is historically difficult to quantify. The aim of this study was to identify changes in breast tissue water content from pre-operative levels in the native breast to post-operative levels in mastectomy skin flaps and free flaps in the reconstructed breast. Read More
Skin Indentation Firmness and Tissue Dielectric Constant Assessed in Face, Neck, and Arm Skin of Young Healthy Women.
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Corbitt K, Grammenos A, Abello A, MaPublication Date 2016-07-01
Our goal was to test the hypothesis that skin firmness correlates with skin hydration. Methods: Dermal water was assessed by tissue dielectric constant (TDC) at 0.5 mm (TDC0.5 ) and 2.5 mm (TDC2.5 ) depths on four face sites and two arm sites of 35 women (25.0 � 1.6 years). Read More
Two-Year Follow-Up of Temporal Changes of Breast Edema After Breast Cancer Treatment With Surgery And Radiation Evaluated By Tissue Dielectric Constant.
Author(s) Johansson K, Lahtinen T, Bjork-Eriksson T, DarkehPublication Date 2015-12-01
Breast edema is reported as a common complaint after breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy (RT). Measurements of local water in skin and upper subcutis with tissue dielectric constant (TDC) technique have the potential to detect breast edema in patients after breast cancer treatment. Read More
Experimental and Analytical Comparisons of Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) and Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) in Assessment of Early Arm Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients after Axillary Surgery and Radiotherapy
Author(s) Tapani Lahtinen, Tuomas Viren, Karin JohanssonPublication Date 2015-11-30
Early diagnosis of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) is of great importance for longstanding treatment results. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) both have a potential for early diagnosis, but have not been compared. Read More
Experimental and Analytical Comparisons of Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) and Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) in Assessment of Early Arm Lymphedema in Breast Cancer Patients after Axillary Surgery and Radiotherapy
Author(s) Lahtinen T, Seppala J, Tuomas Viren T, Johansson KPublication Date 2015-11-30
Early diagnosis of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema (BCRL) is of great importance for longstanding treatment results. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) both have a potential for early diagnosis but have not been compared. longstanding treatment results. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) both have a potential for early diagnosis, but have not been compared. Read More
Age-Related Differences in Tissue Dielectric Constant Values of Female Forearm Skin Measured Noninvasively At 300 Mhz.
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Singh A, Akolkar S.Publication Date 2015-06-01
We hypothesized that reported age-related shifts in skin water from less-to-more mobile states would result in increased skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values as TDC values depend strongly on water content and state. Read More
Patterns of Temporal Changes in Tissue Dielectric Constant as Indices of Localized Skin Water Changes in Women Treated for Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Weingrad DN, Lopez L.Publication Date 2014-12-01
Our goal was to characterize temporal patterns of skin Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) as a foundation for possible TDC use to detect and quantify lymphedema. Although limb volumes and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) are used for this purpose, potential TDC-method advantages are that it can be done in about 10 seconds at any body site to depths from 0.5 to 5.0 mm below the epidermis Read More
Assessing Localized Skin-to-Fat Water in Arms of Women with Breast Cancer via Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements in Pre-Surgery Patients
Author(s) itz HN, Weingrad DN, Lopez L.Publication Date 2014-11-01
Skin-to-fat tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values at 300 MHz largely depend on tissue water and provide a rapid way to assess skin water by touching skin with a probe for approximately 10 s. This method has been used to investigate lymphedema features accompanying breast cancer (BC), Read More
Measuring Head and Neck Lymphedema: The ??ALOHA?? Trial
Author(s) Purcell A, Nixon J, Fleming J, McCann A and PorcedPublication Date 2014-09-12
There is no clinical assessment available to measure head and neck lymphedema. This study proposes the use of a tape measurement system and the MoistureMeterD (MMD) to evaluate head and neck lymphedema. Read More
Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) Measurements as a Means of Characterizing Localized Tissue Water in Arms of Women With and Without Breast Cancer Treatment Related Lymphedema.
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Weingrad DN, Davey S.Publication Date 2014-09-01
related lymphedema (BCRL) can aid clinical evaluations. Since BCRL may be initially manifest in skin and subcutis, the earliest changes might best be detected via local tissue water (LTW)measurements that are specifically sensitive to such changes. Read More
Can Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurement Aid in Differentiating Lymphoedema from Lipoedema in Women With Swollen Legs?
Author(s) Birkballe S, Jensen MR, Noerregaard S, Gottrup F,Publication Date 2013-08-01
Distinguishing lymphoedema from lipoedema in women with swollen legs can be difficult. Local tissue water content can be quantified using tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements. Read More
Validity and Interobserver Agreement of Lower Extremity Local Tissue Water Measurements in Healthy Women Using Tissue Dielectric Constant
Author(s) Jensen MR, Birkballe S, N?rregaard S, Karlsmark T.Publication Date 2012-03-21
Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurement may become an important tool in the clinical evaluation of chronic lower extremity swelling in women; however, several factors are known to influence TDC measurements, and comparative data on healthy lower extremities are few. Read More
Suitability of Single Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements to Assess Local Tissue Water in Normal and Lymphedematous Skin
Author(s) Mayrovitz HN, Davey S, Shapiro E.Publication Date 2009-02-09
Previous reports described the use of average tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements to assess local tissue water and its change. Our goal was to determine if a single TDC measurement could be used in place of the average of multiple measurements. Read More
These forms are designed to help clinicians record local tissue water content of their patients.
