Non-Invasive Non-Ionizing Polarized Imaging System to Assess Structure of Cervix

Sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (NIH)

Overall Status

Terminated

CT.gov ID

NCT00955864

Collaborator

(none)

Enrollment

Location

85.6

Duration (Months)

0.1

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Background:

The uterine cervix is composed of muscle and collagen, which change as women age and under hormonal influences like puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Yet even though knowledge of structure of the cervix (especially the collagen network) is important to detect problems that may affect pregnancy and other women s health issues, no noninvasive techniques are available to evaluate such changes.
A specially designed polarized camera attached to a conventional colposcope can be used to take cervical images. Analyzing these images may enable researchers to better visualize the collagen network in the cervix.

Objectives:

To explore and gain experience with the use of a polarized imaging system to study cervical structure.
To evaluate the usefulness of a polarized imaging system in studying the cervical structure of healthy nonpregnant women.

Eligibility:

Adult females (at least 18 years of age) who are having regular menstrual cycles and are not on hormonal medications.

Design:

Images will be takes from the cervix in two different phases of menstruation cycle time, one in the follicular phase (before ovulation) and another one in the luteal phase (after ovulation).
The images of the cervix will be taken with a vaginal speculum in place with the camera attached to a colposcope. The colposcope will illuminate the cervix using polarized light. Three random cervical locations will be photographed

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Healthy

Detailed Description

The uterine cervix is composed of muscle and collagen which changes as women age and under hormonal influences like after puberty, during pregnancy, and with menopause. It has been determined that during pregnancy, prior to cervical ripening, cross linked collagen fibrils are organized in tight bundles which provide tensile strength, rigidity and stiffness. As the cervix ripens in preparation for labor, cervical collagen concentration is decreases and solubility increases. However, there are no noninvasive techniques available to evaluate such structural changes especially of the collagen of cervix. Developing a non-invasive way to evaluate the characteristics of cervical structure and collagen may aid in identifying women who are at risk of early cervical dilation. A specially designed polarized camera attached to a conventional colposcope can be used to take cervical images. Analyzing these images may enable us to visualize the collagen network in cervix. The purpose of this study is to explore the usefulness of polarized camera images in evaluating the cervical structure of healthy women at different ages. After evaluating and validating this approach in healthy, nonpregnant women, we plan to assess the cervical structure of pregnant women, some of whom may be at risk of early cervical dilation.

Study Design

Study Type:

Observational

Actual Enrollment :

12 participants

Official Title:

Non-Invasive Non-Ionizing Polarized Imaging System to Assess Structure of Cervix

Study Start Date :

Jul 15, 2009

Study Completion Date :

Sep 1, 2016

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Age female 18 year or greater including IUI patients. Healthy women without significant medical problems who have a uterine cervix.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Those with symptoms or signs of infection or are currently menstruating.
Any medical condition that, in the opinion of Principal Investigator, would preclude the inclusion of a patient onto this research study.
Unable or unwilling to give informed consent.