Cortex Technology provides a wide range of probes that are recognized worldwide within skin research, claim support, efficacy testing, consulting and dermatology.
Our line of high frequency ultrasound scanners provides state-of-the-art performance in high resolution skin imaging. Depending on model and frequency a resolution down to 30 micrometer and a penetration up to 5 cm may be obtained in tissue.
All configurations are built to provide optimal reliability and meet the latest international standards and safety requirements for such equipment.
The DermaScan line represents our most advanced ultrasound units offering linear real-time scanning probes at 20 and 50 MHz and full featured image analysis software developed for research applications.
High resolution ultrasound is also available in our DermaLab Series of instruments either as stand-alone devices or in combination with a multitude of additional skin analysis parameters such as TEWL, elasticity, hydration etc. The DermaLab Series features semi-automatic and intuitive analysis software with minimal or no need for training and a rotating scanning principle in probes operating at 10 and 20 MHz.
The DermaLab USB with hydration probe and module makes use of the conductance measurement principle, which is known to measure the water binding capacity of the stratum corneum.
For this, two probe designs are available – a pin probe featuring eight pin electrodes, – a flat faced probe with the electrodes organised as concentric rings.
The pin probe electrode design is ideal for normal/dry skin, scalp applications and in hairy areas.
The flat faced probe with its traditional electrode design is a popular choice for normal skin measurements.
Both probes offer a springloaded design in order to trigger the measurement at a preset skin load. The hydration software allows for performing up to eight sequential measurements, which can be named for ease of operation.
The suction cup method as featured in the DermaLab Series devices measures the actual elevation of the skin, as a function of a predefined negative pressure setting. The preset vacuum is applied instantly in order to reflect the true elastic properties of the skin. Also measured is the time it takes for the skin to retract, when the negative pressure is released.
The application software allows for adjusting the neg. pressure and skin thickness according to skin properties. To ensure un-biased readings, the DermaLab features a light weight probe which, when glued to the skin using a double adhesive sticker, eliminates movement artifacts from holding the probe.
With the probe in place, negative pressure will lift the skin and the elevation will be measured as input to calculate Young´s modulus (E). Once lifted, the negative pressure is released, and the retraction time (R) is measured.
These two parameters describe the skin behavior during the suction phase as well as the retraction, and both parameters form input to the calculation of the visco-elasticity (VE) thus combining both phases in one parameter.
Ultralight suction chamber – minimal skin bias
Full curve analysis
Adjustable negative pressure, cycles and skin thickness
The open chamber design maintains the free natural evaporation from the surface without interfering with the environment over the measurement area, thus ensuring unbiased and accurate readings.
For many years this has been considered the “gold standard” in water loss measurement.
Inside the measurement head, the sensors are protected to eliminate variation caused by air currents and direct incident light, which are problems usually associated with the open chamber method. Consequently, the DermaLab probes do not require a protected environment – measurements may be performed in normal laboratory environments.
Operation of the water loss module is fully menu driven with readout of actual measurement as well as individual sensor values and environmental conditions. For further processing an on-screen button allows for easy data transfer into spreadsheets.
Skin color measurement is featured in two instruments: -DSM III -DermaLab Combo. Both devices are based on the same advanced color sensor technology, and they offer erythema, melanin and CIEL*a*b numbers.
Whereas the DSM III is a fully selfcontained and battery operated instrument, the DermaLab Combo offers skin color assesment in addition to a multitude of other highly scientific skin parameters.
Skin surface pH is a measurement option for the DermaLab Combo. Our probe is easy to use and offers high reproducibility, and it comes complete with calibration kit and a convenient table stand.
Via the table stand the skin pH probe is connected to the main interface unit, which wirelessly communicates with the tablet controlled application software.
This software features up to eight measurements in one screen as well as the average of all measurements.
The DermaLab Combo features an infrared probe for non-contact skin temperature measurement, thus eliminating bias to the reading from skin contact.
High accuracy and reproducibility and read-out in deg. Celsius or deg. Fahrenheit.
The skin temperature probe is connected to the main interface unit, which wirelessly communicates with the tablet controlled application software. This software featuresup to eight temperature measurements in one screen as well as the average of all measurements.
The measurement of sebum is available as a parameter in the DermaLab Combo Series. The measurement principle is based upon a sebum collecting strip and strip reading device.
After sebum is absorbed into a special micro-porous film mounted on a non-reflective base material, it will become translucent. Consequently, the change in the light reflecting properties of the sebum collecting strip can be measured to assess the amount of absorbed sebum.
Because a special oil-specific film material is used, the influence of skin surface water (sweat) is virtually eliminated. Further, to avoid batch-to-batch variation an offset calibration is performed on each individual strip.
Videomicroscopy is an optional parameter in the DermaLab Combo Series, which offers a videscope application with software and a selection of high quality USB connected videoscopes. The videoscopes come in a multitude of versions – metal/plastic housing, variable magnifications, polarised/non-polarised light etc.
Unless otherwise specified, the standard videoscope for skin offers 1.3 Mpixel, variable magnification and polarised/non-polarised light.
