What is L-Dex® ?
A new device to aid clinicians in measuring changes in the extracellular fluid levels of the arms in women:
What is an L-Dex Measurement?
The lymphedema index (L-Dex) is a measurement system used to aid in the clinical assessment of unilateral lymphedema
of the arm (swelling occurring in only one arm) in women.
ImpediMed L-Dex devices are the first cleared medical devices using low frequency impedance. They have been developed
to aid your doctor clinically assess for lymphedema by measuring extracellular fluid differences in the arms of women.
The devices produce a lymphedema index (or L-Dex) value that can help determine if you are building up excess extracellular fluid in your
at-risk arm. The test takes only minutes to perform. It is painless and gives an immediate result.
Why Have an L-Dex Measurement?
- –Better aid them in clinically assessing for lymphedema in the arms of women.
- –Demonstrate extracellular fluid level differences (if present).
Tracking L-Dex History Over Time.
How are L-Dex Measurements Taken?
L-Dex measurements are made by passing a harmless electrical signal of very low
strength from the L-Dex device through your arm. Both arms are measured and the
whole procedure takes only minutes to complete.
Patient being assessed using an L-Dex® device
How Does it Work?
The electrical signal travels through the fluid surrounding the cells which make up the muscle and tissue of the arm. The amount of this fluid increases as lymphedema develops. Increased fluid means the electrical signal will travel more easily through the arm. An L-Dex device compares how easily the electrical signal travels in the unaffected versus the affected (or at-risk) arms and generates an L-Dex value from this comparison.
What Does an L-Dex Value Mean?
The L-Dex value indicates the difference in the amount of extracellular fluid in the unaffected arm versus the affected arm in women.
L-Dex values are displayed against a matched “healthy” group (see diagram below) as an aid in a clinician’s assessment.
L-Dex values that have changed 10 units from baseline may be indicative of relavent changes in the extracellular fluid levels to aid in a clinician’s assessment.
The range of L-Dex values.
The L-Dex scale is not intended to diagnose or predict lymphedema of an extremity.
How Does L-Dex Help You?
The L-Dex system can be used by a medical provider as a series of measurements over time. This allows the healthcare professional to:
• Assess extracellular fluid changes associated with lymphedema, in women and therefore aid a clinician in considering therapy.
• Measure Extracellular fluid change with therapy in women for those who already have lymphedema.
What’s The Clinical Research?
Clinical research validating the use of our products is abundant.
Read all about it here at ImpediMed.com
More Information for Medical Professionals:
More information and links are available on our Medical Professionals page HERE.