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Appendix C – Gel powder mix
Ovi-Scan Gel has been formulated particularly to meet the requirements of animal scanning services
for a low cost ultrasonic coupling fluid although its use in other applications is appropriate.
The gel is supplied in powder form and mixed with water to form the coupling fluid. The packs of gel
powder supplied are suitable for mixing up to 12 litres of gel; the low volume of powder required to
produce large quantities of gel makes it easy to store and transport.
you can control the consistency of the gel by varying the proportions of the mix to compensate for
various factors e.g. method of application, shearing equipment used, operator preference etc.
Ovi-Scan Gel is a product of BCF Technology Ltd which has been tested for oral toxicity, dermal
irritation and eye irritation. It is defined as non toxic and non irritant.
It contains no bactericidal or fungicidal additives.
Guidance for mixing
1. As the mixture contains water and the gel powder does not contain any anti-corrosive
ingredients, it is important to use containers which are not likely to corrode.
2. The gel component is strongly hydrophilic and mixing can present difficulties since a very small
amount of water will readily disperse through a large quantity of powder forming a hard lump.
Left alone the lump will slowly disperse and beyond a certain point dilution becomes very easy.
Continuous stirring of the water and the slow addition of the gel powder will produce a suitable
solution.
3. Generally speaking the smoother the surface the higher the viscosity and the less the amount
of couplant required.
4. The final consistency of the gel is determined by the ratio of powder to water. The powder
is supplied in packages which are labelled with the quantity of water to be added and it is
important to measure the water accurately to obtain consistent results. A one and a half
percent solution has been found to be ideal for automatic application to smooth skin areas used
in sector scanning.
5. The gel will be ready for use within a few minutes of mixing. However, we recommend that
the gel is mixed the evening before it is required to ensure that a supply is available on arrival
at the working site. This is particularly so in the early stages when mixing experience is
limited. Concentrated solutions can be mixed and diluted further on site to give the required
consistency.
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