New Techniques and Designs of Focusing Piezoelectric Transducers for Ultrasonic Diagnostics and Therapy

New techniques of forming high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) fields using dynamic focusing and harmonic multifrequency excitation are developed for ultrasonic diagnostics and therapy. New designs of HIFU transducers based on high-performance composite materials are developed and studied. Finite-element and finite-difference simulations of HIFU transducers and processes of ultrasonic wave propagation in biological tissues are performed. The parameters of piezoceramic materials, piezoelements, and the acoustic fields of focusing ultrasonic transducers are measured. Experiments are performed on biological tissues ex vivo that confirm the efficiency, selectivity, and safety of the developed HIFU transducers and techniques of forming acoustic fields.     

热疗用聚焦超声换能器的研究

本文通过数值计算及实际测量,研究了凹球面声透镜聚焦换能器及凹球面自聚焦换能器产生的声场,证实此两种聚焦方式均可获得理想的聚焦效果,但自聚焦方式更适合高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)加热治疗。     

Acoustic power calibration of high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers using a radiation force technique

To address the challenges associated with measuring the ultrasonic power from high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers via radiation force, a technique based on pulsed measurements was developed and analyzed. Two focused ultrasound transducers were characterized in terms of an effective duty factor, which was then used to calculate the power during the pulse at high applied power levels. Two absorbing target designs were used, and both gave comparable results and displayed no damage and minimal temperature rise if placed near the transducer and away from the focus. The method yielded reproducible results up to the maximum pulse power generated of approximately 230 W, thus allowing the radiated power to be calibrated in terms of the peak-to-peak voltage applied to the transducer.     

基于纹影法的聚焦超声声场重建算法研究

为了从聚焦超声声场纹影图像直接重建声场声压分布图像,首先根据水中声波与光波的作用规律,利用Zernike相衬技术得到纹影系统中空间声压分布与纹影图像中光强的关系,再通过纹影系统获得聚焦超声声场实时图像,最后根据纹影系统的物理特性经过反投影重建算法重建出凹球壳聚焦超声换能器的空间声压分布。分析可知,理论声焦域横向与声轴大小分别为0.15 mm、1.4 mm,重建声场电功率为12 W时横向最接近为0.25 mm,30 W时声轴最接近为1.35 mm。与球壳换能器的理论声压分布进行对比的结果表明,该方法具有一定可行性,可以用于聚焦超声换能器的声场分布检测。     

自聚焦换能器的声场研究

高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）治疗局部肿瘤是一项无创伤的新技术,有着很好的应用前景,因此对其声场的研究是有实际的价值的。对声场的研究不仅有利于换能器的设计,提高治疗的效果;而且有助声场测量方案的设计,提高对治疗超声剂量的安全保证。本文采用时域有限差分法研究了自聚焦换能器的声场,分别对简谐波,脉冲波进行了研究。比较清楚地看出在焦区的声场可以认为是平面波,这对光纤端面法声场测量提供了有力的支持。     

Quantitative estimation of ultrasound beam intensities using infrared thermography-Experimental validation

Infrared (IR) thermography is a technique that has the potential to rapidly and noninvasively determine the intensity fields of ultrasound transducers. In the work described here, IR temperature measurements were made in a tissue phantom sonicated with a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer, and the intensity fields were determined using a previously published mathematical formulation relating intensity to temperature rise at a tissue/air interface. Intensity fields determined from the IR technique were compared with those derived from hydrophone measurements. Focal intensities and beam widths determined via the IR approach agreed with values derived from hydrophone measurements to within a relative difference of less than 10%, for a transducer with a gain of 30, and about 13% for a transducer with a gain of 60. At axial locations roughly 1 cm in front (pre-focal) and behind (post-focal) the focus, the agreement with hydrophones for the lower-gain transducer remained comparable to that in the focal plane. For the higher-gain transducer, the agreement with hydrophones at the pre-focal and post-focal locations was around 40%.     

Characterization of a fiber-optic displacement sensor for measurements in high-intensity focused ultrasound fields

A fiber-optic sensor is presented that is capable of measuring the particle displacement in high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) fields. For this probe, a secondary calibration was performed, and the resulting complex frequency response is discussed. As a first practical application, the setup was used to measure the pressure in the field of a weakly focusing ultrasound transducer. The result is compared with that of a membrane hydrophone measurement. The feasibility of measurements in HIFU fields is demonstrated by means of measurements of the spatial distribution of the peak particle velocity within the focus of a HIFU transducer and of the dependence of the peak values on the acoustical power level.     

基于FPGA的高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统设计*

多阵元相控阵换能器具有焦距可调和可实现经颅聚焦等优势,近来受到众多研究者的关注,其相位控制系统是决定多阵元相控换能器能否应用于临床的关键技术之一。在输出信号稳定的同时提高高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统精度是设计过程中的重点与难点。本文基于现场可编程门阵列设计了一种高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统。实测结果表明,多通道延时分辨率为1 ns,延时误差小于1 ns,可满足多阵元高强度聚焦超声治疗相控聚焦换能器延时精度的需要。     

Acoustic power measurement of high intensity focused ultrasound in medicine based on radiation force

How to measure the acoustic power of HIFU is one of the most important tasks in its medical application. In the paper a whole series of formula for calculating the radiation force related to the acoustic power radiated by a single element focusing transducer and by the focusing transducer array were given. Various system of radiation force balance (RFB) to measure the acoustic power of HIFU in medicine were designed and applied in China. In high power experiments, the dependence of radiation force acting the absorbing target on the target position at the beam axis of focusing transducer was fined. There is a peak value of "radiation force" acting the absorbing target in the focal region when the acoustic power through the focal plane exceeds some threshold. In order to avoid this big measurement error caused by the 'peak effect' in focal region, the distance between the absorbing target of RFB and the focusing transducer or transducer array was defined to be equal to or less than 0.7 times of the focal length in the National Standard of China for the measurements of acoustic power and field characteristics of HIFU. More than six different therapeutic equipments of HIFU have been examined by RFB for measuring the acoustic power since 1998. These results show that RFB with the absorbing target is valid in the acoustic power range up to 500W with good linearity for the drive voltage squared of focusing transducer or array. The uncertainty of measurement is within +/-15%.     

格子玻尔兹曼方法对不同张角聚焦声束的建模

高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)是一种新型的无创治疗肿瘤新技术,其中换能器声场数值计算能够为HIFU治疗提供重要的依据。传统非线性KZK和SBE模型广泛应用于换能器声场数值计算,但依然存在某些不足。我们采用一种介观尺度的新型流体力学方法,即格子Boltzmann方法(LBM),基于2维9离散速度(D2Q9)格子构建了轴对称多弛豫参数LBM模型,并通过调节弛豫参数分析其对模型的影响;利用该模型对两个具有不同张角的球面聚焦换能器的声场进行数值模拟,并与KZK和SBE模型的计算结果进行比较。结果表明LBM模型能够很好地描述超声波的激发和传播机制,从流体力学的角度描述聚焦声场的分布,具有清晰的物理意义,且计算过程不受换能器张角的限制,在换能器声场的理论分析和模拟计算及其在HIFU治疗中的应用有着积极的意义。      

球壳换能器电声效率测量方法及声场特性分析

在高强度聚焦超声治疗系统中,换能器的电声效率是治疗剂量控制中的重要参数,其在焦域附近的声场分布同样重要。该研究以球壳聚焦换能器为研究对象,基于辐射力天平法与平面扫描法进行输出声功率的测量,同时测量其激励电功率后计算得到电声效率,并就其声场特性分布以及存在的非线性传播现象进行了简单阐述。两种测量方法测得的电声效率在声学计量的误差允许范围内,实验结果表明两种方法在测量球壳聚焦换能器输出声功率时具备较好的一致性。     

Resonance tracking and vibration stablilization for high power ultrasonic transducers

Resonant frequency shift and electrical impedance variation are common phenomena in the application of high power ultrasonic transducers, e.g. in focused ultrasound surgery and in cutting. They result in low power efficiency and unstable vibration amplitude. To solve this problem, a driving and measurement system has been developed to track the resonance of high power transducers and to stabilise their vibration velocity. This has the ability to monitor the operating and performance parameters of the ultrasonic transducers in real time. The configuration of the system, with its control algorithm implemented in LabVIEW (National Instruments, Newbury, UK), ensures flexibility to suit different transducers and load conditions. In addition, with different programs, it can be utilised as a high power impedance analyser or an instantaneous electrical power measurement system for frequencies in the MHz range. The effectiveness of this system has been demonstrated in detailed studies. With it, high transducer performance at high power can be achieved and monitored in real time.     

液体中高强度聚焦超声场及其测量

基于已知文献,文章介绍了液体中高强度聚焦超声场的基本性质,包括传播、频谱、吸收、聚焦、辐射力等特性,描述了它的物理图景和测量方法。     

球形集声器在生物组织中形成的组织损伤

球形集声器可在亚波长焦域内形成高强度声压,在高强度聚焦超声治疗中具有潜在应用前景.本文结合非线性声传播理论及生物传热学理论,研究球形集声器在生物组织中形成的组织损伤.实验中采用430 kHz,内径为240 mm的球形集声器对肝组织作用,结果表明:集声器表面声压为53 kPa时作用2 s,可以形成小于波长尺度的组织损伤.理论计算结果与实验结果符合得较好,并且理论模型可优化球形集声器的开口孔径.研究结果表明,球形集声器可应用于肿瘤的精细超声治疗.     

Minimum radiation force target size for power measurements in focused ultrasonic fields with circular symmetry

The time-averaged ultrasonic power emitted by medical ultrasonic equipment is mostly measured using a radiation force balance, and the question of the necessary target size is of practical importance. The question is answered here by calculations based on a Rayleigh integral algorithm for fields from circular, focusing transducers. This case occurs particularly in the field of high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound. The calculation yields the necessary size of an absorbing target so that the radiation force is 98% of that exerted on an absorber of infinite lateral size, and this as a function of the transducer-to-target distance, of the transducer radius in comparison with the wavelength and of the focus (half-)angle. Several distributions of the transducer vibration amplitude are considered. The Rayleigh integral strictly applies only to planar transducers, but among the amplitude distributions there is also one that allows the simulation of the spherically curved transducer type often found in practice.     

A comparative evaluation of three hydrophones and a numerical model in high intensity focused ultrasound fields

The pressure fields of two different high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers operated in burst mode were measured at acoustical power levels of 25 and 50 W (continuous wave equivalent) with three different hydrophones: A fiber-optic displacement sensor, a commercial HIFU needle hydrophone, and a prototype of a membrane hydrophone with a protective coating against cavitation effects. Additionally, the fields were modeled using a freely available simulations software package. The measured waveforms, the peak pressure profiles, as well as the spatial-peak temporal-average intensities from the different devices and from the modeling are compared and possible reasons for differences are discussed. The results clearly show that reliable pressure measurements in HIFU fields remain a difficult task concerning both the reliability of the measured values and the robustness of the sensors used: Only the fiber-optic hydrophone survived all four exposure regimes and the measured spatial-peak temporal-average intensities varied by a factor of up to 1.5 between the measurements and the modeling and between the measurements among themselves.     

Characterization of high intensity focused ultrasound transducers using acoustic streaming

A new approach for characterizing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers is presented. The technique is based upon the acoustic streaming field generated by absorption of the HIFU beam in a liquid medium. The streaming field is quantified using digital particle image velocimetry, and a numerical algorithm is employed to compute the acoustic intensity field giving rise to the observed streaming field. The method as presented here is applicable to moderate intensity regimes, above the intensities which may be damaging to conventional hydrophones, but below the levels where nonlinear propagation effects are appreciable. Intensity fields and acoustic powers predicted using the streaming method were found to agree within 10% with measurements obtained using hydrophones and radiation force balances. Besides acoustic intensity fields, the streaming technique may be used to determine other important HIFU parameters, such as beam tilt angle or absorption of the propagation medium.     

Cavitation mapping by sonochemiluminescence with less bubble displacement induced by acoustic radiation force in a 1.2 MHz HIFU

An acoustic radiation force counterbalanced appliance was employed to map the cavitation distribution in water. The appliance was made up of a focused ultrasound transducer and an aluminum alloy reflector with the exactly same shape. They were centrosymmetry around the focus of the source transducer. Spatial–temporal dynamics of cavitation bubble clouds in the 1.2 MHz ultrasonic field within this appliance were observed in water. And they were mapped by sonochemiluminescence (SCL) recordings and high-speed photography. There were significant differences in spatial distribution and temporal evolution between normal group and counterbalanced group. The reflector could avoid bubble directional displacement induced by acoustic radiation force under certain electric power (⩽50 W). As a result, the SCL intensity in the pre-focal region was larger than that of normal group. In event of high electric power (⩾70 W), most of the bubbles were moving in acoustic streaming. When electric power decreased, bubbles kept stable and showed stripe structure in SCL images. Both stationary bubbles and moving bubbles have been captured, and exhibited analytical potential with respect to bubbles in therapeutic ultrasound.     

A new type of high power composite ultrasonic transducer

A new type of high power composite ultrasonic transducer was proposed and studied. The composite transducer consists of a sandwich longitudinal piezoelectric transducer, an isotropic metal hollow cylinder with large radial dimension, and the front and back metal radiation mass. By means of its special structure and Poisson’s effect, the composite transducer can produce vibrations both in its longitudinal and radial directions, and therefore, it can radiate sound waves in three-dimensional space. The electro-mechanical equivalent circuit of the composite transducer was derived and the resonance frequency equation was obtained analytically. Numerical methods were used to simulate the vibration of the composite transducer, and the vibrational displacement distribution, the resonance frequency and the radiation sound field are given. Some composite transducers are designed and manufactured; their resonance frequencies and the radiation acoustic field are measured and compared with the analytical and numerical results. It can be seen that the measured frequencies and acoustic field contour are in good agreement with the analytical and numerical results. It is expected that this kind of composite ultrasonic transducer can be used in more and more power ultrasonic applications, such as ultrasonic cleaning, ultrasonic extraction, ultrasonic sonochemistry and other ultrasonic liquid processing, where high ultrasonic power and large ultrasonic processing space are needed increasingly.     

A multiple focused probe approach for high intensity focused ultrasound based surgery

To produce deep-seated surgical lesions using ultrasound requires high power and intensity levels at the target sites. Conventionally, large transducers are used which require big apertures and so are generally suitable only for extra-corporeal access. Such transducers also result in strong off-focus maxima, where the resulting hot spots can destroy normal tissue whilst deep-seated large tissue volumes are being ablated. This paper describes a new approach in which it is proposed that multiple probes are used simultaneously, each at a relatively low power, to result in an overlapping focused region of high temperature without strong off-focus hot spots. Robotic techniques could be used to move the individual probes in coordination to sweep out the desired region of tissue ablation. Simulation and planning are the key to quality prediction for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Simplified two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of HIFU probes have been developed to study the characteristics of various multi-probe configurations. Preliminary simulation results show that the multi-probe system can be arranged successfully to minimise off-focus hot spots. Experimental results are presented which validate the modality and confirm this positive finding. Further prediction studies and planning will be necessary to achieve the most appropriate desired treatment, by varying the pulse duration and spacing.