Schlieren visualization of ultrasonic wave fields with high spatial resolution

The visualization of ultrasonic wave fields in optically transparent liquids using the acousto-optic interaction is a well proven tool for the experimental investigation of wave propagation including wave field interaction effects with certain discontinuities and obstacles like reflection, refraction, and diffraction effects as well as for transducer testing and design. For high resolution visualization of wave fields including pulsed waveforms, pulsed light sources and sensitive optical imaging sensors with certain specifications are needed. In this paper the technical requirements of optical and electronic components for high resolution visualization of ultrasound wave fields will be presented. Also, specifications and operation results of a new designed, inexpensive Schlieren optical system will be presented, which is capable of pulsed wave field visualization in the MHz frequency range. The spatial resolution is high enough, not only for accurate beam shape and wave pattern visualization, but also for a gray-scaled display of wave amplitudes including amplitude zero crossings in ultrasound pulses. Consequently, ultrasonic wavelengths can be visualized quantitatively as well as wavelength changes of the ultrasound pulses while traveling through transparent media with different sound velocities. Results to be presented will include 2 MHz and 10 MHz experiments using single transducers as well as linear arrays of commercial medical scanners during their standard operation showing the system beamforming characteristics.     

Investigation of dental samples using a 35MHz focussed ultrasound piezocomposite transducer

Dental erosion and decay are increasingly prevalent but as yet there is no quantitative monitoring tool. Such a tool would allow earlier diagnosis and treatment and ultimately the prevention of more serious disease and pain. Despite ultrasound having been demonstrated as a method of probing the internal structures of teeth more than 40 years ago, development of a clinical tool has been slow. The aim of the study reported here was to investigate the use of a novel high frequency ultrasound transducer and validate it using a known dental technique.A tooth extracted for clinical reasons was sectioned to provide a sample that contained an enamel and dentine layer such that the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) was of a varying depth. The sample was then submerged in water and a B-scan recorded using a custom-designed piezocomposite ultrasound transducer with a centre frequency of 35 MHz and a −6 dB bandwidth of 24 MHz.The transducer has an axial resolution of 180 μm and a spatial resolution of 110 μm, a significant advance on previous work using lower frequencies. The depth of the EDJ was measured from the resulting data set and compared to measurements from the sequential grinding and imaging (SGI) method.The B-scan showed that the EDJ was of varying depth. Subsequently, the EDJ measurements were found to have a correlation of 0.89 (p < 0.01) against the SGI measurements. The results indicate that high frequency ultrasound is capable of measuring enamel thickness to an accuracy of within 10% of the total enamel thickness, whereas currently there is no clinical tool available to measure enamel thickness.     

Ultrasonic phased array controller for hyperthermia applications

Multiple and mechanically scanned ultrasound transducer systems have demonstrated the efficacy of using ultrasound to produce deep localized hyperthermia. The use of ultrasonic phased arrays has been proposed as an alternative to these systems. A phased array offers a more flexible approach to heating tumours in that the size, shape, and position of its focal region can be altered during the course of treatment in order to achieve the desired temperature distribution. This added flexibility comes at the cost of increased complexity of the hardware necessary to drive the transducer because each element requires its own amplifer with both phase and amplitude control. In order for phased arrays with large numbers of elements to be feasible for hyperthermia applications, the complexity of this circuitry must be minimized. This paper describes a circuit design which simplifies the electronics required to control a phased array transducer system for hyperthermia applications. The design is capable of controlling virtually any type of phased array transducer operating at frequencies less than 2 MHz. The system performance was verified through beam profile measurements using a 48-element tapered phased array transducer.     

Characterization of air-coupled ultrasound transducers in the frequency range 40 kHz-2 mHz using light diffraction tomography

The aim of this work was to show the applicability of light diffraction tomography on airborne ultrasound in the frequency range 40 kHz-2 MHz. Seven different air-coupled transducers were measured to show the method's performance regarding linearity, absolute pressure measurements, phase measurements, frequency response, S/N ratio and spatial resolution. A calibrated microphone and the pulse-echo method were used to evaluate the results. The absolute measurements agreed within the calibrated microphone's uncertainty range. Pulse waveforms and corresponding FFT diagrams show the method's higher bandwidth compared with the microphone. Further, the method offers non-perturbing measurements with high spatial resolution, which was especially advantageous for measurements close to the transducer surfaces. The S/N ratio was higher than or in the same range as that of the two comparison methods.     

Measurement of high intensity focused ultrasound fields by a fiber optic probe hydrophone

The acoustic fields of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer operating either at its fundamental (1.1 MHz) or third harmonic (3.3 MHz) frequency were measured by a fiber optic probe hydrophone (FOPH). At 1.1 MHz when the electric power applied to the transducer was increased from 1.6 to 125 W, the peak positive/negative pressures at the focus were measured to be p(+) = 1.7-23.3 MPa and p(-) = -1.2(-) -10.0 MPa. The corresponding spatial-peak pulse-average (I(SPPA)) and spatial-average pulse-average (I(SAPA)) intensities were I(SPPA) =77-6000 W/cm2 and I(SAPA) = 35-4365 W/cm2. Nonlinear propagation with harmonics generation was dominant at high intensities, leading to a reduced -6 dB beam size (L x W) of the compressional wave (11.5 x 1.8-8.8 1.04 mm) but an increased beam size of the rarefactional wave (12.5 x 1.6-13.2 x 2.0 mm). Enhancement ratio of absorbed power density in water increased from 1.0 to 3.0. In comparison, the HIFU transducer working at 3.3 MHz produced higher peak pressures (p(+) = 3.0-35.1 MPa and p(-) = -2.5(-) - 13.8 MPa) with smaller beam size (0.5 x 4 mm). Overall, FOPH was found to be a convenient and reliable tool for HIFU exposimetry measurement.     

Progress in developing a thermal method for measuring the output power of medical ultrasound transducers that exploits the pyroelectric effect

Progress in developing a new measurement method for ultrasound output power is described. It is a thermal-based technique with the acoustic power generated by a transducer being absorbed within a specially developed polyurethane rubber material, whose high absorption coefficient ensures energy deposition within a few mm of the ultrasonic wave entering the material. The rate of change of temperature at the absorber surface is monitored using the pyroelectric voltage generated from electrodes disposed either side of a 60 mm diameter, 0.061 mm thick membrane of the piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (pvdf) bonded to the absorber. The change in the pyroelectric output voltage generated by the sensor when the transducer is switched ON and OFF is proportional to the delivered ultrasound power. The sensitivity of the device is defined as the magnitude of these switch voltages to a unit input stimulus of power (watt). Three important aspects of the performance of the pyroelectric sensor have been studied. Firstly, measurements have revealed that the temperature dependent sensitivity increases over the range from approximately 20 °C to 30 °C at a rate of +1.6% °C⁻¹. Studies point to the key role that the properties of both the absorbing backing layer and pvdf membrane play in controlling the sensor response. Secondly, the high sensitivity of the technique has been demonstrated using an NPL Pulsed Checksource, a 3.5 MHz focused transducer delivering a nominal acoustic power level of 4 mW. Finally, proof-of-concept of a new type of acoustic sensor responding to time-averaged intensity has been demonstrated, through fabrication of an absorber-backed hydrophone of nominal active element diameter 0.4 mm. A preliminary study using such a device to resolve the spatial distribution of acoustic intensity within plane-piston and focused 3.5 MHz acoustic fields has been completed. Derived beam profiles are compared to conventional techniques that depend on deriving intensity from acoustic pressure measurements made using the sensor as a calibrated hydrophone.     

In vivo three-dimensional photoacoustic tomography of a whole mouse head

An in vivo photoacoustic imaging system was designed and implemented to image the entire small animal head. A special scanning gantry was designed to enable in vivo imaging in coronal cross sections with high contrast and good spatial resolution for the first time to our knowledge. By use of a 2.25 MHz ultrasonic transducer with a 6 mm diameter active element, an in-plane radial resolution of approximately 312 microm was achieved. Deeply seated arterial and venous vessels in the head measuring up to 1.7 cm in diameter were simultaneously imaged in vivo with 804 nm wavelength laser excitation of photoacoustic waves.     

基于模拟退火算法的自适应近场光束整形

在激光实际应用中,为了提高系统的利用效率,常常需要将激光器的输出光束整形为特定光强分布光束.基于纯相位液晶空间光调制器的高空间分辨率、实时可编程控制等特性,结合模拟退火算法搭建了一套自适应近场光束整形系统.理论模拟了该系统对于理想高斯光束的近场整形效果,并基于这一闭环系统,对固体激光器输出的近高斯光束进行了近场光束整形...     

Near-field terahertz imaging with a dynamic aperture

By introduction of an optical gating beam on a semiconductor wafer, near-field terahertz (THz) imaging with a dynamic aperture has been realized. The spatial resolution is determined by the focus size of the optical gating bean and the near-field diffraction effect. THz imaging with subwavelength spatial resolution (better than 50mum) is demonstrated.     

经颅超声刺激人脑海马的数值仿真研究

颞叶癫痫、阿尔兹海默症等神经系统疾病与大脑海马的异常放电相关。近年兴起的经颅超声刺激治疗脑疾病具有无创、能深入脑组织和可调控海马神经元放电的特点。该文基于128阵元相控阵换能器、人头颅CT数据、水体建立超声经颅刺激海马数值仿真模型,数值仿真优选适应于海马刺激的换能器结构参数,并结合电容模型,探究超声声学参数对海马神经元放电的影响。结果表明曲率半径90 mm、开口半径56 mm、阵元半径2.0 mm、频率0.9 MHz的128阵元相控超声换能器可形成适应于刺激人脑海马大小的焦域;且在超声频率为0.9 MHz时对海马神经元放电有较好的抑制作用;在较小的占空比和较低的空间峰值时间平均声强条件下对神经元放电有较好的抑制作用。     

Investigation of rat bone fracture healing using pulsed 1.5 MHz, 30 mW/cm burst ultrasound – Axial distance dependency

This study investigated the effect of LIPUS on fracture healing when fractures were exposed to ultrasound at three axial distances: z = 0 mm, 60 mm, and 130 mm. We applied LIPUS to rat fracture at these three axial distances mimicking the exposure condition of human fractures at different depths under the soft tissue. Measurement of LIPUS shows pressure variations in near field (nearby transducer); uniform profile was found beyond it (far field). We asked whether different positions of the fracture within the ultrasound field cause inconsistent biological effect during the healing process. Closed femoral fractured Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into control, near-field (0 mm), mid-near field (60 mm) or far-field (130 mm) groups. Daily LIPUS treatment (plane, but apodized source, see details in the text; 2.2 cm in diameter; 1.5 MHz sine waves repeating at 1 kHz PRF; spatial average temporal average intensity, I_SATA = 30 mW/cm²) was given to fracture site at the three axial distances. Weekly radiographs and endpoint microCT, histomorphometry, and mechanical tests were performed. The results showed that the 130 mm group had the highest tissue mineral density; and significantly higher mechanical properties than control at week 4. The 60 mm and 0 mm groups had significantly higher (i.e. p < 0.05) woven bone percentage than control group in radiological, microCT and histomorphometry measurements. In general, LIPUS at far field augmented callus mineralization and mechanical properties; while near field and mid-near field enhanced woven bone formation. Our results indicated the therapeutic effect of LIPUS is dependent on the axial distance of the ultrasound beam. Therefore, the depth of fracture under the soft tissue affects the biological effect of LIPUS. Clinicians have to be aware of the fracture depth when LIPUS is applied transcutaneously.     

Estimation of mechanical properties of a viscoelastic medium using a laser-induced microbubble interrogated by an acoustic radiation force

An approach to assess the mechanical properties of a viscoelastic medium using laser-induced microbubbles is presented. To measure mechanical properties of the medium, dynamics of a laser-induced cavitation microbubble in viscoelastic medium under acoustic radiation force was investigated. An objective lens with a 1.13 numerical aperture and an 8.0 mm working distance was designed to focus a 532 nm wavelength nanosecond pulsed laser beam and to create a microbubble at the desired location. A 3.5 MHz ultrasound transducer was used to generate acoustic radiation force to excite a laser-induced microbubble. Motion of the microbubble was tracked using a 25 MHz imaging transducer. Agreement between a theoretical model of bubble motion in a viscoelastic medium and experimental measurements was demonstrated. Young's modulii reconstructed using the laser-induced microbubble approach were compared with those measured using a direct uniaxial method over the range from 0.8 to 13 kPa. The results indicate good agreement between methods. Thus, the proposed approach can be used to assess the mechanical properties of a viscoelastic medium.     

Wideband high-frequency line-focus PVDF transducer for materials characterization

This paper presents the design, fabrication, operating characteristics and applications of a wideband, high-frequency, line-focus beam transducer we constructed using a 9 microm thick piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film. This transducer possesses a focal length of 2.38 mm and an aperture angle of 84 degrees. The frequency spectrum of the signal measured at the focal point indicates that the transducer has a wide frequency response which extends from 10 MHz to over 100 MHz. When compensated for the frequency-dependent attenuation of the coupling medium, the operational frequency exceeds 150 MHz. The transducer can be operated in a time-resolved pulse mode or in a radio-frequency (rf) tone burst mode. An application of the transducer to determine the anisotropic elastic property of a silicon wafer is demonstrated. The phase velocities of surface acoustic waves (SAW) propagating along various directions on the (001) surface of cubic silicon are measured and compared to computed values.     

An efficient sound speed estimation method to enhance image resolution in ultrasound imaging

Most of clinical ultrasound imaging systems use a pre-determined sound speed, mostly 1540 m/s, in transmit- and receive-beamforming while actual sound speed varies depending on tissue composition and temperature. Sound speed errors, particularly in receive-beamforming, lead to resolution degradation and sensitivity loss in ultrasound imaging. In this paper, we propose a sound speed estimation method in which an optimal sound speed, the speed that makes the echo signal delays at the transducer elements be best matched to the theoretical delays, is estimated by maximizing the beamformed echo signal amplitude with respect to the sound speed and the reflector displacement from the central axis of the ultrasound beam. Since the sound speed can be estimated from the echo signals on several scan lines, the proposed method does not require excessive computation. Experimental imaging studies of phantoms and porcine tissue with a 6 MHz 128-element linear probe and a 3 MHz 128-element convex probe have shown that spatial resolution, particularly in the lateral direction, can be improved by the proposed method.     

Angle-dependent ultrasonic detection and imaging of brachytherapy seeds using singular spectrum analysis

Transrectal-ultrasound-guided brachytherapy uses small titanium-shelled radioactive seeds to locally treat prostate cancer. During the implantation procedure, needles inserted transperitoneally cause gland movement resulting in seed misplacement and suboptimal dosimetry. In a previous study, an algorithm based on singular spectrum analysis (SSA) applied to envelope-detected ultrasound signals was proposed to determine seed locations [J. Mamou and E. J. Feleppa, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 121, 1790-1801 (2007)]. Successful implementation of the SSA algorithm could allow correcting dosimetry errors during the implantation procedure. The algorithm demonstrated promise when the seed orientation was parallel to the needle and normal to the ultrasound beam. In this present study, the algorithm was tested when the seed orientation deviated up to 22 degrees from normality. Experimental data from a seed in an ideal environment and in beef were collected with a single-element, spherically focused, 5 MHz transducer. Simulations were designed and evaluated with the algorithm. Finally, objective quantitative scoring metrics were developed to evaluate the algorithm performance and for comparison with B-mode images. The results quantitatively established that the SSA algorithm always outperformed B-mode images and that seeds could be detected accurately up to a deviation of approximately 10 degrees .     

Comparison of sound fields generated by different coded excitations--experimental results

This work reports the results of measurements of spatial distributions of ultrasound fields obtained from five energizing schemes. Three different codes, namely, chirp signal and two sinusoidal sequences were investigated. The sequences were phase modulated with 13 bits Barker code and 16 bits Golay complementary codes. Moreover, two reference signals generated as two and sixteen cycle sine tone bursts were examined. Planar, 50% (fractional) bandwidth, 15 mm diameter source transducer operating at 2 MHz center frequency was used in all measurements. The experimental data were collected using computerized scanning system and recorded using wideband, PVDF membrane hydrophone (Sonora 804). The measured echoes were compressed, so the complete pressure field in the investigated location before and after compression could be compared. In addition to a priori anticipated increase in the signal to noise ratio (SNR) for the decoded pressure fields, the results indicated differences in the pressure amplitude levels, directivity patterns, and the axial distance at which the maximum pressure amplitude was recorded. It was found that the directivity patterns of non-compressed fields exhibited shapes similar to the patterns characteristic for sinusoidal excitation having relatively long time duration. In contrast, the patterns corresponding to compressed fields resembled those produced by brief, wideband pulses. This was particularly visible in the case of binary sequences. The location of the maximum pressure amplitude measured in the 2 MHz field shifted towards the source by 15 mm and 25 mm for Barker code and Golay code, respectively. The results of this work may be applicable in the development of new coded excitation schemes. They could also be helpful in optimizing the design of imaging transducers employed in ultrasound systems designed for coded excitation. Finally, they could shed additional light on the relationship between the spatial field distribution and achievable image quality and in this way facilitate optimization of the images obtained using coded systems.     

Chirp编码的鲁棒医学超声内窥合成孔径方法

提出一种Chirp编码的鲁棒医学超声内窥合成孔径方法(CRSA),以减小人体组织声速误差对成像结果的影响。采用具有大多普勒容限与时间带宽积的Chirp码代替传统的Barker码激励超声换能器;再根据Chirp编码信号的特征,分别在纵向与横向完成超声回波的脉冲压缩。经FieldⅡ仿真实验以及超声成像实验结果验证,和Barker码比较,CRSA方法得到的实验结果,其横向分辨率由1.8 mm提高到1.4 mm;并且在6%的声速误差下,主瓣平均展宽和信噪比衰减分别由0.99 mm和3.8 dB降为0.04 mm和0.2 dB。实验结果表明,CRSA方法可有效抑制声速误差对分辨率与信噪比的影响,鲁棒性更强。      

Chirp-coded robust synthetic aperture technique for medical endoscopic ultrasonography

A chirp-coded robust synthetic aperture(CRSA) technique for medical endoscopic ultrasonography is presented.The technique uses chirp-coded excitation and pulse compression to enhance the robustness of synthetic aperture technique.The effect of resolution enhancement by the CRSA technique is demonstrated by both Field II simulation and practical experiment. Data for 6 point targets is simulated and the performance of CRSA is compared with that of conventional barker-coded synthetic aperture technique(BSA).Nylon ropes are examined by a single element transducer centered at 8 MHz.Both simulation and experimental results indicated that CRSA can improve resolution of ultrasound images with good robustness as compared with the conventional BSA technique.The lateral resolution is upgraded to 1.4 mm from 1.8 mm.The main-lobe broadening and SNR degradation are 0.04 mm and 0.2 dB respectively,which are 0.95 mm and 3.6 dB lower than those of BSA,when the sound speed error is 6%of the true value 1540 m/s.It therefore can be concluded that CRSA has more robustness than BSA against the disturbance caused by sound speed errors.     

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%.     

Analysis of 2-D motion tracking in ultrasound with dual transducers

We study displacement and strain measurement error of dual transducers (two linear arrays, aligned orthogonally and coplanar). Displacements along the beam of each transducer are used to obtain measurements in two-dimensions. Simulations (5 MHz) and experiments (10 MHz) are compared to measurements with a single linear array, with and without angular compounding. Translation simulations demonstrate factors of 1.07 larger and 8.0 smaller biases in the axial and lateral directions respectively, for dual transducers compared to angular compounding. As the angle between dual transducers decreases from 90° to 40°, for 1% compression simulations, the lateral RMS error ranges from 2.1 to 3.9 μm compared to 9 μm with angular compounding. Simulation of dual transducer misalignment of 1 mm and 2° result in errors of less than 9 μm. Experiments demonstrate factors of 3.0 and 5.2 lower biases for dual transducers in the axial and lateral directions respectively compared to angular compounding.