超声相控阵在多层媒质中的声场模式优化

针对超声在多层媒质中的传播特性,引入相位补偿因子并结合遗传算法, 提出了一种可对多层媒质进行声聚焦控制的方法.利用该方法对16×16二维超声相控阵在多层生物媒质中的多焦点声场模式进行了仿真,计算了生物媒质不同厚度层和不同吸收系数时的声场. 结果表明:该方法能优化多焦点声场模式,抑制旁瓣,提高声场增益,将声强最大限度地聚焦在目标区域内; 改变生物组织不同层的厚度和不同层的吸收系数,焦点位置不发生变化,但焦域内的声强会有所变化.     

高强度聚焦超声间歇式治疗中焦域温度分布的 仿真研究*

探究不同治疗深度、组织类型和治疗模式对高强度聚焦超声焦域温度场的影响。采用有限元法建立高强度聚焦超声辐照组织的二维轴对称仿真模型,通过Westervelt方程和Pennes生物热传导方程计算高强度聚焦超声焦域的声场和温度场分布。仿真结果表明:随着治疗深度的增加,焦域内温度逐渐降低,有效温升面积减小;不同组织类型在相同条件下的焦域温度不同,但焦域形状差别不大;单次治疗时间长、治疗时间间隔短的模式焦域温升速率快,有效温升面积区域大。焦域温度是高强度聚焦超声肿瘤治疗中判断治疗有效性和安全性的重要因素之一,该文通过数值仿真法,实现了预测高强度聚焦超声间歇式治疗模式下焦域组织温度场分布,有望为制定安全、有效的高强度聚焦超声术前治疗方案提供理论参考。     

基于变分模态分解与多尺度排列熵的生物组织变性识别

根据高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)治疗中超声散射回波信号的特点,本文利用变分模态分解(VMD)与多尺度排列熵(MPE)对生物组织变性识别进行了研究.首先对生物组织中的超声散射回波信号进行变分模态分解,根据各阶模态的功率谱信息熵值分离出噪声分量和有用分量;对分离出的有用信号进行重构并提取其多尺度排列熵;然后通过Gustafson-Kessel (GK)模糊聚类确定聚类中心,采用欧氏贴近度与择近原则对生物组织进行变性识别.将所提方法应用于HIFU治疗中超声散射回波信号实验数据,用遗传算法对多尺度排列熵的参数优化后,对293例未变性组织和变性组织的超声散射回波信号数据进行了多尺度排列熵分析,发现变性组织的超声散射回波信号的多尺度排列熵值要高于未变性组织;多尺度排列熵可以较好地识别生物组织是否变性.相对于EMD-MPE-GK模糊聚类以及VMD-小波熵(WE)-GK模糊聚类变性识别方法,本文所提方法中变性与未变性组织特征交叠区域数据点更少,聚类效果和分类性能更好;本实验环境下生物组织变性识别结果表明,该方法的识别率更高,高达93.81%.     

多目标优化设计方法在翼型气动优化中的应用研究

本文将粘性流场分析与数值优化方法结合起来,由粘性流场分析得到升力、阻力等气动参数作为样本训练神经网络,并用训练好的神经网络来预测优化目标函数,分别采用了多日标遗传算法与多目标粒子群算法,对一种跨音速翼型的气动性能进行了多目标优化设计,并采用模糊偏好信息的多属性决策方法对多个优化解进行评价选优.算例研究表明,两种多目标优化算法都能得到有限多个多目标优化解,通过多属性决策方法评价选优的优化翼型气动性能有明显提高.     

超声多波聚焦及声偏振方向控制方法*

在超声多波聚焦思想的基础上,通过数值模拟计算,分析了时间反转法的多波聚焦特性以及对声场偏振方向进行控制的可行性。结果表明,在待测目标的不同位置处,时间反转法都能够实现多波聚焦的效果,使具有不同传播速度、不同偏振特性的多种声波自适应聚焦。但是,在介质的近表面处,由于受到表面波的影响,多波聚焦声场仍然具有椭圆偏振特性,无法实现声场偏振方向精确控制的目的;而位于介质内部的多波聚焦点受到表面波影响很小,数值计算结果表明此时多波聚焦声场具有线偏振特性,通过改变声源前后两个脉冲的激发幅度和相位,可以控制声场的偏振方向,达到偏振方向扫描的目的。该文的研究为精确检测裂纹方向或界面性质提供一种可能的途径。     

高强度聚焦超声二维相控阵列的声场控制模式研究

研究了高强度聚焦超声热疗场的声场模式,并给出了二维相控阵列的声场模式控制算法。单焦点扫描声场模式在治疗中等偏大的肿瘤时容易引起非线性效应;采用基于伪逆矩阵的声场合成算法,直接形成了多焦点的控制模式,为焦域控制提供了新的思路。利用声场快速算法对30×30二维面阵的单焦点扫描声场模式和多焦点直接合成声场模式进行计算机仿真,仿真结果表明多焦点模式大大降低了焦点处的声强;而且基于此模式,采用加权优化算法对激励向量进行优化从而提高了阵列的激励效率,采用改进的特征向量优化算法优化了多焦点热疗模式的声场增益,增加了能量在目标体积的沉积,同时消除不期望的潜在热点,为超声热疗场的模式控制提供了理论依据。     

基于FPGA的相控超声发射系统设计与实现

设计了一种以FPGA为核心的相控超声发射系统,对该系统工作原理及相控聚焦方法进行了研究;设计了一种二维相控阵列,并进行了阵列定点聚焦延时仿真;最后运用该系统实现了对相控阵列的高精度聚焦延时控制,并经过DA转换、电压及功率放大,产生了幅值及波形可控的激励信号,测试了该系统对实际目标的定位精度;实验结果显示对实际目标定位偏差在3%左右,该超声相控发射系统可实现相控聚焦发射,延时控制精度高,可靠性好。     

时间反转聚焦在组织中形成损伤的数值建模

为考察基于时间反转方法的高强度聚焦超声治疗在预设目标点处的组织损伤情况,使用三维有限差分算法求解Westervelt方程,建立非线性声波传播数值模型,采用97阵元相控阵结合虚拟源的时间反转方法进行超声聚焦,分析其形成的声场和热场,并考察目标点偏离轴线时的组织损伤形成规律。结果表明随着目标点偏轴距离的增大,声压旁瓣开始增多。旁瓣的温升较低,不足以形成组织损伤。时间反转方法可用于多点聚焦,在一定的范围内,形成多点目标损伤而不产生额外的周围组织损伤。同时多点聚焦可以形成一个较大的损伤区域,减少超声治疗时间。     

变厚度聚焦换能器对声焦域轴向长度影响的研究*

针对不同厚度的病变组织,改变声焦域轴向长度能提高高强度聚焦超声在临床治疗过程中的安全性和有效性。基于多频超声波叠加原理,该文提出了变厚度(多频)聚焦换能器,并设计了两种类型变厚度聚焦换能器。根据瑞利积分法推导了变厚度聚焦换能器声场,计算和分析了变厚度聚焦换能器的声焦域轴向长度,并与等厚度(单频)聚焦换能器声焦域轴向长度进行对比。结果显示,变厚度聚焦换能器中心到边缘的厚度变化趋势与声焦域轴向长度变化相关,中间薄两边厚换能器声焦域轴向长度缩短,中间厚两边薄换能器声焦域轴向长度变长,且实验验证了理论的正确性。研究结果可为变厚度聚焦换能器声场研究和高强度聚焦超声的临床治疗提供参考。     

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。     

HIFU治疗中换能器驱动电功率变化机制及规律*

高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)治疗中的驱动电功率对治疗效率起着非常关键的作用,驱动电功率控制的精准性势必会影响治疗的效率和安全性。前期研究表明：HIFU治疗过程中焦域瞬态物理特性的变化会导致换能器的负载阻抗发生变化,进而影响HIFU驱动电功率,但驱动电功率与焦域瞬态物理特性之间的影响关系及规律尚不明确。该文基于电压、电流传感器、空化检测探头和温度传感器等器件,构建了一种HIFU治疗中驱动电功率实时监测及焦域声空化、温度检测系统。基于该实验研究系统,以离体牛心组织作为HIFU辐照对象,分别研究了HIFU焦域温度变化、声空化及组织损伤与驱动电功率之间的变化关系及规律。研究结果表明：当焦域温度升高时,驱动电功率缓慢上升,驱动电功率与温度变化有良好的相关性;当空化产生时,驱动电功率出现明显的波动;当组织出现损伤时,驱动电功率呈陡然下降的变化。三种情景下,驱动电功率变化有明显区别,这有望为区分HIFU治疗过程中焦域处发生损伤和空化以及实时监测靶组织损伤程度提供一种新的解决方案。     

Influence of dynamic tissue properties on temperature elevation and lesions during HIFU scanning therapy:Numerical simulation

When large tumors are treated,ablation of the entire volume of tumors requires multiple treatment spots formed by high intensity-focused ultrasound(HIFU)scanning therapy.The heating effect of HIFU on biological tissue is mainly reflected in temperature elevation and tissue lesions.Tissue property parameters vary with temperature and,in turn,the distribution of temperature as well as the heating effects change accordingly.In this study,an HIFU scanning therapy model considering dynamic tissue properties is provided.The acoustic fields and temperature fields are solved combining the Helmholtz wave equation with Pennes bio-heat transfer equation based on the finite element method(FEM)to investigate the effects of various tissue properties(i.e.,the attenuation coefficient,acoustic velocity,thermal conductivity,specific heat capacity,density,and blood perfusion rate)on heating performance.Comparisons of the temperature distribution and thermal lesions under static and dynamic properties are made based on the data of tissue property parameters varying with temperature.The results show that the dynamic changes of thermal conductivity,specific heat capacity,and acoustic velocity may account for the decrease of temperature elevation in HIFU treatment,while the dynamic changes of attenuation coefficient,density,and blood perfusion rate aggravate the increase of temperature on treatment spots.Compared with other properties,the dynamic change of attenuation coefficient has a greater impact on tissue temperature elevation.During HIFU scanning therapy,the temperature elevation and tissue lesions of the first treatment spot are smaller than those of the subsequent treatment spots,but the temperature on the last treatment spot drops faster during the cooling period.The ellipsoidal tissue lesion is not symmetrical;specifically,the part facing toward the previous treatment spot tends to be larger.Under the condition of the same doses,the temperature elevation and the size of tissue lesions under dynamic properties present significant growth in comparison to static properties.Besides,the tissue lesion begins to form earlier with a more unsymmetrical shape and is connected to the tissue lesion around the previous treatment spot.As a result,lesions around all the treatment spots are connected with each other to form a closed lesion region.The findings in this study reveal the influence of dynamic tissue properties on temperature elevation and lesions during HIFU scanning therapy,providing useful support for the optimization of treatment programs to guarantee higher efficacy and safety.     

Pulse compression technique for simultaneous HIFU surgery and ultrasonic imaging: a preliminary study

In an ultrasound image-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) surgery, reflected HIFU waves received by an imaging transducer should be suppressed for real-time simultaneous imaging and therapy. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of pulse compression scheme combined with notch filtering in order to minimize these HIFU interference signals. A chirp signal modulated by the Dolph-Chebyshev window with 3-9 MHz frequency sweep range is used for B-mode imaging and 4 MHz continuous wave is used for HIFU. The second order infinite impulse response notch filters are employed to suppress reflected HIFU waves whose center frequencies are 4 MHz and 8 MHz. The prototype integrated HIFU/imaging transducer that composed of three rectangular elements with a spherically con-focused aperture was fabricated. The center element has the ability to transmit and receive 6 MHz imaging signals and two outer elements are only used for transmitting 4 MHz continuous HIFU wave. When the chirp signal and 4 MHz HIFU wave are simultaneously transmitted to the target, the reflected chirp signals mixed with 4 MHz and 8 MHz HIFU waves are detected by the imaging transducer. After the application of notch filtering with pulse compression process, HIFU interference waves in this mixed signal are significantly reduced while maintaining original imaging signal. In the single scanline test using a strong reflector, the amplitude of the reflected HIFU wave is reduced to −45 dB. In vitro test, with a sliced porcine muscle shows that the speckle pattern of the restored B-mode image is close to that of the original image. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential for the pulse compression scheme with notch filtering to achieve real-time ultrasound image-guided HIFU surgery.     

基于回波平移序列的快速三维磁共振温度成像方法

高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）是一种无创的热消融疗法，为保证其安全性和有效性，需要一种精度高、速度快的测温方法在其治疗过程中对温度进行监控.基于质子共振频率位移（PRFS）的磁共振温度成像（MRT）对温度具有较高的灵敏度，且与温度具有良好的线性关系，因此常被用于引导HIFU治疗.然而在实际应用中，HIFU治疗的最大隐患在于可能造成表皮灼伤，并且灼伤区域可能与焦点区域相隔较远.因此MRT的监控范围十分重要.本文基于三维回波平移成像序列，结合可控混叠的空间并行成像技术，实现了时间分辨率为3 s的快速三维温度成像.为了验证该方法的精度，本文首先设计了仿体降温实验，利用光纤温度计验证回波平移序列测温的准确度和精确度.然后在室温条件下扫描离体猪肉组织，对比加速前后的MRT的测温精确度.在HIFU加热条件下扫描离体猪肉组织，对比加速前后的MRT的测温准确度.结果显示，本文提出的方法可以在3 s内完成三维温度精准测量，对于HIFU治疗的安全监控具有重要意义.     

Influence of support properties on the sound radiated from the vibrations of rectangular plates

The control of the forced vibration response of structures through the optimal tuning of its supports is desirable in many applications. Tuning may enhance the dissipation of vibration energy within the supports, thereby reducing fatigue and structure-borne noise. Two different models were developed to calculate the optimal support stiffness that minimizes the velocity response of homogeneous plates. The first model, based on the wave propagation at the edge, yields a good first cut approximation of the optimal properties. The optimal viscous and viscoelastic support stiffness for minimal reflection at the edge was calculated. Maximum absorption of the incident waves occurs when the viscous support stiffness matches the characteristic mechanical impedances of the plate. The second model, based on the Rayleigh-Ritz method, yields more accurate estimates of the optimal support stiffness required to minimize the forced velocity response of the finite rectangular plate. The optimal support properties calculated from the two different methods were in good agreement. This suggested that the modal response of the plate is strongly influenced by the wave reflections at the edges. Finally, the effects of support properties on the sound radiated from the plate were investigated. The optimal support stiffness that minimizes the radiated sound power was found to be smaller than the value that minimizes the velocity response. The results show that both the velocity response and sound radiation are strongly influenced by dissipation of vibration energy at the edges, and demonstrate that support tuning can yield significant noise and vibration reduction.     

基于电阻抗层析成像的高强度聚焦超声温度监测技术

作为一种对正常组织无损伤且不易引起癌细胞转移的非入侵肿瘤治疗手段,高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)治疗过程中焦域的温度监测是实现剂量精准控制的关键.本文基于生物组织的温度-电阻抗的关系,将电阻抗层析成像(EIT)和HIFU治疗相结合,提出了一种利用组织焦平面的表面电压实现电阻抗重构的检测技术.建立了HIFU治疗和EIT综合系统模型,在考虑组织的声吸收条件下,对三维Helmholtz方程在柱坐标下的声场计算进行了二维简化,并引入Pennes生物热传导方程来计算HIFU焦域的声压和温升分布特性;引入生物组织的温度-电阻抗关系,基于麦克斯韦电磁场理论,建立了具有温度分布HIFU焦域的电流和电压计算模型,利用恒流注入的边界条件实现电场计算,获得焦平面的表面电压分布.在数值计算中,利用实验聚焦换能器参数,模拟了在固定声功率下组织焦域的声场和温度场分布,以及中心和偏心聚焦条件下不同治疗时刻的电导率分布;然后通过对称电极的循环电流注入,计算了组织模型焦平面内的电流密度和电势分布,获得了焦平面圆周分布的表面电极电压;进一步采用修正的牛顿-拉夫逊算法,利用32×32的表面电极电压实现了焦平面内电导率分布的重建.结果表明,基于温度-电阻抗关系的EIT电导率重建技术不但能准确定位HIFU焦域中心,还能恢复HIFU治疗中焦域的温度分布,证明了EIT用于HIFU治疗中温度监测的可行性,为其疗效评估和剂量控制提供了一种无创电阻抗测量和成像新方法.     

Differential ultrasonic imaging for the characterization of lesions induced by high intensity focused ultrasound

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an effective technique for noninvasive local creating coagulative necrotic lesions in deep target volumes without damage to the overlaying or surrounding tissues. It is very important to detect and evaluate lesions generated by HIFU during treatment procedures. This study describes the development of several differential ultrasonic imaging techniques to characterize lesions based on estimation of relative changes in tissue properties derived from backscattered RF data. A single, spherical HIFU transducer was used to produce lesions in soft tissues. The RF signals were recorded as outputs from a modified diagnostic ultrasound system. After some preprocessing, the integrated backscatter values, which can be used as an indicator of the microstructure and backscattering property of tissues, were calculated before and after HIFU treatment. The differential integrated backscatter values were subsequently used to form images revealing the lesion areas. The differential attenuation imaging with the same RF data was also performed, which has been proposed by a few researchers. The results of the differential integrated backscatter imaging were compared with that of the differential attenuation imaging and the former method offers some advantages over the latter method. The two methods above are both based on spectrum analysis and would spend much computational time. Therefore, some simple digital differential imaging methods, including absolute difference (AD), sum absolute differences (SAD), and sum squared differences (SSD) algorithms, were also proposed to detect HIFU-induced lesions. However, these methods cannot provide the information of the degree of tissue damage. Experiments in vitro bovine muscle and liver validated the method of differential integrated backscatter imaging for the characterization of HIFU-induced lesions. And the AD, SAD, and SSD algorithms can be implemented in real-time during HIFU therapy to visualize the lesions.     

Noninvasive treatment efficacy monitoring and dose control for high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy using relative electrical impedance variation

As an effective therapeutic modality, high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) can destroy tumour tissues by thermocoagulation with less metastasis, but it is still limited by inaccurate non-invasive temperature monitoring and efficacy evaluation. A model of electrical impedance measurement during HIFU therapy was established using the temperatureimpedance relationship. Based on the simulations of acoustic pressure, temperature, and electrical conductivity, the impedance of the phantom was calculated and experimentally demonstrated for different values of acoustic power values and treatment time. We proved that the relative impedance variation(RIV) increases linearly with the increasing treatment time at a fixed acoustic power, and the relative impedance variation rate shows a linear relationship with the acoustic power.The RIV and treatment time required for HIFU treatment efficacy are inversely proportional to the acoustic power and the square of acoustic power, respectively. The favourable results suggest that RIV can be used as an efficient indicator for noninvasive temperature monitoring and efficacy evaluation and may provide new strategy for accurate dose control of HIFU therapy.     

In-line silica capillary tube all-silica fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensor for detecting high intensity focused ultrasound fields

Aiming at detecting high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) fields, this letter reports on a novel in-line silica capillary tube all-silica fiber-optic Fabry-Perot (ILSCT-ASFP) interferometric sensor fabricated by splicing a commercially available silica capillary tube to two single-mode fibers. The experimental results show that such a novel ILSCT-ASFP interferometric sensor with a cavity length of ～60.76 μm has an excellent fringe visibility of up to ～20 dB, and the fringe visibility is still good when the cavity length extends up to ～1031.07 μm. The measured wavelength-temperature sensitivity of 0.000858 nm/°C shows that the wavelength drift of the fabricated ILSCT-ASFP interferometric sensor towards temperature is extremely low. Meanwhile, the measurement of HIFU fields by this novel sensor is demonstrated, and the experimental results indicate that the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensing system for sensing a 0.93 MHz HIFU field with a pressure of 2.69 MPa in the focus area can reach 42.8 dB. The corresponding noise equivalent pressure is 0.0194 MPa, and the calculated acoustic sensitivity is 65.4 mV/MPa over a 2.5 MHz measurement bandwidth.