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。     

超声数字式相控阵换能器动态聚集系统研制

本文是研制超声相控阵换能器动态聚焦系统,它包括数字式多通道信号发射系统和两种超声相控阵换能器。用数字式多通道信号发射系统产生多路数字信号,通过改变每路信号的时延（相位）,控制相控换阵换能器的各个阵元,使它们发出的声束在空间某点聚焦。我们对这两种相控阵进行了实验测量,结果表明,用数字控制的相控阵换能器,可以实现精密的动态聚焦,并可取得良好的聚焦效果。     

超声数字式相控阵换能器动态聚焦系统研制

本文是研制超声相控阵换能器动态聚焦系统,它包括数字式多通道信号发射系统和两种超声相控阵换能器。用数字式多通道信号发射系统产生多路数字信号,通 过改变每路信号的时延(相位),控制相控阵换能器的各个阵元,使它们发出的声束在空间某点聚焦。我们对这两种相控阵进行了实验测量,结果表明,用数字控 制的相控阵换能器,可以实现精密的动态聚焦,并可取得良好的聚焦效果。     

时间反演聚焦经颅磁声电刺激仿真与实验研究*

无创脑神经调控技术是生物医学领域的研究热点,经颅磁声电刺激是利用静磁场和声场的耦合而产生的感应电场作用于神经组织,对大脑的目标位置进行刺激和调控的一项技术。颅骨的存在使超声在传播过程中发生相位畸变和幅值衰减,聚焦区域偏离,难以实现精准聚焦。该文基于时间反演法,模拟颅内点声源发射脉冲以及超声传播过程,计算各个阵元接收到的时间差,按照后到先发的原则发射脉冲进行聚焦刺激。与传统相控阵聚焦相比,焦点偏移现象基本得到解决,焦域横向、纵向分辨率均有所提高,提高了声束聚焦精度和感应电场峰值。通过搭建实验平台,将两种聚焦方法所测得的声场归一化处理,验证了时间反演法能补偿焦点偏移,并通过实验证实了超声换能器声场和产生感应电场分布存在较高的一致性。基于真实颅脑结构的虚拟点源时间反演聚焦可以实现无创、精准、灵活的经颅磁声电刺激,有助于推动精准神经调控技术的发展。     

圆环形聚焦声场的构建与调控

提出了一种由径向振动模式的圆环形压电换能器晶片组成的圆柱形阵列换能器结构, 依据阵元激励信号的相位调控机理, 推导了圆环形聚焦声场的调控公式, 在三维空间中构建了圆环形聚焦声场, 实现了对其聚焦区域大小、聚焦圆环半径以及轴向位置移动的调控. 理论分析和仿真研究表明, 所提出的圆柱形阵列换能器实现了对圆环形聚焦声场的调控. 为检测超声、功率超声、医学超声等应用领域提供了一种可实现的新型圆环形可调控聚焦声场.     

剪切波对时间反转调相的经颅聚焦超声的影响*

为研究颅骨中的剪切波对经颅聚焦超声的影响,该文利用Kelvin-Voigt固体声波方程并结合时间反转法,分别模拟了考虑剪切波和不考虑剪切波时,256-单元平面相控阵为实现超声经颅聚焦所需的相位调控,并将这两种相位调控都分别作用于考虑剪切波和不考虑剪切波时的聚焦情形。对这两种相位调控以及基于它们的经颅聚焦超声场的对比分析结果表明:聚焦深度较大时,剪切波对基于时间反转进行的相位调控影响较小;不过,剪切波对经颅聚焦超声场的强度分布影响较大,忽略剪切波会导致对焦域处声场聚焦强度的高估以及对颅骨附近声能量沉积的低估。     

基于合成孔径技术的内镜超声相控阵成像算法

利用孔径大小为2.32mm的16阵元换能器,搭建了一套16通道的内镜超声相控阵成像实验系统。在此基础上提出了一种适用于内镜成像的相控阵成像算法(PAI),该算法利用延时和叠加算法(DAS)取得扫描线数据,再利用合成孔径技术中的相干样点叠加,得到高分辨率图像。该相控阵成像算法实现了发射和接收的动态聚焦。经FieldII仿真和内镜探头超声成像实验验证,与延时和叠加算法以及动态接收聚焦算法(DRF)相比,图像的理论横向分辨率分别提高了93.68%和17.5%,实验获得的实际横向分辨率分别提高了92.78%和14.69%,验证了相控阵成像算法和实验系统的可行性。     

相控阵高强度聚焦超声高阵元驱动效率相位独立控制方法

针对如何简化上百阵元高强度聚焦超声相控阵控制模块的问题,本文提出高阵元驱动效率的相位独立控制方法。利用该方法计算了一种256阵元中心开孔球面相控阵的聚焦声场,并与传统的幅度相位综合控制方法进行了分析和比较。计算和实验结果表明该方法在简化相控阵驱动控制模块、提高阵元驱动效率的同时,可以有效实现相控阵的空间三维单焦点聚焦。由于阵元驱动控制的简化而引起的焦域能量偏差,可以通过适当调整相控阵输入总声功率进行有效的补偿。      

经颅聚焦超声联合微泡开放血脑屏障的数值仿真研究

近年大鼠等动物实验表明经颅聚焦超声联合微泡技术可无创开放血脑屏障实现药物递送,但在临床治疗时由于人体头颅非均质结构及其高声衰减特性,需优化超声经颅聚焦参数和微泡参数。本文基于人头颅CT数据、82阵元相控换能器和血管建立了三维数值仿真模型,研究超声及微泡参数对机械指数和靶区声发射的影响,评估血脑屏障开放程度及组织损伤的可能性。结果表明,声功率和微泡初始密度增大,机械指数和宽带噪声强度增大;频率增大,稳态空化强度增大;当微泡初始半径大于5μm时,稳态空化显著增强。该研究结果为经颅聚焦超声联合微泡技术诱导可控的BBB开放及安全有效递送治疗药物提供了理论数据和技术参考。     

圆柱类构件超声相控阵聚焦模型

在利用平面相控阵超声换能器对圆柱类构件检测时,受曲界面结构引起的入射波和回波时延的影响,扫描声束的波阵面产生弯曲,在利用传统迭代遍历算法计算延迟时间时效率低,无法发挥相控阵换能器检测优势。针对上述问题,建立了一种基于圆柱类构件特征和耦合介质特性的超声相控阵扫描成像的聚焦模型。该模型基于换能器、耦合介质、圆柱类构件材料特性和几何关系以及声线模型和折射定律,建立了耦合介质及被检构件的声速、曲面曲率半径、阵列与曲面间的距离等关联的延迟时间聚焦控制模型。利用该模型计算出的延时时间,对各阵元发射时间进行控制,从而实现扫描声束的聚焦。该文以液体和有机玻璃制介质楔块为例,对圆柱钢曲面的相控阵声束聚焦进行了仿真实验,结果表明该文方法计算效率显著提升,同时声束可以在预设位置实现聚焦,验证了该模型在计算效率上的优势与有效性。     

Ultrasonic guided wave focusing by a generalized phased array

Ultrasonic guided wave focusing by a generalized phased array is studied based on dispersion curves in a multi-layered medium. The different phase of the guided waves with different frequency is added on the excitation signal on each element of the transducer array for focusing. This can be realized by designing a proper excitation pulse based on the dispersion curves of the guided waves for each of the transducer array elements. The numerical simulation results show that the guided waves with different modes, different frequency components, and from different elements of the transducer array can all be focused at the target and focusing is achieved.     

经颅超声聚焦方法和声场特性研究

基于高分辨的CT数据建立了非均匀颅骨仿真模型,该模型引入了颅骨的声衰减系数,深入研究和分析了声波时间反转法和超声相控阵法在颅脑中的聚焦方法及效果。颅骨具有较强的声波衰减特性,使用时间反转聚焦时需要进行幅度补偿,对于0.7MHz的频率信号,幅度补偿后的时间反转聚焦声场主瓣宽度窄、旁瓣低,焦点处声场比无幅度补偿的时间反转法提高8.86dB,比超声相控阵聚焦法提高7.89dB,具有很好的空间聚焦精度和聚焦效率。研究了颅骨衰减系数、声场焦点位置、声波频率、换能器阵列位置和方位等参数对聚焦声场的影响,结果表明,幅度补偿时间反转法比相控阵法具有更低的旁瓣,且高频时的聚焦效果比相控阵好,相控阵聚焦对换能器阵列的位置和方位比较敏感,而时间反转经颅超声聚焦对声传播路径和入射角具有更高的鲁棒性。      

Numerical simulations of partial elements excitation for hemispherical high-intensity focused ultrasound phased transducer

The hemispherical phased transducer maximizes the coverage of the skull and the ultrasonic energy per unit area of the skull is minimized, thereby reducing the risk of skull burns, but the transducer has a small focal area adjustment range, increasing the focal length of treatment is an urgent question for this type of transducer. In this paper, a three-dimensional high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transcranial propagation model is established based on the human head structure. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) is combined with the Westervelt acoustic wave nonlinear propagation equation and Penne's biological heat conduction equation for numerical simulation of the sound pressure field and temperature field. Forming a treatable focal area in a small-opening hemispherical transducer with a small amount of numerical simulation calculation focusing at a set position to determine the minimum partial excitation area ratio of focusing. And then, applying these preliminary results to a large-opening diameter hemispherical transducer and the temperature field formed by it or full excitation is studied. The results show that the focus area with the excitation area ratio of less than 22% moves forward to the transducer side when the excitation sound is formed. When the excitation area ratio is greater than or equal to 23%, it focuses at the set position. In the case of partial incentives, using 23% of the partial array, the adjustable range of the treatable focal area formed in the three-dimensional space is larger than that of the full excitation.     

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.     

基于超声相控阵的环焊缝缺陷检测方法研究

针对传统超声探头焦距固定,检测位置的改变就要更换相应焦距的探头而影响检测效率的问题,提出一种基于超声相控阵换能器的环焊缝缺陷检测方法。而超声相控阵具有电子偏转和电子聚焦特性,能在不移动的情况下发射偏转聚焦超声束,有效地解决了上述问题。首先基于超声相控线阵换能器的声场特点,采用数值分析方法,研究了影响声束偏转聚焦性能的几个主要参数。然后给出了与超声相控阵换能器相连接的多通道数据采集系统结构。介绍了单通道声信号的硬件结构及相应的信号处理方法,实现了对换能器中单个阵元的精确延时的控制。实验结果表明,优化设计的超声相控线阵换能器具有较高的检测精度和检测效率。     

The role of internal reflection in transskull phase distortion

Phase distortion due to reflection in transcranial ultrasound propagation is investigated. Understanding of these phase-dependent properties is motivated by efforts to construct a reliable prediction model for noninvasive ultrasound therapy in the brain. The present study measures the phase of an ultrasound wave after propagation through an ex vivo human skull and considers the dependence of this phase on reflections between the transducer and the skull surface in addition to reflections within the skull. Experiments are performed using a human calvarium fragment placed between an underwater ultrasonic transducer and a polyvinylidene difluoride hydrophone. Data are presented indicating the ultrasound phase dependence as a function of burst length and the distance of the transducer element from the skull at a driving frequency of 0.5 MHz. Experimental results are compared with predictions obtained from a propagation model which considers transmission at the skull interfaces as well as multiple reflections within the skull. It is concluded that by using short ultrasound bursts a distance may be indicated that beyond which the contributions of transducer reflections on the phase of the propagating wave may be neglected. Additionally, a comparison of the measurements with simulated data supports the contention that for reasonably small incident angles, reflection within the skull causes minimal phase shift.     

Measurements of velocity and attenuation of leaky waves using an ultrasonic array

A new method of measuring velocity and attenuation of leaky surface waves is presented. A single focused transmitting transducer and linear receiving array in a pitch-catch arrangement are used in the proposed system. The spatial distribution of the acoustic field in the leaky wave is recorded by the array, and the parameters of the leaky wave can be obtained by processing the output waveforms. In comparison with existing material characterization systems, the mechanical scanning of the transducers is not used any more, and the measurement time is only limited by the time of the wave propagation and speed of the electronic data acquisition system.