剪切波对HIFU经颅聚焦形成温度场影响的数值仿真研究

在高强度聚焦超声经颅治疗时,既有纵波又有剪切波,为了保障该治疗方法的安全有效性,有必要分析剪切波对HIFU治疗温度场的影响。该文基于人体头颅CT数据和曲率半径为150 mm的256阵元的半球相控换能器建立三维高强度聚焦超声经颅声波传播模型,利用时域有限差分法结合Westervelt声波非线性传播方程、动量方程、质量守恒方程和Pennes生物热传导方程数值仿真其形成温度场,研究在相同输入功率、不同聚焦角度条件下对应阵元数进行激励时,剪切波对换能器形成温度场的影响。结果表明,随换能器聚焦角度减小,在几何焦点处形成的焦域面积逐渐增大,考虑剪切波形成的温度场达到65?C所需时间逐渐延长,焦点前移程度越大;在相同聚焦角度条件下,考虑剪切波的温度场达到65?C所需时间更短,旁瓣更少,在颅骨处的温度更高,对焦点前移几乎没有影响;随换能器聚焦角度减小,考虑剪切波的模型形成的焦域面积变化范围更大;幂指数函数形式对不同聚焦角度下焦域面积大小的拟合优度高,可预测不同聚焦角度换能器形成的焦域面积。     

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。      

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。     

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。     

高频聚焦超声声场和温度场的仿真研究

为探究临床常用的7 MHz高频聚焦超声在多层生物组织中的声传播以及毫秒级时间内的生物传热规律问题,基于Westervelt方程和Pennes传热方程,使用有限元方法建立高频聚焦超声辐照多层组织的非线性热黏性声传播及传热模型。首先分析了线性模型和非线性模型之间的差异,然后在非线性模型下探究换能器的参数对声场和温度场的影响。仿真结果显示：在7 MHz频率下,当换能器输出声功率超过5 W时,声波传播的非线性效应不可忽视(p <0.05);当声功率从5 W增大到15 W时,非线性模型与线性模型预测的温度偏差从20%增加到34.703%;高频聚焦超声波的非线性行为比低频更加显著,基频能量向高次谐波转移的程度增大,声功率为10 W和15 W时4次谐波与基波之比分别达到7.33%和12.12%;高频换能器参数的改变对组织中声场和温度场分布的影响较大,换能器焦距从12 mm减小到11.2 mm,焦点处最高温度增加了77%。结果表明,7 MHz聚焦超声的非线性声传播需要考虑到4次谐波的影响。该文提出的多层组织非线性仿真模型可为高频聚焦超声换能器参数优化及制定安全、有效的术前治疗方案提供理论参考。     

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。     

Numerical approaches to simulating nonlinear ultrasound fields generated by diagnostic-type transducers

Two theoretical approaches for simulating nonlinear focused ultrasound fields generated by a diagnostic convex array are compared. The first model is based on the three-dimensional Westervelt equation and describes the full structure of the array field with high accuracy. However, it requires great computational resources and is technically difficult. The second model is based on an axially symmetric form of the parabolic KZK equation for estimating the strength of nonlinear effects in the focal region of a beam, which reduces the computational time by a factor of several hundreds. To establish the boundary conditions to the KZK model, the radius and the focal length of a circular piston source are defined such that the simulated field on the beam axis in the linear case fits the real structure of the field in the focal region. It is shown that the parabolic model can be used to accurately describe the spatial and temporal structure of the field generated by a diagnostic transducer in the focal region of the beam along its axis and in the plane of the beam’s electronic focusing.     

Modeling the propagation of nonlinear three-dimensional acoustic beams in inhomogeneous media

A three-dimensional model of the forward propagation of nonlinear sound beams in inhomogeneous media, a generalized Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov equation, is described. The Texas time-domain code (which accounts for paraxial diffraction, nonlinearity, thermoviscous absorption, and absorption and dispersion associated with multiple relaxation processes) was extended to solve for the propagation of nonlinear beams for the case where all medium properties vary in space. The code was validated with measurements of the nonlinear acoustic field generated by a phased array transducer operating at 2.5 MHz in water. A nonuniform layer of gel was employed to create an inhomogeneous medium. There was good agreement between the code and measurements in capturing the shift in the pressure distribution of both the fundamental and second harmonic due to the gel layer. The results indicate that the numerical tool described here is appropriate for propagation of nonlinear sound beams through weakly inhomogeneous media.     

Evaluation of a wave-vector-frequency-domain method for nonlinear wave propagation

A wave-vector-frequency-domain method is presented to describe one-directional forward or backward acoustic wave propagation in a nonlinear homogeneous medium. Starting from a frequency-domain representation of the second-order nonlinear acoustic wave equation, an implicit solution for the nonlinear term is proposed by employing the Green's function. Its approximation, which is more suitable for numerical implementation, is used. An error study is carried out to test the efficiency of the model by comparing the results with the Fubini solution. It is shown that the error grows as the propagation distance and step-size increase. However, for the specific case tested, even at a step size as large as one wavelength, sufficient accuracy for plane-wave propagation is observed. A two-dimensional steered transducer problem is explored to verify the nonlinear acoustic field directional independence of the model. A three-dimensional single-element transducer problem is solved to verify the forward model by comparing it with an existing nonlinear wave propagation code. Finally, backward-projection behavior is examined. The sound field over a plane in an absorptive medium is backward projected to the source and compared with the initial field, where good agreement is observed.     

球形腔聚焦换能器的非线性声场建模

球形腔聚焦换能器是一种特殊形式的聚焦换能器。为理论证实球形腔聚焦换能器能突破传统超声聚焦在聚焦精度和聚焦增益上的限制,采用Westervelt非线性方程并结合时域有限差分法,建立了球形腔聚焦换能器的非线性声场的数值模型。数值计算了直径为120 mm的0.6 MHz球形腔聚焦换能器的非线性声场,并与传统球壳形聚焦换能器进行了对比。当激励声压为100 kPa时,球形腔聚焦换能器与同尺寸壳形聚焦换能器相比,焦点正声压增益提高约8.5倍,且焦域精度更高,-6 dB聚焦区域在z方向减小约20倍,达到次波长尺度。研究表明球形腔聚焦换能器在高强度聚焦超声精细治疗上具有潜在的应用前景。      

Optimal adaptive focusing through heterogeneous media with the minimally invasive inverse filter

The inverse filter is a technique used to adaptively focus waves through heterogeneous media. It is based on the inversion of the Green's functions matrix between the M transducers of a focusing array and N control points in the focal area. The inverse filter minimizes the pressure deposited around the focal point. However it is highly invasive, requiring the presence of N transducers or hydrophones in the focal area at the control points' locations to measure the Green's functions. This paper presents a way of reaching the inverse filter's focusing quality with a minimally invasive setup: only one transducer (at the desired focal location) is needed. This minimally invasive inverse filter takes advantage of the fact all the information about the propagation medium can be retrieved from the signals backscattered by the medium towards the focusing array, if the propagation medium is lossless. A numerical simulation is performed to test this minimally invasive inverse filter through a scattering, lossless medium. The focusing quality equals the conventional, highly invasive inverse filter's. The average spatial and temporal contrast is increased by up to 10 dB compared to the time reversal focusing.     

海洋声学中三维抛物方程非均匀网格模型

在海洋声学中,三维抛物方程模型可以有效考虑三维空间的声传播效应。然而,采用三维抛物方程模型分析三维空间内的声传播问题时,计算时间较长,并且需要消耗较大的计算机内存,因此给远距离声场的快速精确计算带来了很大困难。为此,将非均匀网格Galerkin离散化方法用于三维直角坐标系下的水声抛物方程模型中,深度算子和水平算子Galerkin离散方式由均匀网格变为非均匀网格。仿真结果表明,三维直角坐标系下非均匀网格离散的抛物方程模型,在保持计算精度、提高计算速度的同时,可以实现远距离声场的快速预报。另外,针对远距离局部海底地形与距离有关的三维声传播问题,给出了声场快速计算方法;在海底保持水平的区域,采用经典Kraken模型,重构抛物方程算法的初始场,随后依次递推求解地形与距离有关海底下的三维声场。采用改进模型,证明了远距离楔形波导声强增强效应。      

Ultrasonic beam focusing characteristics of shear-vertical waves for contact-type linear phased array in solid

We investigate the beam focusing technology of shear-vertical(SV) waves for a contact-type linear phased array to overcome the shortcomings of conventional wedge transducer arrays. The numerical simulation reveals the transient excitation and propagation characteristics of SV waves. It is found that the element size plays an important role in determining the transient radiation directivity of SV waves. The transient beam focusing characteristics of SV waves for various array parameters are deeply studied. It is particularly interesting to see that smaller element width will provide the focused beam of SV waves with higher quality, while larger element width may result in erratic fluctuation of focusing energy around the focal point. There exists a specific range of inter-element spacing for optimum focusing performance. Moreover, good beam focusing performance of SV waves can be achieved only at high steering angles.     

聚焦超声源对生物媒质加热的理论研究

用差分法求解生物热传导方程,研究了凹球面聚焦超声换能器用于热疗时在人体组织内产生的稳态温度场.引入热焦距及等温线,分析了换能器参数、生物组织特性参数对有效治疗区的影响,并对声场和温度场特征进行了比较 关键词： 聚焦超声 热疗 生物组织 温度场     

Application of time-reversed wave field focusing to reconstructing the frequency spectrum of background internal waves

A numerical experiment is used to analyze the possibility of focusing the time-reversed wave field for reconstructing the frequency spectrum of the vertical displacements of water layers by measuring the frequency shifts of the sound field maximum at the focal spot. The focusing of the field is controlled by varying the transmitted frequency at a fixed distribution of the reversed field, which is formed in the unperturbed waveguide, over the array aperture. The data of computations are compared with those obtained without focusing.     

Formation of optical fields of stimulated Raman scattering with a resolution beyond the Abbe diffraction limit by spherical microlens cavities with whispering gallery modes: Near-field approximation

We consider a significant lowering of the threshold of stimulated Raman scattering in solid fused silica spherical microlenses cavities that is caused by an increase in the integral overlap factor of whispering gallery modes. The structure of focal regions of a microlens is shown to have the shape of honeycombs, forming a photonic crystal or a photonic nanojet. We show that, at comparatively small numerical apertures NA = 0.7–0.8, which correspond to hemispherical microlenses, a spherical microlens cavity exhibits the possibility of focusing laser radiation beyond the Abbe diffraction limit. This enables the possibility of wide practical applications of microspheres as a focusing element the resolving power of which exceeds the Abbe diffraction limit in the near field. The whispering-gallery-mode spherical microlens cavity makes it possible to perform laser generation with a duration of a coherent pulse in the subfemtosecond range and to form a subwavelength focal region of the near field. This ensures the possibility of detecting single molecules of a substance in the subwavelength range in the near field and can be used to increase the sensitivity of intracavity spectroscopy methods and as microlasers for excitation of molecules in metal molecular nanoswitches and semiconductor heterostructures. From an array of microlens cavities, metamaterials with a negative refractive index can be formed.     

Simulation of the acoustic field emitted from medical linear transducer in a heterogeneous tissue

A numerical model is developed to simulate the acoustic field in heterogeneous tissue from a medical linear transducer.The coupled full-wave equation for nonlinear ultrasound is solved using a staggered-grid finite difference time domain method.The distribution of acoustic pressure and power in human abdominal wall with heterogeneities in sound speed,density,and nonlinear parameter are obtained.Compared with homogeneous medium,when sound speed in tissue is uniform and density unchanged,the acoustic energy decreases only1.8 dB in the focal region;when density in tissue is uniform and sound speed unchanged,the energy decreases 3.8 dB in the focal region,which is almost the same as heterogeneous tissue.Thus,the primary factor of the aberration of focused beam is the heterogeneous distribution of the tissue sound speed.     

1-3型二维柱形凹面线聚焦换能器声场特性

设计并研制了柱面结构的1-3型复合材料凹面线聚焦换能器,在提高换能器带宽的同时,可以实现声场的线聚焦。将换能器内部PZT柱作为独立声源,应用瑞利积分和叠加原理,推导出了柱形凹面换能器总声场的理论表达式。通过仿真计算分析了换能器在聚焦线上的声场特点以及相关参数对聚焦性能的影响。对换能器参数做出合理设计,使换能器在实现线聚焦的同时,声场在聚焦线上的起伏较小,从而设计并制作出聚焦性能良好的线聚焦凹面换能器探头。实验测试结果表明采用本文方法计算得到的换能器声场与实测的声场分布基本符合,柱形凹面换能器在其几何焦点附近范围内均可实现聚焦,并在侧向上形成清晰的聚焦线,其聚焦线长度为换能器的侧向结构长度,在聚焦线上声场分布起伏较小。      

复频聚焦超声换能器水中焦区商场特性的研究

本文对新研制的一种复频聚焦超声换能器的辐射声场进行了实验研究,测定了辐射压在轴向上的分布曲线,进而确定了焦区位置,这与理论所得结果符合较好,测定了辐射声压在焦平面上的分布曲线,并对焦区声场进行了定位,最后对换能器在水中焦区辐射声的频谱进行了研究,不仅观测到了两个源波,而且还观测到了和频波,差频波以及倍频波,证实了声散射声效应的存在。