振动声成像系统分辨率研究

本文从振动声成像的基本原理出发，通过引入点扩展函数PSF和定义轴向响应函数ARF，研究了由凹球面聚焦换能器分割而成的一种典型共焦换能器参数对振动声成像系统侧向分辨率和轴向分辨率的影响。计算研究表明：增大凹球面换能器的口径、减小几何焦距和提高中心频率均可以提高系统的侧向分辨率和轴向分辨率；但改变凹球面换能器的分割比例对两种分辨率影响不尽相同。综合考虑超声换能器激励、聚焦性能以及产生的辐射力效果等因素，则换能器应按等辐射面积原则分割为宜。文中还分析了介质的声衰减系数对实际轴向分辨率的影响。     

利用k-Wave计算超声在腹壁组织的声辐射力*

随着科学技术的发展,声辐射力在生物医学领域得到了更为广泛的应用,尤其是在弹性成像领域。为了使弹性成像技术更加精准,对声辐射力的预测至关重要。该文基于腹壁组织图像,利用k-Wave对超声波在腹壁组织区域传播时的声场进行数值模拟,获得了其声场分布,进而求得了组织中声辐射力分布情况,同时对面阵换能器的阵元宽度、间距、阵元个数以及工作频率等参量对声辐射力的影响进行了计算与分析。结果表明,腹壁组织的声场分布受其非均匀性的影响,声辐射力的分布情况依赖于换能器参量的选择。该研究为声辐射力在弹性成像技术中的应用奠定了基础,为其技术的改进提供了重要依据。     

高分辨率扇形阵列超声激发振动声成像研究

对扇阵换能器的振动声成像进行了研究.在相关振动声成像和扇阵换能器的理论基础上,经过推导修正并得到了精确的速度势函数.进一步计算并仿真了系统点扩散函数（point spread function, PSF）,构造了组织模型,进行了成像仿真.最后分析了影响扇阵换能器系统分辨率的因素.研究结果表明：用扇阵换能器进行振动声成像可以获得很高的图像分辨率及对比度,在高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）治疗的热损伤检测等方面有重要的应用价值.分析指出通过提高换能器工作频率,减小几何焦距,增大口径可以提高系统的分辨率. 关键词： 振动声成像 扇形阵 点扩散函数     

基于长焦区聚焦换能器的扫描光声乳腺成像技术

报道了一种利用长焦区聚焦超声换能器检测光声信号的扫描光声乳腺成像系统.通过增加聚焦换能器焦区的长度,该技术可以快速实现对大块组织(如乳腺)的光声成像.测试结果表明,该实验系统能够对大块模拟样品中吸收体的位置、尺寸以及光能量吸收情况实现较为准确的成像.另外,实验中,该系统还可便捷地与传统的超声技术相结合,从而实现多模式复合的乳腺癌诊断.初步结果显示了该技术路线在乳腺癌早期诊断应用上的前景. 关键词： 乳腺癌诊断 光声成像 扫描光声层析术 脉冲回波法     

基于二维声子晶体的大尺寸夹心式换能器的优化设计

夹心式换能器应用极为广泛,但当其横向尺寸过大时,存在耦合振动,影响其辐射面的位移分布.本文通过在大尺寸夹心式换能器的前盖板中加工周期排列的槽,来形成一种二维声子晶体结构.随后,采用有限元法对基于二维声子晶体的大尺寸夹心式换能器的振动传输特性、共振频率以及发射电压响应进行仿真模拟,讨论了开槽高度和开槽宽度对其带隙、共振与反共振频率、带宽以及辐射面位移分布的影响.研究结果表明,通过在大尺寸夹心式换能器中应用声子晶体结构可对其进行优化设计.当大尺寸夹心式换能器的工作频率位于其带隙范围内时,二维声子晶体结构能有效地抑制其横向振动,从而改善换能器辐射面位移分布的均匀程度.此外,在大尺寸夹心式换能器的前盖板中加工二维声子晶体结构,能有效提升换能器的带宽,进而拓宽大尺寸夹心式换能器的工作频带.     

基于声偶极辐射的磁感应磁声层析成像研究

基于声偶极辐射模型提出磁感应磁声层析成像理论来解决点声源理论所不能解释的边界信号和反相振动问题,理论分析了洛伦茨力引起的一维组织振动和自由空间的三维声偶极辐射,推导了磁声激发、磁声衍射传播和换能器磁声波形接收的解析公式.对二层柱状组织模型进行的数值模拟和实验测量结果证明声偶极传播的指向性会使磁声信号在不同传播方向上产生衰减,接收到的磁声波形在声压突变处产生反映电阻抗分布边界信息的脉冲串,重构的层析图像显示不同电阻抗组织的外形和尺寸.本研究为磁感应磁声层析成像技术在医学成像中组织电阻抗分布的重建提供了理论基础.     

超声激发生物组织声发射的原理及应用

介绍一种利用双频共焦超声波获取组织内部特性信息的新方法一超声激发声发射(USAE)。本文着重说明了USAE的基本工作原理，然后介绍了USAE在医学成像和组织无损测温两方面的重要应用。最后指出了一些有待研究的问题。     

光声信号的双谱分析方法研究

基于光声效应的光声光谱技术是光学与声学的有机结合, 可利用不同波长的入射光波, 产生不同的光声信号, 从而为组分识别、组织无损检测等提供高对比度图像, 是一种极具潜力的新型医学诊断技术.但光声光谱检测技术由于受检测方法的制约, 往往扫描时间较长, 而且信号的稳定性和图像识别的准确性也较差. 为了弥补单一光声光谱分析的局限性, 根据光声效应原理和振动理论, 提出了一种光声光谱与光声频谱相结合的双谱分析方法. 该方法通过光声频域信息的定量分析, 可以有效地提高不同组织的光声图像对比度, 从而提高光声成像的组分识别能力, 为光声频谱功能成像奠定理论基础. 实验结果显示, 光声光谱与光声频谱相结合的双谱分析方法可以较好地识别实验组织样品, 可实现高速、高分辨率的组分识别、组织探伤等, 具有广泛的应用前景和重要的临床诊断意义. 关键词： 光声成像 光声光谱分析 光声频谱分析     

管柱型近周期声子晶体点缺陷结构的大尺寸压电超声换能器

大尺寸压电超声换能器的耦合振动会导致其辐射面纵向位移振幅的平均值较小,振幅分布不均匀,严重影响系统的性能和可靠性.为了改善大尺寸超声振动系统性能,可利用二维孔/槽型近周期声子晶体结构对横向振动进行抑制,但在对横向振动抑制的同时,该结构会对换能器机械强度和工作带宽等性能参数造成不利的影响.针对这一问题,本文提出利用管柱型近周期声子晶体点缺陷结构对大尺寸夹心式纵振压电陶瓷换能器进行优化的新思路.该方法不仅可以利用构造的固/气二维近周期声子晶体结构的点缺陷模式,获得极低的能量损耗,有效提高系统辐射面的纵向位移振幅和振幅分布均匀度;也可以利用管柱结构中的双环形孔增强声波的多重散射,使得换能器在管柱柱高较低的条件下产生禁带,在有效抑制横向振动的同时,大幅拓宽换能器系统的工作带宽,增强系统的稳定性和机械强度,降低加工成本.仿真结果证明了优化的有效性.     

类声子晶体结构对超声塑料焊接工具横向振动的抑制

利用声子晶体的带隙理论以及耦合振动理论对大尺寸矩形超声塑料焊接工具的耦合振动进行了研究.在实际工程应用中,大尺寸工具的横向振动将严重导致工具头辐射面位移不均匀,影响系统的焊接质量及工作效率.为提高其工作效率,改善工具头辐射面位移的均匀程度,利用类声子晶体结构对大尺寸超声塑料焊接工具的横向振动进行抑制,分析并得出了类声子晶体结构的横向振动带隙,同时分析了工具头横向振动未抑制与抑制后其辐射面位移的大小与均匀程度.研究表明,通过合理设计类声子晶体的结构及尺寸,可以有效抑制超声塑料焊接工具的横向振动.不但改善了焊接工具辐射面纵向振动位移的均匀程度,而且提高了焊接工具的纵向振动位移幅度.     

Theoretical Analysis of Shear Wave Interference Patterns by Means of Dynamic Acoustic Radiation Forces

Acoustic radiation forces associated with high intensity focused ultrasound stimulate shear wave propagation allowing shear wave speed and shear viscosity estimation of tissue structures. As wave speeds are meters per second, real time displacement tracking over an extend field-of-view using ultrasound is problematic due to very high frame rate requirements. However, two spatially separated dynamic external sources can stimulate shear wave motion leading to shear wave interference patterns. Advantages are shear waves can be imaged at lower frame rates and local interference pattern spatial properties reflect tissue's viscoelastic properties. Here a theoretical analysis of shear wave interference patterns by means of dynamic acoustic radiation forces is detailed. Using a viscoelastic Green's function analysis, tissue motion due to a pair of focused ultrasound beams and associated radiation forces are presented. Overall, this paper theoretically demonstrates shear wave interference patterns can be stimulated using dynamic acoustic radiation forces and tracked using conventional ultrasound imaging.     

Temporal analysis of tissue displacement induced by a transient ultrasound radiation force

One of the stress sources that can be used in dynamic elastography imaging methods is the acoustic radiation force. However, displacements of the medium induced by this stress field are generally not fully understood in terms of spatial distribution and temporal evolution. A model has been developed based on the elastodynamic Green's function describing the different acoustic waves generated by focused ultrasound. The function is composed of three terms: two far-field terms, which correspond to a purely longitudinal compression wave and a purely transverse shear wave, and a coupling near-field term which has a longitudinal component and a transverse component. For propagation distances in the shear wavelength range, the predominant term is the near field term. The displacement duration corresponds to the propagation duration of the shear wave between the farthest source point and the observation point. This time therefore depends on the source size and the local shear modulus of the tissue. Evolution of the displacement/time curve profile, which is directly linked to spatial and temporal source profiles, is computed at different radial distances, for different durations of force applications and different shear elastic coefficients. Experimental results performed with an optical interferometric method in a homogeneous tissue-mimicking phantom agreed with the theoretical profiles.     

Image features in medical vibro-acoustography: in vitro and in vivo results

Vibro-acoustography is an imaging method based on audio-frequency harmonic vibrations induced in the object by the radiation force of focused ultrasound. The purpose of this study is to investigate features of vibro-acoustography images and manifestation of various tissue structures and calcifications in such images. Our motivation for this study is to pave the way for further in vitro and in vivo applications of vibro-acoustography. Here, vibro-acoustography images of excised prostate and in vivo breast are presented and compared with images obtained with other modalities. Resulting vibro-acoustography images obtained with a 3 MHz ultrasound transducer and at a vibration frequency of 50-60 kHz show soft tissue structures, tissue borders, and microcalcifications with high contrast, high resolution, and no speckle. It is concluded that vibro-acoustography offers features that may be valuable for diagnostic purposes.     

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.     

On the feasibility of remote palpation using acoustic radiation force

A method of acoustic remote palpation, capable of imaging local variations in the mechanical properties of tissue, is under investigation. In this method, focused ultrasound is used to apply localized (on the order of 2 mm3) radiation force within tissue. and the resulting tissue displacements are mapped using ultrasonic correlation based methods. The tissue displacements are inversely proportional to the stiffness of the tissue, and thus a stiffer region of tissue exhibits smaller displacements than a more compliant region. In this paper, the feasibility of remote palpation is demonstrated experimentally using breast tissue phantoms with spherical lesion inclusions, and in vitro liver samples. A single diagnostic transducer and modified ultrasonic imaging system are used to perform remote palpation. The displacement images are directly correlated to local variations in tissue stiffness with higher contrast than the corresponding B-mode images. Relationships between acoustic beam parameters, lesion characteristics and radiation force induced tissue displacement patterns are investigated and discussed. The results show promise for the clinical implementation of remote palpation.     

Shear Wave Field Radiated by an Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer

The horizontally polarized ultrasonic shear wave field emitted by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer （EMAT） is studied by the surface force distribution on the EMAT approximately described as an inhomogeneous horizontal shear force. The shear wave directivity pattern is plotted by numerical calculations based on our strictly analytic solutions of the wave field we presented previously. An experimental system of EMAT generation and piezoelectric transducer reception is set up to check the predictions of the theoretical wave field by measuring the ultrasonic signals through aluminium block. The directivity pattern of the wave field obtained from the experimental results conforms the theoretical prediction, which lays a foundation for engineering applications of EMATs.     

球冠型换能器声辐射指向性分析

为了研究球冠型换能器的声辐射特性,在分离变量法求解球面坐标系下波动方程的基础上,采用基于球谐基傅里叶变换及边界条件的求解模型,给出了球冠型换能器声辐射的远场声压计算表达式和远场指向性表达式;仿真计算了球冠换能器的远场指向性随球冠极角、球半径及振动频率变化的特性,球冠所在球障板的直径和介质中声波的波长比决定着球冠声辐射指向性,在低频或波长大于球障板直径时,球冠声辐射呈无指向性,随着频率的增高即波长的减小或者球障板直径的增大,球冠声辐射的指向性越明显,波束开角越趋向于球冠的开角,而且波束开角内出现波浪状起伏越明显;试制了高频球冠型换能器基阵,测试了换能器基阵300 kHz的指向性,测试结果与理论计算相符合,验证了理论计算表达式的正确性,可为设计球冠型换能器及基阵提供理论指导。      

Critical issues in breast imaging by vibro-acoustography

Clinically, there are two important issues in breast imaging: detection of microcalcifications and identification of mass lesions. X-ray mammography is the main imaging method used for detection of microcalcification, and ultrasound imaging is normally used for detection of mass lesions in breast. Both these methods have limitations that reduce their clinical usefulness. For this reasons, alternative breast imaging modalities are being sought. vibro-acoustography is an imaging modality that has emerged in recent years. This method is based on low-frequency harmonic vibrations induced in the object by the radiation force of ultrasound. This paper describes potential applications of vibro-acoustography for breast imaging and addresses the critical imaging issues such as detection of microcalcifications and mass lesions in breast. Recently, we have developed a vibro-acoustography system for in vivo breast imaging and have tested it on a number of volunteers. Resulting images show soft tissue structures and calcifications within breast with high contrast, high resolution, and no speckles. The results have been verified using X-ray mammography. The encouraging results from in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that further development of vibro-acoustography technology may lead to a new clinical tool that can be used to detect microcalcifications as well as mass lesions in breast.     

Motion of a solid sphere in a viscoelastic medium in response to applied acoustic radiation force: Theoretical analysis and experimental verification

The motion of a rigid sphere in a viscoelastic medium in response to an acoustic radiation force of short duration was investigated. Theoretical and numerical studies were carried out first. To verify the developed model, experiments were performed using rigid spheres of various diameters and densities embedded into tissue-like, gel-based phantoms of varying mechanical properties. A 1.5 MHz, single-element, focused transducer was used to apply the desired radiation force. Another single-element, focused transducer operating at 25 MHz was used to track the displacements of the sphere. The results of this study demonstrate good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements. The developed theoretical model accurately describes the displacement of the solid spheres in a viscoelastic medium in response to the acoustic radiation force.