Treatable focal region modulated by double excitation signal superimposition to realize platform temperature distribution during transcranial brain tumor therapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound

Recently, the phase compensation technique has allowed the ultrasound to propagate through the skull and focus into the brain. However, the temperature evolution during treatment is hard to control to achieve effective treatment and avoid over-high temperature. Proposed in this paper is a method to modulate the temperature distribution in the focal region.It superimposes two signals which focus on two preset different targets with a certain distance. Then the temperature distribution is modulated by changing triggering time delay and amplitudes of the two signals. The simulation model is established based on an 82-element transducer and computed tomography(CT) data of a volunteer's head. A finitedifference time-domain(FDTD) method is used to calculate the temperature distributions. The results show that when the distances between the two targets respectively are 7.5–12.5 mm on the acoustic axis and 2.0–3.0 mm in the direction perpendicular to the acoustic axis, a focal region with a uniform temperature distribution(64–65℃) can be created.Moreover, the volume of the focal region formed by one irradiation can be adjusted(26.8–266.7 mm~3) along with the uniform temperature distribution. This method may ensure the safety and efficacy of HIFU brain tumor therapy.     

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.     

微泡对高强度聚焦超声声压场影响的仿真研究*

微泡对高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)治疗焦域具有增效作用,而HIFU治疗中不同声学条件下微泡对HIFU形成声压场的影响尚不清楚。本文基于气液混合声波传播方程、Keller气泡运动方程、时域有限差分(FDTD)法和龙格-库塔(RK)法数值仿真研究输入声压、激励频率、气泡初始空隙率和气泡初始半径对HIFU形成声压场的影响。研究结果表明,随着输入声压的增大,焦点处声压升高但焦点处最大声压与输入声压的比值减小,焦点位置几乎不变;随着激励频率和气泡初始半径的增大,焦点处声压升高且焦点位置向远离换能器方向移动;随着气泡初始空隙率的增大,焦点处声压降低且焦点位置向换能器方向移动。     

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。     

基于时间反转法的相控换能器声场的仿真研究

相控换能器具有焦距可调的优势。本文以82阵元相控换能器建立的3D数值仿真模型为例,基于时间反转法提取阵元的激励信号,利用时域有限差分(FDTD)法对Westervelt声波非线性传播方程进行声场数值仿真,研究不同阵元分布、偏离声轴的距离、设定焦距大小对形成声场的影响,可调控范围及其消除旁瓣方法。研究结果表明,随机分布相控阵可明显降低声场中的旁瓣;随着偏离声轴距离的增加,主瓣声压幅值逐渐减小,旁瓣与主瓣的最大声强比值r逐渐增大,且沿声轴的可调控范围逐渐减小;随声轴方向上设定焦距的增加,主瓣声压幅值先增大后减小,r值先减小后增大;基于时间反转法的高声压旁瓣消除法可在一定程度上扩大相控阵声场的可调控范围。     

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。     

多通道超声相控阵驱动控制系统设计

低强度经颅聚焦超声是一种利用脉冲聚焦超声调控脑神经元的治疗技术。为抑制人颅骨的非均质性和个体结构差异影响,须对多阵元相控阵聚焦换能器的各阵元进行参数调控实现经颅精准定位聚焦,各阵元参数调控需通过相位控制和驱动电路系统来实现。该文设计并搭建了一种基于直接数字式频率合成技术的多通道相位、幅值独立可调的相控驱动系统。实测结果表明,可实现正弦波和方波高精度相控输出,输出信号电压峰峰值在0~37.5 V可调,相位分辨率为0.1°,延时误差小于1 ns,可满足多阵元相控阵聚焦换能器驱动及其所需相位分辨率的需要。     

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。     

微泡对高强度聚焦超声焦域影响的研究

微泡对高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)治疗具有增效作用,而HIFU治疗中不同声学条件下微泡对HIFU治疗焦域的影响尚不清楚。本文基于声传播方程、Yang-Church气泡运动方程、生物热传导方程、时域有限差分法(FDTD)、龙格-库塔(RK)法数值仿真研究输入功率、激励频率和气泡初始半径对HIFU在含气泡体模中形成焦域的影响,并利用含Sono Vue造影剂的仿组织体模研究进行实验验证。结果表明,增大输入功率、气泡初始半径和升高激励频率均可增大焦域,随着输入功率的增大,焦域形状可能发生变化,而随着激励频率升高和气泡初始半径的增大,焦域会向远离换能器的方向移动。     

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。