Effects of acoustic parameters on bubble cloud dynamics in ultrasound tissue erosion (histotripsy)

High intensity pulsed ultrasound can produce significant mechanical tissue fractionation with sharp boundaries ("histotripsy"). At a tissue-fluid interface, histotripsy produces clearly demarcated tissue erosion and the erosion efficiency depends on pulse parameters. Acoustic cavitation is believed to be the primary mechanism for the histotripsy process. To investigate the physical basis of the dependence of tissue erosion on pulse parameters, an optical method was used to monitor the effects of pulse parameters on the cavitating bubble cloud generated by histotripsy pulses at a tissue-water interface. The pulse parameters studied include pulse duration, peak rarefactional pressure, and pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Results show that the duration of growth and collapse (collapse cycle) of the bubble cloud increased with increasing pulse duration, peak rarefactional pressure, and PRF when the next pulse arrived after the collapse of the previous bubble cloud. When the PRF was too high such that the next pulse arrived before the collapse of the previous bubble cloud, only a portion of histotripsy pulses could effectively create and collapse the bubble cloud. The collapse cycle of the bubble cloud also increased with increasing gas concentration. These results may explain previous in vitro results on effects of pulse parameters on tissue erosion.     

Optical investigation of cavitation erosion by laser-induced bubble collapse

By means of a new force sensor based on optical beam deflection (OBD), the mechanical effects of laser-matter interaction underwater at different incident laser energy are investigated in detail. The experimental results show that a target underwater is impacted in turn by laser-plasma ablation force and high-speed liquid-jet impulse induced by bubbles collapse in the vicinity of a solid boundary. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the two forces increase monotonously with laser energy. According to the ablation force detected by the experiment and the theoretical relationship between laser intensity and ablation pressure, the value of liquid-jet impact against a solid boundary can be easily obtained. In addition, based on the model of a collapsing bubble, some characteristic parameters, such as the liquid-jet impact velocity, the maximum bubble radius, the bubble energy can also be obtained at different laser energy, which are valuable in the corresponding research fields.     

Study of acoustic bubble cluster dynamics using a lattice Boltzmann model

The search for the development of a reliable mathematical model for understanding bubble dynamics behavior is an ongoing endeavor.A long list of complex phenomena underlies the physics of this problem.In the past decades,the lattice Boltzmann method has emerged as a promising tool to address such complexities.In this regard,we have applied a 121-velocity multiphase lattice Boltzmann model to an asymmetric cluster of bubbles in an acoustic field.A problem as a benchmark is studied to check the consistency and applicability of the model.The problem of interest is to study the deformation and coalescence phenomena in bubble cluster dynamics,as well as the screening effect on an acoustic multibubble medium.It has been observed that the LB model is able to simulate the combination of the three aforementioned phenomena for a bubble cluster as a whole and for every individual bubble in the cluster.     

Collective bubble dynamics near a surface in a weak acoustic standing wave field

The transport of bubbles to a neighboring surface is very important in surface chemistry, bioengineering, and ultrasonic cleaning, etc. This paper proposes a multi-bubble transport method by using an acoustic standing wave field and establishes a model that explains the multi-bubble translation by expressing the balance between Bjerknes forces and hydrodynamic forces on a bubble in a liquid medium. Results indicated that the influence of primary Bjerknes force, secondary Bjerknes force, and buoyancy force on the bubble translation depends on the position of the target bubble in the acoustic field. Moreover, it was found that increasing the size of a bubble or pressure amplitude can accelerate the bubble motion and enhance the bubble-bubble interaction. The secondary Bjerknes force between two bubbles can switch from an attractive one when they oscillate in phase to a repulsive one when the bubble oscillations are out of phase. These findings provide an insight into the multi-bubble translation near a surface and can be applied to future bubble motion control studies, especially in drug delivery, sonoporation, and ultrasonic cleaning.     

Surface acoustic waves at a free-metallized interface

Light scattering was used to study surface acoustic waves at a free-metalized interface on piezoelectric lithium niobate. An interaction region of several acoustic wavelengths was observed in which a reflected surface wave and a continuous spectrum of bulk waves are generated.     

Optical and acoustic study of nucleation and growth of bubbles at a liquid-solid interface induced by nanosecond-pulsed-laser heating

The dynamics of liquid-vapor phase-change in the nanosecond time-scale induced by pulsed-laser heating of a liquid on a solid sample is studied by means of optical reflectance and scattering measurements, and the piezoelectric detection technique. The liquids studied include water, ethanol, methanol, IsoproPropyl Alcohol (IPA), and mixtures of water and IPA. The threshold fluence for nucleation is determined with high accuracy using the optical and acoustic signals. Heat diffusion calculations performed for the threshold fluences indicate that the liquids are sufficiently superheated before nucleation sets on. The transient optical reflectance signal is analyzed by an effective-medium theory to provide bubble-growth kinetics, so that the bubble-growth velocity for the test liquids could be estimated. In addition, it is observed that, following the thermally induced nucleation, repetitive acoustic cavitation at the surface of the solid sample occurs, with a time interval related to the speed of sound in the liquid.     

Investigation on bubble dynamics characteristics and power spectral variation in acoustic field

Based on Keller-Miksis model,the influences of multiple control parameters,such as acoustic pressure amplitude,acoustic frequency and bubble radius at rest,on the complicated dynamics characteristics of nonlinear bubble oscillation driven by acoustic wave are discussed by utilizing a variety of numerical analysis methods,and the restrictive relationships among different parameters are analyzed.It is shown that chaotic state can occur only in the condition of all of the parameters in the suitable threshold,as the same time,chaotic state is the result of interaction of multiple control parameters.Furthermore,the power spectral expansion and energy conversion are existed in this nonlinear system.It is certified that the stronger acoustic pressure amplitude,the greater the sub-harmonic energy,besides,the energy attenuation of fundamental harmonic is also much greater.     

声波在水-含气沉积物界面的反射

含气泡海洋沉积物的声学特性是海底探测的重要问题。为了研究气泡存在对水-含气沉积物界面声反射系数的影响,本文基于气泡振动修正的Biot波动方程推导了气泡存在修正的Biot弹性模量,并结合水-沉积物界面的“开孔”边界条件推导了声波从水入射到水-含气沉积物界面的反射系数。数值分析表明气泡的振动导致反射系数呈现显著的频率特性。在气泡共振频率附近,由于气泡的共振引发的强散射和强衰减,使得反射系数很大,无论以何种角度入射,声波都很难进入含气泡的沉积物。本文研究结果表明,气泡半径、含量、声波频率以及入射角度都是影响水-含气沉积物界面反射系数的主要因素。     

Spatio-temporal dynamics of an encapsulated gas bubble in an ultrasound field

Coupled equations describing the radial and translational dynamics of an encapsulated gas bubble in an ultrasound field are derived by using the Lagrangian formalism. The equations generalize Church's theory by allowing for the translation motion of the bubble and radiation losses due to the compressibility of the surrounding liquid. The expression given by Church for the inner bubble radius corresponding to the unstrained state of the bubble shell is also refined, assuming that the shell can be of arbitrary thickness and impermeable to gas. Comparative linear analysis of the radial equation is carried out relative to Church's theory. It is shown that there are substantial departures from predictions of Church's theory. The proposed model is applied to evaluate radiation forces exerted on encapsulated bubbles and their translational displacements. It is shown that in the range of relatively high frequencies encapsulated bubbles are able to translate more efficiently than free bubbles of the equivalent size.     

Modeling bubble dynamics and radical kinetics in ultrasound induced microalgal cell disruption

Microalgal cell disruption induced by acoustic cavitation was simulated through solving the bubble dynamics in an acoustical field and their radial kinetics (chemical kinetics of radical species) occurring in the bubble during its oscillation, as well as calculating the bubble wall pressure at the collapse point. Modeling results indicated that increasing ultrasonic intensity led to a substantial increase in the number of bubbles formed during acoustic cavitation, however, the pressure generated when the bubbles collapsed decreased. Therefore, cumulative collapse pressure (CCP) of bubbles was used to quantify acoustic disruption of a freshwater alga, Scenedesmus dimorphus, and a marine alga, Nannochloropsis oculata and compare with experimental results. The strong correlations between CCP and the intracellular lipid fluorescence density, chlorophyll-a fluorescence density, and cell particle/debris concentration were found, which suggests that the developed models could accurately predict acoustic cell disruption, and can be utilized in the scale up and optimization of the process.     

Numerical simulation of cavitation bubble dynamics induced by ultrasound waves in a high frequency reactor

The use of high frequency ultrasound in chemical systems is of major interest to optimize chemical procedures. Characterization of an open air 477 kHz ultrasound reactor shows that, because of the collapse of transient cavitation bubbles and pulsation of stable cavitation bubbles, chemical reactions are enhanced. Numerical modelling is undertaken to determine the spatio-temporal evolution of cavitation bubbles. The calculus of the emergence of cavitation bubbles due to the acoustic driving (by taking into account interactions between the sound field and bubbles' distribution) gives a cartography of bubbles' emergence within the reactor. Computation of their motion induced by the pressure gradients occurring in the reactor show that they migrate to the pressure nodes. Computed bubbles levitation sites gives a cartography of the chemical activity of ultrasound. Modelling of stable cavitation bubbles' motion induced by the motion of the liquid gives some insight on degassing phenomena.     

水下强声波脉冲负压的产生和空化气泡运动

首先利用高速摄影和压力传感器测量的方法, 对曲面反射式水下强声波脉冲的传播和聚焦过程进行了实验研究.实验研究发现, 椭球面反射罩在起到汇聚声能的作用的同时也将使得强声波脉冲在传播过程中形成负压区, 并由此而引发近场声传播通道上空化气泡群的产生. 在实验结果的基础上, 进一步利用基于Kirchhoff衍射定理的声传播模型和大振幅条件下的QX气泡运动方程, 对强声波脉冲负压区的形成原因及空化气泡的运动过程进行了数值计算和分析. 研究结果表明, 在焦前区, 源于反射罩内表面的"尾波"和出口处的"边缘波"在传播过程中将形成反射波中的负压区; 在焦后区, 源于反射罩顶点的"中心波"在传播过程中将形成反射波中的负压区. 在反射波作用下, 空化气泡体现出了"正压区受压缩并振荡, 负压区膨胀"的运动特点. 在反射波之后, 空化气泡将出现成长、坍缩和回弹等典型的物理过程. 研究结果对曲面反射式水下强声波传播物理规律的认识具有实际意义.     

Spatial-temporal dynamics of cavitation bubble clouds in 1.2 MHz focused ultrasound field

Cavitation bubbles have been recognized as being essential to many applications of ultrasound. Temporal evolution and spatial distribution of cavitation bubble clouds induced by a focused ultrasound transducer of 1.2 MHz center frequency are investigated by high-speed photography. It is revealed that at a total acoustic power of 72 W the cavitation bubble cloud first emerges in the focal region where cavitation bubbles are observed to generate, grow, merge and collapse during the initial 600 μs. The bubble cloud then grows upward to the post-focal region, and finally becomes visible in the pre-focal region. The structure of the final bubble cloud is characterized by regional distribution of cavitation bubbles in the ultrasound field. The cavitation bubble cloud structure remains stable when the acoustic power is increased from 25 W to 107 W, but it changes to a more violent form when the acoustic power is further increased to 175 W.     

Theoretics of remote acoustic monitoring of the level and density of fluid contacting media at the interface

We present a method for monitoring the physical parameters of a medium, based on processing of an acoustic signal reflected from the studied medium. The method makes it possible to rapidly and simultaneously measure the level and density of the reflecting medium owing to acoustic sounding with pulses of different shape. We have obtained the analytic dependences relating the controlled parameters to the phase and amplitude spectra components of the reflected acoustic signal.     

High-speed observation of cavitation bubble clouds near a tissue boundary in high-intensity focused ultrasound fields

Cavitation bubble clouds generated near a tissue boundary by high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) were studied using high-speed photography. In all, 171 image series were captured during the initial 100 ms of continuous HIFU exposure, which showed that cavitation bubble clouds at the tissue boundary organized into two structures - “cone-shape bubble cloud structure” recorded in 146 image series and “crown-shape bubble cloud structure” recorded in 18 image series. The remaining 7 image series showed the interchanging of these two structures. It was found that when cavitation bubbles first appeared at the tissue boundary, they developed to cone-shape bubble cloud. The cone-shape bubble cloud structure was characterized by a nearly fixed tip in front of the tissue boundary. When the cavitation bubbles initially appeared away from the tissue boundary they evolved into a crown-shape bubble cloud. Deformation of tissue boundary was shown in all the recorded image series.     

Limited damage of tissue mimic caused by a collapsing bubble under low-frequency ultrasound exposure

In this study, we investigated the bubble induced serious damage to tissue mimic exposed to 27-kHz ultrasound. The initial bubble radius ranged from 80 to 100 μm, which corresponded approximately to the experimentally-evaluated resonant radius of the given ultrasound frequency. The tissue mimic consisted of 10 wt% gelatine gel covered with cultured canine kidney epithelial cells. The collapsing bubble behaviour during the ultrasound exposure with negative peak pressures of several hundred kPa was captured by a high-speed camera system. After ultrasound exposure, a cell viability test was conducted based on microscopic bright-field images and fluorescence images for living and dead cells. In the viability test, cells played a role in indicating the damaged area. The bubble oscillations killed the cells, and on occasion detached layers of cultured cells from the gel. The damaged area was comparable or slightly larger than the initial bubble size, and smaller than the maximum bubble size. We concluded that only a small area in close proximity to the bubble could be damaged even above transient cavitation threshold.     

Characterization of an acoustic cavitation bubble structure at 230 kHz

A generic bubble structure in a 230 kHz ultrasonic field is observed in a partly developed standing wave field in water. It is characterized by high-speed imaging, sonoluminescence recordings, and surface cleaning tests. The structure has two distinct bubble populations. Bigger bubbles (much larger than linear resonance size) group on rings in planes parallel to the transducer surface, apparently in locations of driving pressure minima. They slowly rise in a jittering, but synchronous way, and they can have smaller satellite bubbles, thus resembling the arrays of bubbles observed by Miller [D. Miller, Stable arrays of resonant bubbles in a 1-MHz standing-wave acoustic field, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 62 (1977) 12]. Smaller bubbles (below and near linear resonance size) show a fast "streamer" motion perpendicular to and away from the transducer surface. While the bigger bubbles do not emit light, the smaller bubbles in the streamers show sonoluminescence when they pass the planes of high driving pressure. Both bubble populations exhibit cleaning potential with respect to micro-particles attached to a glass substrate. The respective mechanisms of particle removal, though, might be different.