Wideband focused film transducer for optoacoustic tomography

The response of a focused film transducer to wideband acoustic signals is studied both theoretically and experimentally. The transducer has the form of a narrow PVDF strip placed on a concave cylindrical surface. A software package is developed for calculating the impulse transient response functions depending on the position of the point source of spherical waves. The experiments are performed using laser thermooptical sources of acoustic spherical wave pulses excited by a pulsed diode-pumped Nd: YAG laser. The theoretical and measured temporal profiles of signals recorded by the transducer are shown to be in good agreement for the source positioned near the transducer’s focus. For this region, a transducer sensitivity map is investigated. For the case of the source positioned at the focus of the transducer, the absolute value of the transducer sensitivity is 8 µV/Pa.     

Lateral spatial resolution of widened focused transducer array for optoacoustic tomography

Numerical investigation of a point spread function for a optoacoustic transducer array is described. Analysis of the minimal reconstructed dimension for an optoacoustic image of a point source of spherical waves is performed within the proposed approach. The influence of the array geometrical parameters, number of array transducers, and the frequency band of a single transducer on the lateral resolution in the image plane is investigated in detail. It is demonstrated that the lateral resolution obtained with the help of a transducer array in the image plane is determined unambiguously by the frequency band of a transducer, the flare angle of the array, and the transducer width and does not depend on the number of transducers.     

Focused array transducer for two-dimensional optoacoustic tomography

Optoacoustic (OA) imaging utilizes short laser pulses to create acoustic sources in tissue and time resolved detection of generated pressure profiles for image reconstruction. The ultrasonic transients provide information on the distribution of optical absorption coefficient that can be useful for early cancer diagnostics. In this work a new design of wide-band array transducer is developed and tested. The array consists of 32 focused piezo-elements made of PVDF slabs imposed on a cylindrical surface. A single array element response to an OA signal coming from arbitrarily located point source is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The measured signals correspond well to numerically calculated ones. Focal zone maps of the elements with aperture angles 30 degrees and 60 degrees are presented and discussed; the resolution in direction perpendicular to the imaging plane is determined. Point spread function of the whole array is calculated using experimentally obtained signals from the sources located at different distances from the array. Backprojection algorithm is employed for reconstruction of the optoacoustic images. It is shown that the spatial resolution of the images yielded by the proposed array increases significantly compared to previous transducer designs.     

Novel combined optoacoustic and laser-ultrasound transducer array system

A new multichannel integral system enabling simultaneous laser-optoacoutic and laser-ultrasonic and optical-acoustic images in real time has been proposed. The new potential of such a system and the advantages of both methods (large depth of penetration, high image contrast, and spatial resolution) are discussed in detail.     

多基元聚焦空气耦合超声换能器*

文中针对空气耦合超声换能器及其在表面缺陷检测中的应用开展了研究。选用1-3型压电复合材料及双匹配层结构来实现超声换能器压电材料与空气之间声阻抗的逐渐过渡,提高压电材料/空气界面的声能量透射率进而提高空气耦合超声换能器的灵敏度。在此基础上研发制作了440 kHz多基元聚焦空气耦合超声换能器,并对其性能进行了测试。其焦距、焦宽及焦深分别为41.44 mm、1.14 mm和20.30 mm,灵敏度和带宽分别为-50 d B和20.2%。测试结果表明该空气耦合超声换能器具有优良的性能,利用该超声换能器可以有效检测材料表面缺陷。     

Wideband high-frequency line-focus PVDF transducer for materials characterization

This paper presents the design, fabrication, operating characteristics and applications of a wideband, high-frequency, line-focus beam transducer we constructed using a 9 microm thick piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film. This transducer possesses a focal length of 2.38 mm and an aperture angle of 84 degrees. The frequency spectrum of the signal measured at the focal point indicates that the transducer has a wide frequency response which extends from 10 MHz to over 100 MHz. When compensated for the frequency-dependent attenuation of the coupling medium, the operational frequency exceeds 150 MHz. The transducer can be operated in a time-resolved pulse mode or in a radio-frequency (rf) tone burst mode. An application of the transducer to determine the anisotropic elastic property of a silicon wafer is demonstrated. The phase velocities of surface acoustic waves (SAW) propagating along various directions on the (001) surface of cubic silicon are measured and compared to computed values.     

Image reconstruction in optoacoustic tomography for dispersive acoustic media

Conventional image reconstruction methods for optoacoustic tomography (OAT) assume an idealized, non-dispersive acoustic medium. However, the linear attenuation coefficient and the phase velocity of acoustic waves propagating in soft tissue depend on temporal frequency and satisfy a known dispersion law. These frequency-dependent effects are incorporated into an optoacoustic wave equation, and a corresponding reconstruction method for OAT is developed. The improvement in image fidelity that can be achieved over conventional reconstruction methods is demonstrated by use of computer-simulation studies.     

随机相控高强度聚焦超声换能器的栅瓣抑制

采用3种随机排列策略形成相控阵元线性排列结构抑制高强度聚焦超声(HIFU)相控阵栅瓣。第1种和第2种策略中阵元基于规则排列随机移动,而第3种策略中阵元则直接进行随机移动,阵元可移动范围依次为:第1种<第2种<第3种。采用瑞利积分和非线性Westervelt方程分别计算了3种策略对应随机相控阵产生的线性和非线性声场,并通过归一化栅瓣最大声压、归一化栅瓣平均声强和归一化旁瓣平均声强3个参量,对栅瓣抑制效果进行评价。结果表明:线性声场中,阵元可移动范围的增加有利于栅瓣抑制,3种随机策略的归一化栅瓣最大声压相比规则排列分别降低30.7%,53.8%和55.8%;非线性声场中对于同一种随机排列策略,随机度的增加可以改善栅瓣抑制效果。例如,第3种随机策略在随机度为0.9时正负压的归一化栅瓣最大声压相比规则排列分别降低55.6%和54.8%。进一步讨论了焦点偏移时随机相控阵的非线性声场,以-8 dB作为栅瓣的安全标准,第2种和第3种随机策略可以满足要求,横向偏移分别为6 mm和10 mm。本文的工作为抑制栅瓣提供了新思路,有利于随机HIFU相控阵的设计优化。     

Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media

The methods of time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography of inhomogeneous media and related problems are reviewed. Time-resolved laser optoacoustic tomography allows one to measure the distribution of light absorption in turbid media with depth resolution up to several microns in real time. The theory of laser excitation of acoustic waves by absorbing of light in particles, dispersed in transparent, light-absorbing or scattering media, is developed. The distribution of light absorption can be obtained from the temporal course of acoustic pressure. Two schemes of acoustic wave detection — in the medium under testing (direct detection) and in transparent medium, coupled to the investigated one (indirect detection) — are discussed. In both cases the reconstruction of light absorption can be made by simple calculations. Test experiments with homogeneous and layered media confirm the proposed theoretical models and the possibility of using the proposed experimental schemes. Light absorption in homogeneous, inhomogeneous media and in absorbing particles dispersed in turbid media was investigated. The experimental setup allows one to measure the absorption coefficients over the range 1-500 cm^–1 with the depth resolution 10–15 m over the depth 1–1.5 mm.     

Polarization-sensitive optoacoustic tomography of optically diffuse tissues

Polarization is indicative of material anisotropy, a property that reveals structural orientation information of molecules inside the material. Herein we investigate whether polarization can be detected optoacoustically in scattering and absorbing tissues. Using a laboratory prototype of polarization-sensitive optoacoustic tomography, we demonstrate high-resolution reconstructions of dichroism contrast deep in optically diffusive tissue-mimicking phantoms. The technique is expected to enable highly accurate imaging of polarization contrast in tissues, far beyond the current capabilities of pure optical polarization-imaging approaches.     

恒定束宽扬声器线阵列优化研究

为了保持恒定束宽扬声器(Constant beamwidth transducer,CBT)线阵列高频指向性恒定,解决单元间距过小的问题,减小阵元数目,提出了利用声波导代替扬声器单元,建立了波导CBT阵列的声场模型。基于数值计算结果和数据分析,比较了不同阵元数目的波导CBT阵列和CBT阵列的指向性和声场分布,讨论了有效辐射率和使用阵元数目的关系。通过提高有效辐射率可以有效降低CBT阵列所需阵元数目,解决了扬声器单元间距过小的问题。     

A new-style phased array transducer for HIFU

Considering the complexity of common phased array, and relatively slow mechanical scanning of the single transducer, a new-style transducer that has a changeable focus and a simple control system is needed. The sector phased array transducer, which has many advantages including easy fabrication, movable focus, and a simple control system, can reach the desired requirements. This paper has demonstrated its feasibility by the computation of acoustic field in (y, z) plane. The 24-element phased array, of which the length of the focal region is about 10 mm, and the maximum lateral diameter is about 1.5 mm, can accomplish the adjustment of the focus position. The maximum lateral displacement is 1.5 mm, and the treatment area is about 9 multiples of the single transducer, and only six power amplifiers are needed.     

一种用于线阵换能器的三相压电复合材料

本文介绍了一种具有２－２结构特征的三相压电复合材料的结构及其制备方法，并与一种二相压电复合材料的类似结构对对比，进行了横向耦合，频率特性，声阻抗和介电性能等方面的测试和讨论，同时介绍了这种三相复合成功地应用于线阵换能器的结果。     

Multispectral optoacoustic tomography by means of normalized spectral ratio

Quantification of biomarkers using multispectral optoacoustic tomography can be challenging due to photon fluence variations with depth and spatially heterogeneous tissue optical properties. Herein we introduce a spectral ratio approach that accounts for photon fluence variations. The performance and imaging improvement achieved with the proposed method is showcased both numerically and experimentally in phantoms and mice.     

Comparing reconstruction algorithms for the 2D optoacoustic tomography of biological tissues

Three types of reconstruction algorithms for the optoacoustic tomography of biological tissues, based on delay-and-sum beam-forming, Fourier transform, and time reversal, are proposed. The comparison, based on both numerical and experimental data, shows the advantages of the delay-and-sum beam-forming method, which ensures acceptable computation time and improved quality of the reconstructed image.     

An ultrasonic transducer array for velocity measurement in underwater vehicles

A correlation velocity log (CVL) is an ultrasonic navigation aid for marine applications, in which velocity is estimated using an acoustic transmitter and a receiver array. CVLs offer advantages over Doppler velocity logs (DVLs) in many autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) applications, since they can achieve high accuracy at low velocities even during hover manoeuvres. DVLs require narrow beam widths, whilst ideal CVL transmitters have wide beam widths. This gives CVLs the potential to use lower frequencies thus permitting operation in deeper water, reducing power requirements for the same depth, or allowing the use of smaller transducers. Moving patterns in the wavefronts across a 2D receiver array are detected by calculating correlation coefficients between bottom reflections from consecutive transmitted pulses, across all combinations of receiver pairings. The position of the peak correlation value, on a surface representing receiver-pairing separations, is proportional to the vessel's displacement between pulses. A CVL aimed primarily for AUVs has been developed. Its acoustical and signal processing design has been optimised through sea trials and computer modelling of the sound field. This computer model is also used to predict how the distribution of the correlation coefficients varies with distance from the peak position. Current work seeks to increase the resolution of the peak estimate using surface fitting methods. Numerical simulations suggest that peak estimation methods significantly improve system precision when compared with simply identifying the position of the maximum correlation coefficient in the dataset. The peak position may be estimated by fitting a quadratic model to the measured data using least squares or maximum likelihood estimation. Alternatively, radial basis functions and Gaussian processes successfully predict the peak position despite variation between individual correlation datasets. This paper summarises the CVL's main acoustical features and signal processing techniques and includes results of sea trials using the device.     

基于聚焦换能器的超声透射CT技术*

超声透射CT技术能够重建物体横断面的图像,为了重建高质量图像,分别从换能器和图像重建算法两个方面展开研究。分析了弧形线聚焦换能器焦域处聚焦切片尺寸与换能器几何尺寸的关系及其对CT检测的影响。搭建了超声透射CT检测系统,以等角扇形束的扫描方式获取投影数据,并利用滤波反投影和最小二乘正交分解两种算法重建图像,对比发现最小二乘正交分解算法通用性更强,成像质量更佳。实验结果表明,利用聚焦换能器并结合最小二乘正交分解算法对物体进行CT检测,能够取得较好的成像结果,检测分辨力可达毫米量级。     

Thermoelectric line array for spatial specification of focused laser beams

A thin-film line array of thermoelectric detectors is applied for the measurement of intensity distribution of focused laser beams. The damage threshold of these detectors is relatively high. They can tolerate 50 μsec pulses with intensities as high as 3·10⁵ W/cm². High resolutions can be achieved by fabricating line arrays having a large number of thermoelectric junctions with distances as small as 5 μm between centers.