Two-dimensional phased arrays for surgery: Movement of a single focus

Numerical simulation and comparative analysis of acoustic fields generated by two-dimensional phased arrays designed for ultrasonic surgery is conducted. The case of movement of a single focus by an array with the surface shaped as a part of a spherical shell with the curvature radius 120 mm is considered. The influence of the number of elements (varying from 64 to 1024), their diameter (from 2.5 to 10 mm), frequency (from 1 to 2 MHz), and the degree of sparseness of the elements at the array surface on the field characteristics is studied. The calculations are performed for arrays with elements positioned at the surface both regularly (in square, annular, or hexagonal patterns) and randomly. Criteria for the evaluation of the “quality” of intensity distributions in the field generated by an array in the case of movement of a single focus are suggested. Of all arrays studied, the best quality of distributions is obtained for an array containing 256 elements of diameter 5 mm randomly positioned at the array surface. The quality of the intensity distributions for arrays consisting of 255, 256, and 1024 elements positioned regularly (in square, annular, and hexagonal patterns) is inferior to the corresponding quality for arrays with randomly positioned elements. The irregularity in elements’ positioning considerably improves the distribution quality by suppressing the secondary intensity peaks in the field generated by the array; or, alternatively, it provides an opportunity to obtain the same distribution quality with a fraction of the number of elements in the array. The effects of the number and shape of elements, errors in phase setting, frequency modulation of signals, and non-uniform distribution of amplitudes over the array surface on the distribution quality are analyzed.     

Heating of biological tissues by two-dimensional phased arrays with random and regular element distributions

The effect of an irregularity of the element distribution in a two-dimensional phased array upon the efficiency of heating of biological tissue is studied in an ultrasonic surgery regime. Two arrays of 256 piston elements, which either form a regular square pattern or are positioned randomly on the surface of a spherical segment, are considered as a model. The formation and the steering of a set of nine foci along the array axis and in the direction perpendicular to it are investigated. The theoretical model includes the algorithm of determining a phase set at the array elements that is optimal for the formation of foci with equal intensities and a preset geometry, as well as the calculation of acoustic and temperature fields in a tissue. The results of numerical simulation are presented for the spatial distributions of ultrasonic intensity, temperature, and the corresponding thermal dose in tissue. It is demonstrated that an irregularity of the element distribution reduces the level of secondary intensity peaks in the field produced by the array. This provides an opportunity to avoid the overheating and ablation of tissue outside the target volume, even in the case of steering with the set of foci away from the array axis within a distance of ±7 mm. A nine-foci regime is studied with the parameters necessary to produce uniform thermal ablation in a volume that is evaluated on the basis of the thermal dose distribution.     

Two-dimensional phased arrays for surgical applications: Multiple focus generation and scanning

A numerical simulation and a comparative analysis of the acoustic fields produced by two-dimensional phased arrays intended for ultrasonic surgery are performed for the case of a multiple focus (in particular, 25 foci) generation. The calculations were conducted for arrays (with an operating frequency of 1.5 MHz) consisting of 256 elements 5 mm in diameter, which were positioned on the array surface both regularly and randomly. The array foci can be formed simultaneously, but, in this case, the intensity levels of the secondary peaks in the ultrasonic field can exceed the values that guarantee the safe application of this method in surgery. A much safer way is to synthesize many foci with the use of several configurations, each of which contains a smaller number of foci. The number of foci in individual configurations must be approximately the same. It is demonstrated that randomization of the element distribution over the array surface provides an opportunity to improve the array performance, to reduce the intensity levels of secondary peaks in the acoustic field, and to increase the array capability for multiple focus scanning off the array axis.     

Analytical method for evaluating the quality of acoustic fields radiated by a multielement therapeutic array with electronic focus steering

The paper presents an analytical method for calculating and analyzing the quality of 3-D acoustic fields of multielement phased arrays used in noninvasive ultrasound surgical devices. An analytical solution for the far field of each of its elements is used when calculating the array field. This method significantly accelerates calculations while preserving the high accuracy of results as compared to conventional direct numerical integration. Radiation from typical phased arrays is calculated using this approach, and the quality of their dynamic focusing is analyzed. Undesired diffraction effects caused by electronic focus steering are considered: an amplitude decrease in the main maximum and the appearance of grating lobes. The quality of dynamic focusing of the acoustic fields of two practically interesting arrays with a quasi-random element distribution (256 and 1024 elements, respectively), as well as of the regular array consisting of 256 elements is compared. In addition as well, a study is made of how the dimensions of the array elements and their spatial distributions affect the dimensions of the areas in which dynamic focusing is possible without occurrence of strong grating lobes and significant decrease in pressure amplitude at the main focus.

     

Light flowers from coherent vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays

Emission of symmetric flower-shaped light patterns from coherently locked hexagonal vertical-cavity semiconductor laser arrays is reported. The flower patterns preserve their shape while propagating in free space. The emission of these unique light distributions is explained as being due to the combined effects of thermal lensing and the loss patterns employed for array definition. A theoretical model for strongly coupled arrays matches the results.     

Simulation of three-dimensional nonlinear fields of ultrasound therapeutic arrays

A novel numerical model was developed to simulate three-dimensional nonlinear fields generated by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) arrays. The model is based on the solution to the Westervelt equation; the developed algorithm makes it possible to model nonlinear pressure fields of periodic waves in the presence of shock fronts localized near the focus. The role of nonlinear effects in a focused beam of a two-dimensional array was investigated in a numerical experiment in water. The array consisting of 256 elements and intensity range on the array elements of up to 10 W/cm² was considered. The results of simulations have shown that for characteristic intensity outputs of modern HIFU arrays, nonlinear effects play an important role and shock fronts develop in the pressure waveforms at the focus.     

Evolution of high-intensity focusing systems for different applications in medicine (Review)

The evolution of high-intensity focusing systems for application in medicine has been outlined from their introduction (in the 1950s) to date. This work is in fact a review with two sections. The focusing systems for medical application discussed under the first section are based on using single focusing transducers with a radiating element shaped as a section of a spherical shell. Attention is mainly given to the devices developed at the Andreev Acoustics Institute in the 1970s–1980s; focusing systems developed abroad in the past few decades and most widely clinically used are also briefly discussed there. The second section of the review is devoted to focusing systems based on phased arrays which allow users not only to electronically steer the focus within a selected range, but also, especially importantly for various medical applications, to simultaneously create several foci. The main attention under the second section is given to the two-dimensional phased arrays with randomized location of elements on the surface, which the Acoustics Institute developed in active collaboration with others. It has been shown that irregularity in the location of elements either substantially improves the quality of spatial intensity distributions by reducing the level of secondary maxima of intensity in the array-induced fields or allows to considerably reduce the number of elements in the array with the same quality of distributions. The paper discusses principles of designing such arrays, methods of their calculations and possible applications.     

Optical velocimetry: a method using two shifted speckle patterns

A new optical method for measuring the lateral velocity of a diffuse object is presented. The speckle pattern, originated by the surface under coherent illumination, is imaged into a linear photodiode array. The scanning time of the array is selected to detect two slightly shifted speckle patterns. By processing the intensity distributions, the velocity of the surface is derived. Some experimental results are shown.     

基于互耦补偿策略的IFFT算法及其应用

介绍了一种基于互耦补偿矩阵(MCCM)的迭代快速傅里叶变换(IFFT)技术,并将其应用于宽角度扫描相控阵的低旁瓣综合中。首先,在所提出的综合方法中,将互耦补偿矩阵引入到IFFT技术中以考虑阵元间的互耦效应,使考虑互耦的阵列远场重新满足方向图乘积原理。然后,提出了一款基片集成波导背腔结构的宽波束天线单元,该天线能够同时激励起TE110与TE210两种模式从而展宽其工作频带且具有宽波束性能,并且基于此单元分别建立了阵元数为35,75,100的宽角度扫描相控阵天线。最后,利用所提出的IFFT技术对这三个相控阵进行低旁瓣综合。与基于有源单元方向图遗传算法的对比结果表明,在-60°到60°的扫描范围内均能实现低旁瓣电平,并且IFFT优化算法具有更快的速度。     

Bounds and exact theories for the transport properties of inhomogeneous media

We investigate the bounds of Milton on the transport coefficient of a two-component composite, in their application to the square and hexagonal arrays of cylinders, and the three cubic lattices of spheres. We show that, in all five cases, as more information is supplied about the geometry of the composite, the bounds converge to the precise point obtained from an exact theory specific to the geometry in question. We illustrate the use of the bounds in determining whether a set of known values of the transport coefficient adequately specifies the general behaviour of that quantity. We determine the values of two structure-dependent parameters for cell materials with spheroidal cells and the value of one parameter for hexagonal and square arrays of cylinders with missing array elements. These parameters determine bounds both on the transport and on the elastic properties of the respective materials.     

Micromechanical thermal deformation analysis of unidirectional boron/aluminum metal-matrix composite

An experiment was conducted to document thermal deformation of a unidirectionally reinforced boron/aluminum metal-matrix composite. The specimen was subject to an isothermal loading of ΔT = − 100 °C and the deformation on a free surface perpendicular to the fibers was measured by microscopic moiré interferometry. The high sensitivity and spatial resolution made it possible to elucidate the micromechanical behavior of the specimen at the fiber level. Multiplied moiré fringe patterns with a contour interval of 35 nm/fringe contour were obtained for a hexagonal array of fibers and a square array of fibers. The stress-induced strains were determined from the fringe patterns by subtracting the free thermal contraction strains. The results revealed a free surface effect and showed asymmetrical and irregular strain distributions inherent in real (non-idealized) composite materials.     

The possibility of generating focal regions of complex configurations in application to the problems of stimulation of human receptor structures by focused ultrasound

Studies of the stimulating effect of ultrasound on human receptor structures have recently become more intensive in connection with the development of promising robotic techniques and systems, sensors, and automated control systems, as well as with the use of taction in the design of a human-machine interface. One of the promising fields of research is the development of tactile displays for transmission of sensory data to a human by an acoustic method based on the effect of radiation pressure. In this case, it is necessary to generate rapidly changing patterns on a display (symbols, letters, digits, etc.), which may often have a complex shape. It is demonstrated that such patterns can be created by the generation of multiple-focus ultrasonic fields with the help of two-dimensional phased arrays whose elements are randomly positioned on the surface. The parameters for such an array are presented. It is shown that the arrays make it possible to form the regions of action by focused ultrasound with various necessary shapes and the sidelobe (or other secondary peak) intensity level acceptable for practical purposes. Using these arrays, it is possible to move the set of foci off the array axis to a distance of at least ±5 mm, which corresponds to the display dimensions. It is possible, on the screen of a tactile display, to generate the regions of action with a very complex shape, for example, Latin letters. This opportunity may be of interest, for example, for the development of systems that enable a blind person to perceive the displayed text information by using the sense of touch.     

Effects of array arrangements in nano-patterned thin film media

In this work, the effect of different arrays arrangements on the magnetic behaviour of patterned thin film media is simulated. The modeled films consist of 80×80 cobalt grains of uniform diameter (20 nm) distributed into two different array arrangement: hexagonal (triangular) or square arrays. In addition to that, for each array arrangement, two cases of anisotropy orientations, random and textured films are considered. For both array arrangements and media orientations, hysteresis loops at different array separation (d) were simulated. Predictions show that for closely packed films, the shearing effects on the magnetization loop are much larger for the square array arrangement than the hexagonal one. According to these predictions, the bit switching field distribution in interacting 2D systems is much narrower for the hexagonal array arrangement. This result could be very important for high-density magnetic recording where a narrow bit switching field distribution is required.     

Investigation of irradiance efficiency for LED phototherapy with different arrays

Red and yellow light emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently utilized as lighting sources during LED phototherapy. These LEDs were arranged on a disk with an external diameter of 70 mm with different arrays — radial, rhombus, square radial, and square rhombus arrays. The radial and square radial arrays had better irradiance efficiency than rhombus and square rhombus arrays by optical simulation. Additionally, the radial array had 76 sets of LEDs, but the square radial array had 100 sets. Thus, a mockup sample of radial array phototherapy was constructed for performance tests. The mixture efficiency of the radial array was observed at distances of 1-100 mm and lighting was well mixed when distance exceeded 50 mm by optical simulation. Irradiance variation with angle was approximated by experiment and theory at a treatment distance of 50 mm and 100 mm using the phototherapy mockup. The radial array was one good choice for LED phototherapy.     

Modeling Fraunhofer diffractive characteristics for modulation transfer function analysis of tilted ring metallic mesh

In order to analyze the Fraunhofer diffractive characteristics and modulation transfer function (MTF) of a tilted ring metallic mesh, an optical intensity distribution model of Fraunhofer diffraction is built using Huygens–Fresnel diffraction theory and the diffraction integral is carried out directly in the tilted mesh plane. The diffraction characteristics of the tilted ring metallic mesh are in good agreement with experimental results, which proves the correctness of the model established. MTF of an optical system with metallic mesh is calculated based on the model established and Fourier transform. Analysis shows that the degradation of MTF caused by diffraction of a ring mesh is much less than that of a square mesh whether they are vertical or tilted to the optical axis. Therefore, ring mesh can provide higher imaging quality than square mesh when they are used as high-pass filters in optical windows. A tilted array diffraction modulating factor is abstracted and believed useful in the analysis of diffractive characteristics of tilted square mesh and ring mesh, and it can be extended to Fraunhofer diffractive characteristics analysis of other tilted diffraction arrays.     

Aperture-synthesis systems with complete coverage of a hexagonal domain in the (U,V) plane

We propose aperture-synthesis systems in which the sensitive elements are arranged so as to ensure complete equidistant (regular) coverage of a hexagonal spatial-frequency domain. Such configurations have two main advantages over those covering a square domain in the (u, v) plane: the decreased number of elements and the symmetry of the synthesized beam for given resolution and field of view. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 345–349, September, 2000.     

基于近场均匀照明的LED阵列的优化设计

基于几何光学与辐射照度理论,对菱形、环形和蜂窝状等3种典型LED阵列光源在近场上的照度分布进行研究,推导了不同阵列光源照射到目标面上的总辐射照度表达式,并依据斯派罗法则确定了LED间的最优化距离。进而根据照度公式,对LED阵列进行了仿真和对比分析,得出了不同阵列的光照度分布特点。菱形阵列可以得到较大范围的平坦度,环形阵列的平坦范围较小,能量集中分布在一个圆形范围内,有良好的集光效果,蜂窝状阵列的照度比较集中且占用的面板空间较小,可在一定程度上降低设计成本。     

Investigation of L1_0 FePt-based soft/hard composite bit-patterned media by micromagnetic simulation

The soft/hard composite patterned media have potential to be the next generation of magnetic recording,but the composing modes of soft and hard materials have not been investigated systematically.L10 Fe Pt-based soft/hard composite patterned media with an anisotropic constant distribution are studied by micromagnetic simulation.Square arrays and hexagonal arrays with various pitch sizes are simulated for two composing types:the soft layer that encloses the hard dots and the soft layer that covers the whole surface.It is found that the soft material can reduce the switching fields of bits effectively for all models.Compared with the first type,the second type of models possess low switching fields,narrow switching field distributions,and high gain factors due to the introduction of inter-bit exchange coupling.Furthermore,the readout waveforms of the second type are not deteriorated by the inter-bit soft layers.Since the recording density of hexagonal arrays are higher than that of square arrays with the same center-to-center distances,the readout waveforms of hexagonal arrays are a little worse,although other simulation results are similar for these two arrays.     

Self-organization of triblock copolymer patterns obtained by drying and dewetting

Self-organized block copolymer structures derived from dewetting of thin films are becoming important in nanotechnology because of the various spontaneous and regular sub-micrometric surface patterns that may be obtained. Here, we report on the self-organization of a poly(styrene)-b-poly(ethene-co-butene-1)-b-poly(styrene) triblock copolymer during drying of its solution over a mica substrate. Regular submicrometric arrangements with long-range order were formed at critical polymer concentrations, consisting of parallel ribbons and hexagonal arrays of dots (droplets). This variety of highly ordered structures is explained by the interplay between forming mechanisms, mainly due to “fingering instabilities” at the three-phase line of the copolymer solution during drying. The thickness of the structures was “quantized” due to the microphase separation of the block copolymer. The formation of hexagonal patterns may be attributed to Marangoni instability at the liquid film surface prior to dewetting.     

Vertically aligned and hexagonal crystal ZnSe nanoribbon arrays on Zn substrates

The vertically aligned and hexagonal ZnSe nanoribbon array can be easily obtained by heating ZnSe: 0.38 en precursors (en = ethylenediamine), while ZnSe precursor nanoribbon arrays are grown directly on Zn foils in en using the solvothermal method. The nanoribbons are mostly about 4 nm in thickness, 100–300 nm in width, and 2 μm in length. The characteristics observed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicate that the ZnSe precursor as well as ZnSe nanoribbons are vertically aligned on almost the whole zinc foil surface and form a large-scale uniform array. Particularly, ZnSe precursor nanoribbons are hybrid materials of ZnSe and en, while ZnSe nanoribbons are in the from of hexagonal structures. Possible growth mechanisms of the ZnSe precursor nanoribbon arrays are also proposed.